Ria Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Okay....I can laugh, I think. The kitties were smelling not so good, so I decided to bathe them (it's been 3 years). Baths went well, but it's cold, so I thought I'd try to blow them dry a bit. Calvin (11 lb orange tiger) seems to have a phobia of the hair dryer. He leapt straight up, took out the curtain rod, sliced my upper lip (deep!) from top to bottom, and bolted. I bled profusely...first on the downed curtain, and then across the carpet as I ran to get a cloth diaper to hold up to my face to catch the blood. It's been 3 hours. The lip is still weeping slightly, but it seems to be slowing. I called the doc...he said it sounds as if it could be stitched, but said I could try a butterfly bandage to see if that would work. It was doing fine until I ate dinner (I was starving). Do not blow dry a cat. It is not worth it. Ria (who is praying that she's not permanently scarred) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess in the Burbs Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 ok, I needed the laugh. The fact you tried to blow dry them makes me think it's too cold ;-) seriously, that was funny. I hope your lip heals. My dh is laughing his butt off....we have our own cat stories....the psycho cat finally had to find a new home.....but I do really hope you get better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 BTDT lived to tell the tale, it helps that my kitty is declawed, so no physical harm came to me. My cat did amazingly well in the bath portion, but thought I was the devil reincarnate when it came to the hair dryer part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Darcy Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Things learned from this board: #989 Do not blow dry a cat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 BTDT lived to tell the tale, it helps that my kitty is declawed, so no physical harm came to me. My cat did amazingly well in the bath portion, but thought I was the devil reincarnate when it came to the hair dryer part. I picture you with a coldpack on your lips to keep them from swelling. Another point in favor of dogs! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 24, 2009 Author Share Posted January 24, 2009 I picture you with a coldpack on your lips to keep them from swelling.Another point in favor of dogs! ;) You are so right about the cold pack. God knows, I look ghastly. Deep, bloody wound. Too funny...dd and her EMT friend are on the phone...EMT is saying go to ER; DD (nursing major) is saying get a grip. LOL.. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Too bad you didn't get that on video. I can relate. I used to work at an animal hospital and have many cat scars. My own cat, the same one that sits on my head and purrs, will bit me while bathing if I don't hold his head correctly. I would never attempt to blow dry him. You should probably clean it with some peroxide and put on some antibiotic ointment if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Darcy Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 You should probably clean it with some peroxide and put on some antibiotic ointment if possible. The cat or the lip? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 The cat or the lip? :lol: LOL. The cat is fine...he smells wonderful, he's amazingly soft, and he's curled up in a precious orange ball by the coal stove. Only those with blow dryer experience know the other side of the story.... Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz CA Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 You are so right about the cold pack. God knows, I look ghastly. Deep, bloody wound. Too funny...dd and her EMT friend are on the phone...EMT is saying go to ER; DD (nursing major) is saying get a grip. LOL.. Ria Gosh Ria! I hope the cat's claws were uh...clean? Is there any kind of antiseptic you can use that does not burn? Perhaps Neosporin would act like that? I 've always heard that injuries to areas like lips and skull bleed profusely. If you want to avoid bruising marks, a naturopath acquaintance suggests to take arnica in pill form. Should be available in health food stores. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I laughed so hard at the thought of blow drying one of my cats that I nearly blew chunks on the screen:smilielol5::lol: Then I saw that you were injured, and now I feel twice as bad.:blushing::blushing: I am so sorry, I really hope you don't end up with a battle scar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 The cat or the lip? :lol: Preferably the lip, otherwise she may need HAVE to go to the ER. :lol::D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Preferably the lip, otherwise she may need HAVE to go to the ER. :lol::D SNORT!!! Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 I laughed so hard at the thought of blow drying one of my cats that I nearly blew chunks on the screen:smilielol5::lol: Then I saw that you were injured, and now I feel twice as bad.:blushing::blushing: I am so sorry, I really hope you don't end up with a battle scar. You have no idea. It was worse than your wildest imagination. I need a new lip. I need a new curtain (ripped to shreds, covered in blood...use your imagination here...). I need a new curtain rod (bent). UGH. Ria (and yes, I can laugh,well, as long as I don't move my mouth. It is pretty stupid and pathetic.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenJac1501 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 bahaha sorry to laugh lol How are you now lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melora in NC Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ouch! We just had to bathe and blow dry both of our cats due to a furnace problem that led to soot all over the basement. No scratches, but they were Definitely not happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I did that once, but we put the cat into a box first so he couldn't run away. He was a very small cat at the time. He didn't like it much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenn- Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 You are so right about the cold pack. God knows, I look ghastly. Deep, bloody wound. Too funny...dd and her EMT friend are on the phone...EMT is saying go to ER; DD (nursing major) is saying get a grip. LOL.. Ria You know now that I had a chance to think on the situation, I would have to agree with the EMT. Cat scratches are nasty and can easily get infected. I would head to the ER and get the wound properly cleaned and stitched or glued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 You know now that I had a chance to think on the situation, I would have to agree with the EMT. Cat scratches are nasty and can easily get infected. I would head to the ER and get the wound properly cleaned and stitched or glued. I did talk to my doctor. He seemed to feel that the amount of blood was a good indication that the wound was at least flushed, lol. I'll be in touch with him about any changes 888888888888iiiii9 3. (oops...baby Bengal kitten on keyboard) that might indicate infection from the claw. The wound itself has been cleaned. The butterfly is keeping the edges of the wound together as well as a stitch, and my doc told me what to do and what would be a "bad" sign. So far, so good. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I did talk to my doctor. He seemed to feel that the amount of blood was a good indication that the wound was at least flushed, lol. I'll be in touch with him about any changes 888888888888iiiii9 3. (oops...baby Bengal kitten on keyboard) that might indicate infection from the claw. The wound itself has been cleaned. The butterfly is keeping the edges of the wound together as well as a stitch, and my doc told me what to do and what would be a "bad" sign. So far, so good. Ria Ahem. My dh, when he split his lip open, held it together with butterfly bandages and super glue. Not that I'm recommending that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ahem. My dh, when he split his lip open, held it together with butterfly bandages and super glue. Not that I'm recommending that. You do remember my story about gluing my child's head together using strands of his hair and super glue, right? LOL. That was a few years ago. I haven't forgotten...the option is there... Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I'm sorry, dear Ria! I shouldn't have laughed when I read what you tried---but I did, because we had a similar situation happen at our house. Once two of our cats were smelling particularly bad when we picked them up after we'd been on vacation. We decided to give them a bath outside on the lawn with the hose. Our fat black cat, Frodo, took it all relatively well, being a cat. The second cat, Pippin, who is a Siamese and somewhat temperamental, decided to latch onto both my arm and my daughter's arm with his teeth, one right after the other. It felt like the jaws of a miniature tiger clamping down on my arm! Eeeeoooow! What made me think I could bathe a cat? So, I've never, ever bathed a cat again, and if they stink, I put on some Gold Bond talcum powder on their bodies and brush it through. If they still stink after that, it's their problem. I'm sorry, dear Ria! I am sympathetic with your injury---truly I am. It just brings back memories of that awful cat bite on my arm, which was bruised and swollen for many days afterwards, and having to explain the circumstances to others. :grouphug: to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 :lol: Butterfly it good my friend and clean it up really well. Hope it stops hurting soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 :lol: The things one learns when one has boys (um, and cats, evidentally, but I'll have to learn those lessons vicariously through you because the lovely man who superglued his lip closed is allergic to cats). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel in KY Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 That's awful, but couldn't help laughing about your subject line. Tell everybody the story about your boys and the tomato soup.... ~Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 That's awful, but couldn't help laughing about your subject line. Tell everybody the story about your boys and the tomato soup.... ~Rachel LOL! The younger three got BB guns for Christmas (rifles, not pistols), and we talked about the dangers of soup firing.... Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Inna* Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I was laughing until I read about your lip. Ouch! I hope it heals quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Ok, now that I've wandered back from my laugh around the house, I would now like to wonder aloud how one glues a lip. Or butterflies it, frankly, lips not being the most adhesive-friendly surfaces. :001_huh: Bathing my cat has always been a serious proposition. Hockey gear has to be employed. And an angry, wet cat can climb straight up a shower wall with no effort at all before using your head (and his claws) to climb back down to the floor and flounce out of the room. And the noise? I'm actually surprised the neighbors never called social services - it sounded as if I was trying to drown a toddler. I can't imagine trying to blow dry him. You're insane. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in MO Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Bathing my cat has always been a serious proposition. Hockey gear has to be employed. And an angry, wet cat can climb straight up a shower wall with no effort at all before using your head (and his claws) to climb back down to the floor and flounce out of the room. And the noise? I'm actually surprised the neighbors never called social services - it sounded as if I was trying to drown a toddler. for bathing our cats. I'm going to share this post with her to show her how even using a shower is not a good idea. Our cats are declawed, and both my youngest and I suffered huge bruises on our arms for a couple of weeks after our "cat bathing" episode. I remember how our Siamese howled----it was almost like hearing a young tiger cub growling. I'll just let them be stinky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandamom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 in college I had to take a speech class. One of the required speeches was a procedural speech. I chose the title "How to Bathe A Cat". It never occurred to me to include blow drying a cat. I think I'm glad. Hope you feel better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 For your viewing pleasure other "happy" cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Be sure to clean the cut as much as you can. Cat claws are very dirty. Whenever I get a cat scratch, if I don't clean it properly it takes longer to heal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 For your viewing pleasure other "happy" cats. Note that not a single person has posted a video on blow drying. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 :lol::lol: I learn something new from here everyday! We don't have a cat, but if anyone ever asks me to blow dry theirs I will run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3lilreds in NC Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 You know, I have two cats that need to be bathed, and blown dry, because they are Persians. They are never happy about it, but I think they are too stupid to get terribly violent. :D When I've tried to do other cats, though, it's never gone well. I'm always glad that the single-coated ones don't need the blow dryer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akmommy Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 We don't even try to bathe our cats anymore. The last time we bathed the male he promtly marched into the living room and peed right in the middle of the floor. :001_huh: Hope the lip is better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kat19 Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I will admit that I laughed when I read this. I'm sorry you got hurt and hope it heals up nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Rittenhouse Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I take it it didn't go quite like this. Hope you feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I feel your pain. And, it reminds me of the time my gallant hubby tried to bathe our male feral cat. The cat was, at this point, mostly grown, and for all intents an purposes, mostly tame. But, some feral cats are never truly tame. Dh carried the fur-ball into the bathroom and shut the door. If you can imagine one of those Calvin and Hobbes scenes where the two cartoon characters are fighting, and you see stars and spirals, legs and tails and eyes, all in a cloud of dust. That's what the bathroom *sounded* like. I stayed on the other side of the closed door, shouting "Everything OK in there?!", but the din just drowned out my inquiries. Shortly, hubby emerged, bleeding and tussled, hair askew, shirttail flailing and soggy. I asked, "Where's the cat?" He simply pointed to the open, now screenless window, and gasped, "On second thought, maybe he's clean enough." I hope you're OK. Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 :lol::lol: Hope you feel better soon. Off to change my undies (thanks for the laugh)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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