Having a candlelight dinner with someone special or having a relaxing night by yourself, candles lit up at night is one of the most beautiful things one can do at home. They not only relax your mind but also help improve your mood. However, it takes a millisecond for a special night to become stressful if you find your cat covered in hardened sticky wax.
As adorable as they are, cats can also be hyperactive and mischievous around the house. Sometimes, they get themselves in trouble, which can hurt them and be life-threatening in some cases. What if they have spread the wax around her fur? How to remove wax from your cat fur?
But panic not. It is not as difficult as it seems to remove wax from the fur of your little feline, only if you know the right techniques.
Before Removing Wax from Your Cat Fur
Before we tell you how to get wax out of cat fur, check out a few things.
How Much Wax is on Your Cat
A little bit of candle wax is easy to remove. However, the problem arises if it’s around the face and the body and in an excessive amount which can be difficult to remove easily. But still doable on your own in some cases.
Find the Type of Wax
Knowing what kind of wax it is for it to be removed is helpful. If it is pure beeswax, it is the most dangerous type of wax that can cause burns. If that is the case, make sure to visit a vet as soon as possible. On the other hand, Paraffin wax is the least dangerous type of wax in terms of causing burns since it burns cooler. Similarly, Scented wax is also not as threatening for your feline.
Lastly, Assess the Damage
Assess the damage caused by the wax. See if there are any burns. If there are any burns or bald patches, try to keep your cat calm and prepare to visit a vet immediately. Never panic—that won’t help your cat!
Now that we know the amount, type, and damage caused by wax, we can better tackle it. Note, however, that some breeds’ hair will respond differently to wax than others because of the difference in their fur size, thickness, and whether it is straight or curly. For example, if it is curly, getting the wax out will be a bit more complicated than for cats with straight or short hair.
How to Remove Wax From Cat Fur?
Follow these 6 simple steps to remove wax from cat fur at home. However, if you feel that your furball is hurt or your tempering with it might her more, take her to the vet at the earliest.
- The first thing to do is to allow the wax to cool down because you don’t want to burn yourself or your pet by panicking about it. You need to be calm and composed through the entire process, and you will have to make sure that your little feline is also calm and comfortable.
- Hold your cat in a comfortable position so you can carry on the steps effectively and easily remove the wax. You will have to hold her such that she doesn’t slip through easily.
- To start off, use a fine-toothed comb to brush off some of the wax, but if it hurts or makes your feline uncomfortable, you can skip this step.
- Now, use a cotton swab and baby or mineral oil. Soak the swab in the oil and rub it on your cat’s fur and the wax on them. Make sure to dip the swab in a good amount of oil. This will effectively help you remove the wax.
- Use a wide-toothed grooming comb and work it through her fur. This will help the oil to go through the hair thoroughly, and it will also help get some of the wax out of her hair. This is a safe step as it will not hurt your loved little feline much due to the oil. Comb as much as possible to remove the wax from her fur.
- Lastly, give her a nice bath with cat shampoo to remove all the oil and remaining wax. This will also make her relax a bit after all the hustle and distress she went through.
These few steps are easy to follow. However, if you think that the wax will not be removed by it, you can also try to trim your cat’s fur, but it needs practice and patience as it can be difficult to keep her calm and in position. But at times, trimming the cat’s fur could be the only option. Do that, even if you are not good at it—nothing is more valuable than your pet’s health.
If your pet looks weird with trimmed fur, you can always go to the groomer later.
Be Careful in the Future
It is nerve-racking and such a painful sight to see your feline in pain or hurt. Make sure to avoid such situations by choosing a location for the candles where your cat cannot reach or try to put off the candles when you leave the room in case you have an active cat.
Although we rarely come across such situations, they might happen. It is also good to be cautious and careful, especially when you have an adorable little pet by your side.
