Washed my cats beds today. She now refuses to use them. UPDATED!

[Fla Dem]

Last edited Sat Mar 25, 2023, 10:02 AM - Edit history (3)

YESTERDAY


TODAY She'll be 17 next month!!!

[tblue37]

1. Spread a little catnip on it.

[Fla Dem]

17. Believe it or not, she's not a big fan of catnip.

[Ocelot II]

2. They no longer smell of cat, just icky soapy human smells.

Maybe a little catnip?

[Fla Dem]

7. Yep, that's what I figured. Her body odor disappeared.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Baking soda ?

Put in direct sunlight

[Fla Dem]

18. Will put outside in the fresh air and sunshine tomorrow.

[piddyprints]

4. What did you wash them with?

Most of the detergents on the market these days have very strong smells that can be overpowering to pets. Maybe give them a few extra rinses without any detergent of fabric softener.

[Fla Dem]

16. Used regular wash detergent, no fabric softener.

I used scent free dryer sheets.

I think it was probably as someone suggested, she couldn’t smell her scent.

[Irish_Dem]

5. When I was very young, my grandmother came to visit and washed my teddy bear and blanket.

My mother was in the hospital having a baby and grandma was in charge.

I was heartbroken after Teddy and blankie were washed and dried.
I had a bit of a hissy fit and refused to touch either one.
They were no longer Teddy or blankie. Some strange new creatures.

That must be how your kitty feels.

[Fla Dem]

11. Cute story. I have no doubt that's it.

🤗

[femmedem]

6. If the detergent was scented, you might try washing it with an unscented detergent.

Here's an article about pets and chemical scents: https://www.ibpsa.com/blog/2022/05/19/fragrance-stinks-health-risks-chemically-scented-products-pets-people/

But cats are even more sensitive to scents than dogs. They can't even handle most essential oils. I used to make naturally scented soaps and almost lost a cat when he was exposed. https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/cats-and-essential-oils

Then yeah, catnip as others have suggested. And if you can't get rid of the scent (if it was a scented detergent) you might need to toss it and get a new bed.

[Fla Dem]

15. Could have been that for sure.

They were in the dryer for a while.I did smell them and couldn’t pick up any lingering detergent smell, but a cat’s sense of smell is stronger

[applegrove]

8. Cats are picky about smells. Took my older cat to the vet where they extracted urine by needle

Last edited Sat Mar 25, 2023, 11:13 AM - Edit history (2)

and swabbed her with rubbing alcohol. The younger cat, 9 years of living with the older one, smelled her and started hissing as if the older one was an interloper. The hissing lasted 2 days.

[Fla Dem]

14. Wow that really was quite the reaction.

Probably Also smelled the odor of the Vet’s office. 😊

[Ocelot II]

9. Could you rub the bed on the cat or vice-versa, or would that just annoy her more?

[Fla Dem]

12. I will try that. She's 14. Never really reacted this way.

But I’m sure it’s probably the lack of her scent on them.

[wnylib]

19. Try brushing the cat and then pitting its hair

from the brush into the bed. Should make it smell better for the cat.

[Rebl2]

10. Have had cats

do that in the past. They would eventually come around.

[Fla Dem]

13. Yes, when they have no other choice.

Putting them out on the patio tomorrow in the sun and fresh air. See if that helps.

[Ocelot II]

20. The beds or the cats?

[Fla Dem]

21. LOL, The Beds!!!! But Oh look!!!!

She was on my lap this morning so I took the bed and put it over her like a blanket and massaged her through the bed. She was like "Oh WoW!, This is cool." So then I took it off and put it back on the sofa. She went to it immediately and got in. Now I'll have to try the same thing with the other 2 beds. See photo in original post

[Ocelot II]

22. All the bed needed was a little Eau du Chat.

[femmedem]

23. Yay!

I'm glad to hear she just needed her scent on it to recognize it!

[niyad]

24. Such a beautiful little girl.

[thatcrowwoman]

25. Sweet dreams, sweet cat.

Reclaiming her bed.
Sweet Shalom.
🕊thatcrowwoman