Dye Your Cat's Fur With Kool Aid
Template:AttentionWhether you want to color your furry friend for a holiday or just for fun, you can do it and still keep them safe- and make them smell yummy, too!
Contents
Steps
- Make an informed decision before dying your pet's fur. Dyeing pets is a relatively new practice [citation needed]; as such, there have not been long-term studies to determine whether there are any long-term negative consequences of dyeing your pet with Kool-Aid.
- Do not the dye fur of cats who have existing health problems or who are difficult to bathe.
- Purchase a pack of Kool-aid drink mix the color you want them to be, and shampoo and conditioner made for cats.
- Mix a bag of Kool-aid with a sufficient amount of conditioner and a few drops of water.
- Apply the dye to a small portion of your pet's fur and leave for at least 48 hours to test whether they develop an allergic reaction. All dyes are potentially harmful to your pet and can even be fatal; consequently you should make sure you look for signs of fatigue, pain, or skin irritation/rash. If you suspect that your pet has developed an allergic reaction, take your pet to the veterinarian immediately for medical attention.
- If your pet does not develop an allergic reaction after 48 hours, repeat Step 3.
- Thoroughly shampoo your cat. See Bathe-a-Cat.
- Rub in the conditioner, and let stand for a couple minutes.
- Rinse the conditioner.
- Pat kitty with a towel until damp. Wrap in a towel until dry. The color should show soon.
- Remember to observe your pet's reactions during the dyeing process. If your pet seems stressed, unhappy, or in physical discomfort during the dyeing process, stop immediately and do not attempt to dye your pet again. Remember your pet is not a fashion accessory - it is a living creature and its well-being should always come first.
Tips
- Remember that he/she can get irritated and scratch or bite. So always wear gloves.
- To get rid of color, thoroughly shampoo.
- Try blending colors for some personality. Use half a bag each. For three colors, use a third a bag each, and so on.
- For variety, use different colors in different spots.
- For Tabbies, try coloring their stripes. For Tuxedos, try coloring their light patches.
- Try making fun shapes by drawing them with the conditioner.
Warnings
- If your pet has an allergic reaction, bring it to the veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
- Make sure you use dye that IS NOT HARMFUL TO YOUR PET and definitely do not use human hair dye. There are ingredients in human hair dye that might cause their hair to fall out, make them ill, and even be fatal.
- Check your pet's behaviour during the dyeing practice - whether this is in a professional salon or at home. Do not attempt to dye your pet again if your pet shows signs of being stressed, unhappy, or in physical discomfort. Remember, pets are NOT fashion accessories - they are living beings and their well-being should always come first.
- Be careful not to get the dye in the animal's eyes, ears, nose, or mouth.
- Test the dye on a very small part of your pet first and leave it there for at least 48 hours to check whether they develop an allergic reaction. Many animals can be allergic to dyes - even simple food dyes, because these are absorbed through the skin or ingested during grooming behaviour. Some animals should therefore never be dyed.
- Remember that a pet's fur usually covers their entire body and is close to the surface of their skin. The ingredients in the dye will be absorbed through your pet's skin - it's not like dyeing the hair on your head.
- If they are pregnant or have any infections or diseases or are sick or in heat, do not color them.
- Never use alcohol or human dye on a cat. It could cause serious diseases, or even kill them.
- Do not dye pets who have existing health problems or who are difficult to bathe. Amongst other reasons, you might not be able to get the dye off of them in time if they develop a serious allergic reaction.
- Many exotic pets, including gerbils, hamsters, chinchillas, and guinea pigs can develop severe health problems due to dye, including respiratory infections and pneumonia. These pets should never be dyed.
- Dyeing pets is a relatively new practice. As such, there have not been long-term studies to determine whether there are any long-term negative consequences of dyeing your pet with Kool-Aid, even if your pet does not have an immediate or short-term negative reaction.
- If they don't like baths, coloring them is not a good idea.
- Don't color the cat if it seems to hate it.
- Only color cats with light or white fur. If they are dark but have light or white patches, only color those patches.
