In a viral Reddit post, a naughty cat dipped his paws in pasta sauce turning his fur orange—now the stains won’t go away.
The hilarious post, shared earlier in October by u/time4stew, shows the guilty tuxedo cat laying on the floor with his paws stretched out, as his owner holds him down to photograph his stains. The feline’s paws, originally white, now look a pale shade of orange, after he dipped them in pasta sauce—his owner hasn’t managed to completely clean them off yet.
“HOW DO I CLEAN HIS PASTA SAUCE PAWS,” the poster wrote in the caption. “He got into the sink and dip dyed his paws in the pot i was soaking because he is a very bad kitty. Now he is orange. Help me. View second photo for some insight on his dastardly ways.”
Dr. Jessica Romanet, medical director at Trinity Animal Hospital in Holly Springs, North Carolina, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, told Newsweek that, in this case, it is best to start with baby wipes or makeup remover cloths.
If that is not effective, she recommends a warm water bath using veterinary-approved shampoo, with treats to ease stress. In stubborn cases, she says a small amount of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide may help if rinsed thoroughly. A super-diluted bleach solution (1:100) is a last resort and should be used with extreme caution due to toxicity risks.
“Never attempt to cut out the stain,” Romanet said. “If the stain (like pasta sauce) contains onions or garlic, do not allow your cat to clean itself due to the potential for toxicity.
“In all cases, act as quickly as possible before the stain sets. If the stain persists or the cat’s skin is sensitive, contact your veterinarian,” Romanet added.
Amber Batteiger, veterinary technician and PR & communications manager at Embrace Pet Insurance, told Newsweek that, if you are looking for more natural options, there are a few gentle alternatives.
Products such as oatmeal-based pet shampoos or those made with aloe vera and coconut oil can be effective and soothing for the skin.
“Just make sure whatever you use is specifically labeled as safe for cats,” Batteiger said. “Many essential oils and natural ingredients that seem harmless can actually be toxic to them.
“If the stain is stubborn but the cat is stressed by cleaning, it’s OK to let it fade gradually while keeping the fur brushed and clean. The goal is always to keep the experience as low-stress and safe as possible.”
The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 58,000 upvotes and more than 1,100 comments on the platform.
One user, Brief-Equal4676, commented: “Give him more. That will at least make him uniformly orange.”
OldLadyMorgendorffer posted: “Mine turned pink from beets once. You just shake your head and let them live with their adorable if misguided decisions.”
DoruSnuggler added: “Bro’s just gonna be orange until he sheds that fur.”
Newsweek reached out to u/time4stew for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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