# Burn Scars on a Cat **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099 "2005-12-11T03:44:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/1 "2005-12-11T03:44:53Z")
As youi may remember , back in July I adopted a sweet male cat named Charli, who had been rescued 5 months earlier from an abandoned burning house. His back and shoulders are covered with horrid , hairless pink scars, which will never grow hair again. He seems to like for me to gently rub and scratch the biggest of these scars , about 2" wide and almost 6" long , just to the left of his spine, and today , I was putting hand lotion on, when he jumped onto my lap. I put a tiny bit of hand lotion on the scar , and he acted like it was just the BEST thing that had ever happened to him , closing his eyes and purring SO loudly. My question: Is there anything in the hand lotion that might harm him if he licks it? Is there something else I could put on the scar? I have thankfully never had a burn scar , could this still be paining him? Any input is greatfully accepted. Charlie: [http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/My%20Babies/thekids2029.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v20/PapSett/My%20Babies/thekids2029.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/2 "2005-12-11T07:33:51Z")
IANA Vet, but from my own experience with minor burns is that they sometimes itch like mad and this may be what the kitty is feeling. Bottom line is that if he likes it, indulge yourselves. šŸ™‚ Iā€™d check with a Vet to get a lotion which will soothe the burn site without ingestion dangers. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/3 "2005-12-11T08:45:51Z")
Iā€™m not a vet either. I do know, however, that petroleum jelly is pretty much harmless to ingest, and might even help with hairballs. You might also rub a bit of olive oil or other vegetable oil onto that scar, which would help relieve the itch and be edible. Use a light touch, though, or your whole house could be covered in oil. I know that thereā€™s hairball remedies on the market which are sort of oily, but theyā€™re supposed to be appealing to cats, and I canā€™t imagine that a scar would be improved by a catā€™s tongue licking it constantly. Charlie looks pretty happy with his life. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/4 "2005-12-11T08:55:03Z")
From my own cosmetic-making days, I know it is possible and even easy to make a perfectly edible, even healthy lotion. Mix oil, water, a foodemulgator, and a food preservative, and there you go. You might even mix in some arnica or aloe-veraextract, both great for burned skin and also edible. ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/5 "2005-12-11T09:34:11Z")
IANAV, either. I do have some experience with scar tissue, however. I agree with the ā€œindulge yourselvesā€, but I suggest vitamin E oil instead of lotion or Vaseline[sup]TM[/sup]. Since he enjoys the activity, you can rub until itā€™s absorbed, and it has the added benefit of softening the scar tissue even better, in my experience, than lotion or other options. BTW, I believe that any of the lotions that are ā€œno animal testingā€ are made of ingredients that should be safe for him to ingest, although they donā€™t necessarily absorb as well as the E oil. It vanishes into the scar tissue on my hands in a few minutes without rubbing. If I rub, itā€™s gone almost immediately, leaving the surface just a tad bit shinier than it was. Getting lotsa suggestions, arenā€™t you. šŸ™‚ Well, we all feel for Charlie, and wish you both the very best. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/6 "2005-12-11T15:29:37Z")
Thanks guys ! I will certainly give your suggestions a try. Charlie is the sweetest cat I have ever known, he seems to know that his previous life on the streets, living thru that fire are behind him. I have never known a cat that is so grateful for everything. Having had no major scarring myself ever, will his scars continue to itch throughout his life? I will do anything I can t keep my Charlie Cat comfy ! (Yeahā€¦ I am a wee bit fond of him , why do you ask? šŸ˜‰ ) ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/7 "2005-12-11T19:10:35Z")
Surgical incisions itched like heck for ~ a year, but didnā€™t bother me too much after that. Lacking personal experience, I canā€™t intelligently comment on 3rd degree large area burns. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/8 "2005-12-11T19:16:29Z")
> [@tygerbryght](#): > > I agree with the ā€œindulge yourselvesā€, but I suggest vitamin E oil instead of lotion or Vaseline[sup]TM[/sup]. A nice and easy way to get vitamine E-oil is to buy a jar of those gelatin capsules with oil in them, meant to ingest. Squeeze them, and out comes just enough oil to rub Charlieā€™s ear with. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/9 "2005-12-11T19:19:36Z")
My cat Ichabod also has burn scars, deliberately inflicted by some horrible beast of a person. Anyway, I donā€™t think her scars itch. I think they are a little numb, so kinda skritching around them feels good to her. My husband has a burn scar on his foot that he finds himself scratching at because itā€™s a little funny feeling. Heā€™s a pretty kitty, isnā€™t he? ---
**Author:** ![PrehensileRectum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PrehensileRectum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PrehensileRectum)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/10 "2005-12-11T21:20:38Z")
I was going to add that isnā€™t poinsettia poisonous to cats if they eat it? In your picture the cat is sleeping next to it, so donā€™t let him eat it. Can any dopers confirm this? ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/11 "2005-12-11T21:38:09Z")
> [@PrehensileRectum](#): > > I was going to add that isnā€™t poinsettia poisonous to cats if they eat it? In your picture the cat is sleeping next to it, so donā€™t let him eat it. Can any dopers confirm this? LOL ā€¦ yeah , I think it isā€¦ but that is an artificial plant in the picture ! I was just getting the decorations out and had it laying on the loveseat. It has been in the house for about 5 years. Pretty good knock-off, huh? Again , thanks for the info, I have some of the vitamin E gels that I give the dogs for their coats , so I will try that on Charlie ! ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/12 "2005-12-11T23:18:19Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > From my own cosmetic-making days, I know it is possible and even easy to make a perfectly edible, even healthy lotion. Mix oil, water, a foodemulgator, and a food preservative, and there you go. You might even mix in some arnica or aloe-veraextract, both great for burned skin and also edible. Arnica is great topically but posionous to humans internally (unless itā€™s homeopathic). Aloe is, for humans anyway, a decent laxative and tastes like ass, but I donā€™t know what cats think of it. I suppose using fish oil would just be cruel? šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![tygerbryght](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@tygerbryght](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygerbryght)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/13 "2005-12-12T07:59:35Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > A nice and easy way to get vitamine E-oil is to buy a jar of those gelatin capsules with oil in them, meant to ingest. Squeeze them, and out comes just enough oil to rub Charlieā€™s ear with. What a clever idea! Although, come to think of it, someone else I suggested vitamin E oil to a long while ago had the same thought, and said it worked well for him/her (donā€™t recall which). Given itā€™s expensive, I try to use no more than needed. The amount present in the liquid form is adequate for my needs; a capsule holds quite a bit more - volume and concentration - than I need. My scars arenā€™t as big or thick as poor Charlieā€™s. As for itching, etc., mine are from something like eczema, and they itch horribly at times. Thatā€™s one reason why I use the E. Surgical scars eventually stop itching, even big ones (voice of experience), usually in a year or so. Scars from other kinds of damage, regardless of the cause, often have weirdness for years. I had a 3rd degree burn on my wrist (from a faulty electrical cord) that was about the size of a pencil eraser. The scar from that eventually disappeared, but it took at least 15 years, and happened gradually, over time. In general, the bigger/thicker the scar, the longer it lasts. Really thick scars often have either strange sensations or none, like **jsgoddess** reports. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/14 "2005-12-12T08:59:15Z")
**tygerbright** , I got the idea of the capsules from a beautybook. It was raving about the benefits of applying vitamin E-oil to the face. Great for the skin, etc. One capsule, said the book, was enough for one facial treatment. The only drawback to Vitamin-e was how rapidly it oxidizes and detoriates when in contact with air, hence the capsules. So you are right that one capsule is a bit much for a kittyā€™s ear, but the rest can be applied to oneā€™s own skin. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/burn-scars-on-a-cat/335099/15 "2005-12-12T18:32:04Z")
Charlie is adorable!!! Iā€™m with the folks that recommended vitamin E capsules, I use them myself whenever I burn myself while cooking (which is quite often, Iā€™m afraid) Also, olive oil can be very soothing. It cures my dry cracked hands and it wonā€™t harm little Charlie if he licks it. Looks like Charlieā€™s going to be growing a nice, shiney coat of hair!