Dash the cat completely validated his moron status this week. He's the only cat I've ever heard of choosing to play with a skunk.

You think the brief whiff of road-killed skunk is pungent? I woke up to the most unbelievable stench I've ever experienced in my life. I've worked in chem labs, accidentally opened dimethyl selenide outside of a fume hood, done analyses on unrefrigerated sewage and slaughterhouse wastes... Skunk spray has them all beaten.

Dash had a direct hit, a palm-sized yellow stain on the fur of his chest (thankfully, not his eyes). He looked so miserable and ill, it's probably not going to happen again, at least. After three baths with the recommended hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap mix, opening all the windows, running fans all day, and laundering/scrubbing everything Dash touched, the house was habitable again 24 hours later. It's been three days, and he's only faintly skunky now.

Dash has been very, very affectionate and seems untroubled after the terrifying ordeal. However, Lilly, his usual companion in crime, is thoroughly unimpressed - she's crossing the room to avoid him, and swatting him if he tries to approach.