I am house sitting for last few days,,,and the next week. Daughter and whole family left on vacation.
There 6 to 8 year old HUGE long hair cat has had a problem with splurping (my daughter calls them hair balls,but I dont think so)
Seems it eats a LOT of food and then deposits it all on the light colored carpet for me to clean up.
Twice in short 4 days. It has done it before but always seems worse when they all leave.
Cat always is sniffling around and hacking on something. It eats all its food and sometimes
eats the dog food and the dog eats the cat food.
Any tips on keeping the food 'inside' the cat???Its always indoors and never out.
I am trying to feed it more often smaller portions,,,so far that results in smaller piles.
Other thing, dont know if related,,,dog and cat play this game,,,dog 'acts' like he is trying to kill the cat but he is playing with it.
When the cat has enough of playing dead , hisses and lets the dog know thats enough and runs/gets away.
/just wonder IF dog is playing too rough with cat when cat has fll stomach of food. Seems to happen most when NO one is home/watching.
any advice???
Posted by BuffyFan (Member # 34679) on :
hm, what brand of food are you feeding the cat? It could be something as simple as feeding the cat a better quality brand cat food. I know with mine, I have to feed her a hairball remedy food, with that, she doesn't hack up her food at all. It is a good idea to use smaller portions so keep doing that.
Maybe you can shut the dog in a room or take outside after kitty eats give kitty enough time to digest her food??
Posted by BuffyFan (Member # 34679) on :
oh i just read that it's a long hair cat, if you aren't brushing her daily, you should start doing that and it might help as well. Posted by Healerdealer (Member # 23032) on :
Try brushing the cat as often as possible. I don't recommend switching the food.
Hairballs are very common. I have a short hair tabby that likes to be brushed. When I remember to brush her, she has no hairballs.
Healer
[ 02-01-2013, 06:57 PM: Message edited by: sixgoofykids ]
Posted by lymeinhell (Member # 4622) on :
If the smaller portions result in smaller piles, it really does sound like the cat has hair balls. They make special food, or even easier - hair ball treats.
I have a med/long hair (that refuses to be brushed) that gets this issue occasionally, and 3 days of treats and the problem is solved.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
you can apply a small dot of petroleum jelly to his nose. this will help with hairballs. He will lick it off and it will help things move along, If the cat starts to act sick he could have a bowel obstructiion.Pm me if you need more advice.Was a tech for 12 years
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
and I agree smaller portions. cat and dog food kibble expand quite abit in the stomach. When the animal eats too fast its brain doesnt tell it it is full for at least 20-30min. Another solution is to feed canned food(a good quality one) it doesnt expand. But obviously you want to ask the owners first. There are also sensitive stomach foods out there.
Another trick is to put large enough items in the bowl along with the food to create a delay in scarfing it all down in 2 seconds. But make sure they are not large enough to ingest. Like baby blocks or something like that
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
Cat food for sensitive stomach might help
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
I just read Buffy's first sentence ...that was my first thought but since it is not your cat you can't really do anything about that
....Not able to read what others wrote...so may be repeating
...Put the cat food someplace where the dog can't get to it and the cat can't get to the dog food..
...The cat I have has a routine....I feed her just enough to cover the smalll cat food bowl's bottom
..I think the cat food package said only 1/4 or 1/2 cup a day of cat food
...the cat that adopted us expects food first thing in the am and then again around 3 pm....but guessing each household has their own program
...Ok brain is fading fast so I will stop now
...Ah yes...stress may be part of the problem too...but the cat could hide under the bed or someplace it feels safe
My cat weighs too much. I know that the neighbors behind me feed 6 ferral cats twice a day on their patio's...wondering if she is helping herself
but, you don't have that issue
I don't know if you need to slowly change a cat's diet like you do a dog's diet.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
The cat may be very anxious about being "abandoned" by her owners too.
kam is right.. don't let the dog eat the cat's food. It's not good for the dog.
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Yup too much protein in cat food for dogs
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Kitty massage, even the belly.
Soft music. Candlelight. Who wouldn't PURR? -
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
You said, Any tips on keeping the food 'inside' the cat???
Don, I remember things you said about cats and dogs in the chat room, so I know how much you must LOVE taking care of these animals.
Especially when you keep on finding little piles around the house.
If the dog is bothering the cat like that, he must be pretty bored.
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
MADDOG says,Eat the cat,stop the hairballs.
Alf tought me that!!!
MMMMMM kitty!!!!
HE HE HE HE !!
MADDOG Here kitty kitty kitty!!!! MMMMM Kitty
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
Glue fly paper to the toilet seat,attach cat to fly paper with butt over the toilet.
Feed and water cat till daughter comes home to remove cat and take over clean up.
MADDOG
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
You have heard of a catapult,what you need is a catacork.
I dont need to tell you were the cork goes.
HE HE HE !!!
MADDOG HE HE HE!!!
Posted by payne (Member # 26248) on :
shave it
Posted by angelp (Member # 36878) on :
I have a lonng hair angora, mix...I once read to feed thecats a tablespoon of pure pumpkin , from can, justpure no pumpkin pie mix kind. My cats llove it and will lick it up...it helps to keeps the digestive track clear so the hairdoesn't become balled up.
I haven't had any problems since doing this. If they don't like it you can mix with a small amount of soft food.
Its funny cause mine will only eat the pumpkin from trader joes stores...
And I agree brushing daily when its long haired..there is a defurrring comb that thins hair out which helps...I do it once every other week. Also just bathed ours...it gets rid of a lot of hair during shedding season..wwhich is now..and helps with the dander for alergies.
Good luck!
Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
Hey...we finally got to give JD some advice.
RE: the dog...yep..take teh dog for a long run
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
Don, I tried to answer your pm, but your mailbox is full!
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