Cat regularly eats grass, been sick a couple of times..

blizeH

Hi,

Whenever I put down food for our cats, the one always rushes to the meat bowl and starts eating, but the other one usually goes outside first, eats some grass, comes back in and then eats some from the biscuits bowl - very rarely eats meat even if I put down something nice like a tiny bit of steak, chicken or fish that I saved them from my plate (may not be a sign of anything other than he prefers biscuits!) but always the grass thing.

And yeah he's been sick a couple of times in the house now, in the space of maybe 4 months or so? Probably worth noting in the one month when we left him in the house he was fine, it's only since he started going outside and eating grass that's the problem.

So my question really is do some cats just like grass, and not really know that it'll upset their stomach? Or do cats only eat grass if they feel ill anyway, in which case I'll get him to the vets asap

Cheers

ljonski

When cats lick themselves they end up with a lot of fur in their mouths. They then eat grass which makes them sick -discharging the fur balls in their throats. al perfectly natural HTH

blizeH

Ah, you're a star - thank you! I've known quite a few cats in my time and little Murphy loses a *lot* more hair than all of them put together pretty much, I need to hover his bed every day without fail, and when you stroke him you see the hairs fly everywhere... so that would make sense

Guess I just need to try and teach him to try and be sick outside if possible then - I guess after he's been ill pick him up, show him the sick, then put him outside? Girlfriend is a right soft touch so will probably go "Aw, but he's poorly so I don't want to pick him up" but think it needs to be done ;o

Olokia

I don't think showing it to him will work. They just won't associate it.

I found the best way, is to watch him when you know he will be sick. When he starts, pick him up and put him outside quickly. Tell your gf he isn't ill because he did this on purpose to remove the fur.

Misstress

Maybe regular brushing will help cut down on the amount of fur balls he gets?

Make-it-3

You can't really train a cat where to be sick - they just do it. Its fairly natural process for them, not distressing in the way it is for humans. If you ever see them in the act they just retch, throw up and walk away for you to clean up!

Its a bit of a design flaw that they lick themselves clean but then get stuck with fur in their stomach which they need to clear as otherwise it creates a blockage. Grass is their preferred vomiting aid. If you do have a very hairy cat do brush them regularly as this will help as being sick every day is a bit excessive. Although the cat could have just got into the habit now of clearing his stomach in this way before he eats.

david39

It happens with our hairy dog, too - a skye terrier - and the one we had before him.
He does go outside to do it though, thankfully, but it happens quite regularly. We keep a small area in the garden with a tuft of long grass in it, as he seems to prefer it to the shorter lawn grass.
Afterwards, he just walks away from it as though it is quite normal (which it is) and usually comes back into the kitchen and asks for something to eat.

blizeH

Brush... a cat...? Sounds crazy! But may give it a try then, thanks guys. Do you use one of those hair catching pet brushes or what?

And many thanks for the advice in general guys, really appreciate it - good to know it's normal and he's not ill Just never seen this before, my parents always have cats that don't really moult like Murphy does...

moonrakerz

blizeH wrote: »

Brush... a cat...? Sounds crazy! But may give it a try then, thanks guys. Do you use one of those hair catching pet brushes or what?

This is what you want..........

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Furminator-133-Cat/dp/B000PU31MY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1302865515&sr=8-2

my moggy loves it ...........

blizeH

Ordered - thank you!

leandygandy

Ask your vet for some Katalax - it's not particularly expensive.

As ours are indoor cats they groom a lot more during the day so furballs are more of a problem than they would be with outdoor cats.

It's like a meaty gel, you give them a small pea sized amount once or twice a week and it helps them digest the fur so it comes out during their stools rather than them vomit it up.

We've found it really helps and we've only had one or two acidents indoors since we started using it a couple of years ago.