|
Written by Wendy Christensen
Q: The problem with my cat is that he vomits almost everyday. The cat I'm talking about is my fiances'. She moved in with me for about six months (without the cat). But because of a problem that occurred, we had to move into her parents house. Right away Mittens (the cat) is all over me. He sleeps right next to me almost every night, he always comes to me, and he always wants me to pet him.
I think that the reason he is throwing up is because he is given wet food everyday. After reading some of your answers to questions, could it be because I am now in the house? Or, should we take him to a vet? Just so you know, he only vomits in our room, but he doesn't hide it. I'll be sleeping and then I'll wake up to what sounds like him chucking up a hairball but turns out to be the wet food he eats. It comes up the same way he ate it.
A: Please take Mittens to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Though all cats regurgitate (expel undigested food) and vomit occasionally, chronic vomiting like you describe is not normal for cats. Vomiting is one of those signs that can indicate a wide variety of illnesses, from mild to very serious. Only a veterinarian, with appropriate tests, can determine exactly what the problem is.
Since Mittens is so friendly towards you, I doubt that his vomiting is caused by your presence. It may be caused, or aggravated, though, by some other stressful aspect of your living situation. Mittens may be vomiting only in your room because he feels ill and WANTS you to see it, and to do something to help him.
Q: I have 3 cats; 2 of them will soon be 10 and the 3rd one is unrelated, about 8. They are all 3 fixed. The 8 year old (sometimes) attacks one of the others, holds him by the neck with his mouth and tries to get on top of him. I read somewhere to put your fist in his mouth when he does it and hold him down. I tried it a few times but he just ended up hating me. The problem is for the cat who is attacked. He gets different sized knots on his back and it worries me. If you have any advice, I would certainly appreciate it.
A: First, forget about "putting your fist in a cat's mouth and holding him down." That's some of the worst advice I've ever heard! Whatever the problem is, this kind of violent, cruel reaction will definitely make it worse. Punishment of any kind simply doesn’t work with cats, and, as you've observed, will only make them fear and dislike you.
What you describe as "attacks one of the others, holds him by the neck with his mouth and tries to get on top of him…" is not an "attack." It's feline mating behavior -- cat sex. Sex is in the brain as much as in other parts. Even spayed and neutered cats do this (some of my cats have done it). They often go through all the correct steps -- they just can't follow through. I imagine that this must be rather confusing for them (though I don’t know for sure).
It's possible that in trying to carry out an act for which he is not equipped, the "top cat's" confusion is causing him to be rougher with the "mountee" than he means to. Hence the injuries (knots) on the victim's back.
Please take the cat with the knots to the veterinarian. The knots could be abscesses or infected areas (from biting?) that could cause more serious problems later by spreading infection to internal organs.
Meanwhile, if you see the cats going at it, offer a diversion such as a treat or game, and try to lure them into separate rooms until they've focused their attention on something else. In other words, get their minds off it.
Q: There's a cat that I pass by everyday on my way to my summer job that I'm particularly worried about. The cat is excessively thin and doesn't groom her coat at all. It's full of dandruff. She's not very alert and seems very tired all the time (her eyes seem dim and her nose is dry). I suspect that her owner is starving her so that she'll eat mice in his store. I want to talk to him in the most non-hostile informative way as to my worries involving the cat.
I noticed in a column you mentioned not feeding a cat for even a couple days can cause it to develop a serious a fatal liver disease. Why is that exactly? I'd just like to have the facts before I go in there to talk to this man who I think is probably largely uniformed.
However in the case that he dumps her off as quickly as he took her (as it seems possible) how could I get her comfortable enough to come home with me? I've read things about cats becoming frightened in new homes so they should be confined to one room. The only way I could do this is if I had her in a carrier. But how could a stray cat be coerced into a carrier? I can't really get her used to it? Perhaps a food incentive? Perhaps covering it in my scent? She is very docile. Though I'm aware that any cat can be provoked to a nasty state.
Herding Cats at Home - August 2004 1
Herding Cats at Home - August 2004 3
|
