strange question!?

shootsielove11

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Hi, ok my cat just went number2 in her liter box and I happened to be walking by and noticed her poop was connected by something. I thought to myself ill take a look when she's done. Turns out a minute later she's rubbing her bum on the ground, she had a clump of my hair in her poop and bum. I grabbed a tissue and helped pull a strain of my hair out. So my question is..if she continues to eat my hair by accident will/can she get hurt internally!? I know strange question but I've never dealt with that before and I know how damaging it can be if they ingest dental floss or strings, I'm just not sure if human hair has the same affect.
 

just mike

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Hi, ok my cat just went number2 in her liter box and I happened to be walking by and noticed her poop was connected by something. I thought to myself ill take a look when she's done. Turns out a minute later she's rubbing her bum on the ground, she had a clump of my hair in her poop and bum. I grabbed a tissue and helped pull a strain of my hair out. So my question is..if she continues to eat my hair by accident will/can she get hurt internally!? I know strange question but I've never dealt with that before and I know how damaging it can be if they ingest dental floss or strings, I'm just not sure if human hair has the same affect.
Maybe someone will have a more scientific answer but I have experienced this as well, when my cat Swiffer was a kitten.  She loved hair of any kind.  Her own, mine, the dogs, the other cats etc.  I finally talked to the vet about it.  Swiffer was not experiencing any issues due to the hair but I wanted to make sure it's not harming her.  The vet informed me hair is not digestible... DUH!!!  LOL... Anyway, treat it like any other hairball type of issue I would have with my other cats.  Which I did.  He also told me to be sure to clean up any of my own hair and the other animal's hair that I might find and to brush them all daily, which I do anyway.  From what I understand... and I'll gladly take a correction from someone if I'm wrong, ingesting human hair is no more harmful to the cat than when it ingests it's own hair.  Now, I didn't ask the vet about dyed hair, hair sprays etc. that some people put on human hair.  When ingested I'm sure those chemicals can't be good for a cat so if you have concerns there, call your vet would be my suggestion.
 
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shootsielove11

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Hhhhhmmmm I like your suggestion, it totally makes sense. I only bugged out about it because I brought her to the vet today (she's a perfectly healthy kitty) and she was telling me how dentalfloss and strings should be kept away from cats, especially kittens because it can be harmful internally and sometimes they need emergency surgery to remove it. But of course I see my hair in her poops after our vet visit. LoL. Thank you for the response it totally put me at ease :)
 

otto

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Never PULL anything out of the hind end of the cat, you don't know what it might be attached to or twisted around. You could cause serious damage and pain.

I'd be making sure there is no loose hair of yours around any more for the cat to ingest.
 
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shootsielove11

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Oh wow that's scary won't do that again. And yes I cleaned any and all of my loose hairs I could find, but Like my cat I shed also, haha...but I haven't noticed anything like that since, and she is ok (no signs of being in pain) but I would never want anything to happen to her on account of me, so thanks for that advice. Also she loves going into the bathroom, that's were I cleaned first and its also were most of my hairs are at the bottom of the tub...The bathroom is off limits to her now.
 
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shootsielove11

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Also, Otto... I see your a top cat :), quick question, currently I use iams dry kitten food and half a can of wet food that I put a little water in for her, the wet food I usually get is friskies shredded, she really seems to like it. But she's an indoor kitty and my princess, what's the best (healthiest) brand of food you would suggest? Like if she's an indoor kitty should I get the kind that says for indoor cats, I don't understand what the difference would be? I've always had outdoor cats and they were fine with iams dry food and that's it?g
 

otto

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Indoor cat food is a marketing ploy. Cats should be fed an all canned diet, grain free, preferably fruit and veggie free too. I prefer foods that don't contain any dye (artificial color) or artificial flavorings, also. However I know cost can be an issue. If you can only afford the grocery store brands, read the labels and avoid things like wheat gluten, corn and anything with fish in it. Make sure there is an identified meat protein source as the first ingredient. :)
 
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