Throwing-Up at the Sight of Babies...

This is very odd behavior...what do you think?

I have an adult (2-yrs. old) male Persian named Buster. Back in March, I bottle-fed some newborns (kept 2) and for the first week they were in the house, whenever Buster caught a glimpse of them...he would throw-up.

I would literally pick Buster up, bring him over their box where they were sleeping so he could take a peek and almost immediately Buster would start to gag...then throw-up. This behavior disappeared within a week or so of having the newborns in the house.

Presently, I have two 5-wk. old kittens that I am fostering & trying to wean (still on bottle). Yesterday, was the first time I let the little ones walk around their "nursery" room. Buster took a look in the room, kept on walking and guess what...he threw-up! He has thrown-up several times last night and into this morning.

He didn't eat breakfast and when I came home from work, he was hiding under the bed. I pulled him out...took a good look...eyes are clear...not dehydrated...body is cool...no runny nose, nothing hanging from his tush, etc. etc.

Buster decided to join us about 1/2 hour ago and went right to his food & water bowl. Ate like a little piggy. Before I call the vet. (for yet another appointment) any ideas why Buster would throw-up at the sight of fuzzy babies? Weird?

No real ideas here but that's strange I guess the sight of them make him sick, maybe he's wondering if there staying there. I don't mean to make light of it. Maybe it just makes him nervous, that would be a guess though.
I had a male basset hound then when he was like 5 yrs old we got a female 7 weeks old and he loved her for about 2 weeks then all of the sudden he no longer did, my hubby said maybe he thinks its time she leaves Hope he's ok for sure

He's doing what comes naturally - providing food (yuck) for babies. It's what most animals do for them... regurgitate chewed food which is easier to swallow for the babies. But as it's not really the right stuff (something he caught live in the bush), they shouldn't eat it, but don't fuss about what he's doing, he's being a good 'father'.

Spoke to my vet. last night and he seems to believe that Buster feels so nervous around the little ones, that he makes himself sick. Poor Buster.

Buster seems "normal" today. He came out for breakfast & is in his normal window seat watching the seagulls

Poor kitty!

Originally Posted by Larke

He's doing what comes naturally - providing food (yuck) for babies. It's what most animals do for them... regurgitate chewed food which is easier to swallow for the babies. But as it's not really the right stuff (something he caught live in the bush), they shouldn't eat it, but don't fuss about what he's doing, he's being a good 'father'.

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Where did you hear this? Cats do not regurgitate food for their young. The mothers feed them milk, and the fathers are usually long gone by birth. Tomcats naturally kill newborn kittens (so that the mother goes back into heat), not feed them.

Tomcats naturally kill newborn kittens (so that the mother goes back into heat), not feed them.

That is a sad fact!! I can't tell you how many newborns/kittens I've grabbed so the Tom's out there didn't have anything to feast on!! Large felines...you know, the lions, tigers, etc. do the same thing.

Anyway...glad Buster is not a tomcat...I believe he is just a big mushy sensitive Persian who gets nervous when little ones are around. In either case...Buster seems back to his normal "Buster-self" and all is well.

Originally Posted by Larke

He's doing what comes naturally - providing food (yuck) for babies. It's what most animals do for them... regurgitate chewed food which is easier to swallow for the babies. But as it's not really the right stuff (something he caught live in the bush), they shouldn't eat it, but don't fuss about what he's doing, he's being a good 'father'.

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Domestic cats don't regurgitate food for the kittens.

So, if I hadn't neutored my boy at home, he might have tried to kill my kitten?

Originally Posted by home.slice

So, if I hadn't neutored my boy at home, he might have tried to kill my kitten?

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it depends on a lot of factors such as temprement, whether the kitten mother was there (they kill the kittens in order to bring the female into heat) etc etc

just be glad you didnt take the risk

Men!!

He was such a such as a tomcat lol
(i had him neutored 1.5 years in).

Hi, sorry about my post re regurgitation... it seemed like a good idea at the time, but you're right.