Does anybody have a cat that eats their fur after brushing?

[misty8723]

If I don't pick up all the fur I get off Cricket during/after brushing her, she'll eat it. I did ask the vet, who just laughed. She said some cats do that including their clinic cat. So I guess it's okay, it just seems really weird.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Feeby (19+ yo) eats her own hair all the time. She grooms and will even pull out bits of her own hair and eat it (no balding or any issue with her skin, I swear she pulls some out for the sole purpose of eating it). She would eat it off the brush when she is brushed if we would let her.

She has done this all her life. It does seem weird, but apparently not to her - or Cricket!!

 

[heatherwillard0614]

If I don't pick up all the fur I get off Cricket during/after brushing her, she'll eat it. I did ask the vet, who just laughed. She said some cats do that including their clinic cat. So I guess it's okay, it just seems really weird.

Omgoodness lol when we are finished brushing Gabby and take the floof out of her brush (it's one that u push a button and it pushes the fur up for easy cleaning) she has to sniff it every time and always tries to eat any of her floofs that I have cleaned out and sat down while I'm still brushing her. I thought she was just a weird silly little girl hahaha

 

[arr]

Our boy does this. He wants to eat the hair out of the brush, but I don’t let him. Any hair he finds on the floor, he eats.

 

[heatherwillard0614]

I guess this is way more common than I thought lol
I'm serious I truly thought Gabby was just a silly little weirdo who liked trying to eat her floofs.. when she would lick them and get them on her tongue she would then try to get them off her tongue she couldn't make up her mind weather she wanted to eat them or not lol I always tried to stop her though..
Well now I know it's a kitty obsession lol

 

[Alldara]

It's pretty normal. It's an instinct to hide their hair from predators who may smell it. Like covering their poo, some cats retain the behaviour even in a safe home.

 

[Docs Mom]

Yes my Pebbles is the same way...
I thought, you do NOT need to give yourself furballs ! So I take it away and dispose of any fur lying around. Goofy kitty!

 

[misty8723]

Interesting replies. I'm glad to know Cricket isn't the only weirdo, lol. I did finally check with the vet just in case and I clean it up as quickly as I can because I don't want her getting hairballs (although she really very seldom does). I say to her, Cricket don't eat your fur! She says, why not?She also pulls pieces of cardboard off the scratchers, but just tosses them aside, doesn't eat them. So I don't think she has any real problems.