Advice from long-haired cat owners

[esmecullen]

I dont know if Chrissie or anyone else can help but my moggie is a long haired Tabby, its a complete nightmare grooming him as he hate combs, brushes, he will swipe or bite me as soon as he sees the instruments. Karma very kindly gave me a suggestion for a grooming implement, and hopefully the pet shop I use will have them in tomorrow.

Anyway, over the past week Ripper has been not his usual self............ hacking up furballs and off his food. He is extremely picky about what he eats, he will NOT touch the usual commercial foods, its usually Iams chicken dried food during the week and of a weekend Gormet Perle fish selection. Now he is turning his nose up at the Iams

I got some furball paste and have given him that over 3 days, I think he is over the furball attack......... but he is still turning his nose up at the Iams. I'm practically at my wits end in trying to find something he will eat now...........I think he is having a little of the Iams when I am out, but if I put it in the dish he looks at me and walks away. I really dont fancy a trip to the vet just in case its nothing and he is just being a picky sod.

But if any long haired owner can advise me if there may be something wrong............. or is he being fussy and needs a change of food? He is almost 12, sort of an outdoor cat, he will go out for a while then come in, no probs with his toilet habits.

I'd also like to know if there is any food they have found their cats like........... must warm you he will not eat under any circumstances the furball control foods.......... vet advised Hills Science Plan furball control dried food when he had a prob when he was a kitten with furballs and you know how expensive that is................. he refused to eat it >

[Karma]

Hopefully you will be able to get one of the horse combs Esme. It was recommended to me by a cattery owner who had Persians.

I'm not sure what to suggest about food. Cat's are great at being picky and putting us on guilt trips for not mindreading what they fancy eating

I'm wondering if he's decided he would rather havbe his weekend treat everyday?
I would sugest you try this and if he eats it he is defo just being fussy!

Also, if he goes outdoors check that he's not eating at a neighbours.

If he seems well apart from not eating I don't think I'd be rushing off to the vets. Could cost you a lot of money for expensive tets he doesn't need and then they would probably just recommend their very expensive food again

It's a worry when our furries are off colour, wish they could talk and tell us what's up

[esmecullen]

Thanks Karma hun........... the pet shop I use has an equine section, the girl I spoke to knew exactly what I was on about and said they would be in at the end of the week She said that she uses one on her cat and he loves it lol.

It looks like I will have to try the weekend treat later and see if he is just being picky, I bet he is just to wind me up lol. I did try the James Wellbeloved dried for senior cats with delicate tums whilst he was having the furball session and he would not eat it on its own but did when I mixed it with the Iams............ cats! Lol

[Karma]

If my cat doesn't fancy what's in her bowl she throws it on the floor for the dog to eat

[lynwlt]

Some useful and interesting information about feeing cats here...

answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080318002344AAlmBpI

My own cat is 15 now and probably too old to transfer to raw food, but my older dog loves it and my new pup took to it like a duck to water.

Daisy the cat enjoys the occasional meal of raw chicken or beef or prawns.

Just because Hills Science plan, and Iams, cost more doesn't mean that they are better foods, and Hills in particular pay vets vast amounts of money to sell their foods.

[alvoram]

chrissie is a cat owner, she may be able to help, although I'm not sure if chrissie has long hair or not... ???

#icon_rofl# #icon_rofl# #icon_rofl#

[Chrissie]

Lol Alvo, I've got long hair & so have all 9 of my cats

Esme, several of mine aren't too keen on being groomed & it's been a particular nightmare trying to groom them one handed

Re him being off his food. Some cats tend to go off their food when they are molting or it could still be due to fur balls.

As for Iam's food, I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole - used to be a high quality food when it first came out, but not any more IMHO. Plus Iam's cruelty -

www.iamscruelty.com/

All of cats love Royal Canine Excigent - PM me your address & I'll send you a sample of it for Ripper to try

[Queenie Bee]

Ripper what a cool name for a cat I hope you get him sorted. Cats are so picky I am sure mine do it to wind me up . In the summer jessy made a point of moving in next door when we went away and it took me a fortnight to coax her back her way of saying s@* you then if your leaving me I will leave you

[foxy9212]

Apr 26, 2012 11:44:49 GMT alvoram said:

chrissie is a cat owner, she may be able to help, although I'm not sure if chrissie has long hair or not... ???

I used to have two cats but now I only have a parrot. My hair is one metre long though if that's any help.

Fox

PS: My cats used to eat boiled coley and the occasional bit of dried food although I'm not sure I approve of that as it can, allegedly, cause kidney probs in later life if puss doesn't drink enough water. As an afterthought, are you absolutely sure your cat isn't being fed elsewhere - one of mine was!!

[Karma]

Fox, that's very true re dried food and cat's having kidney problems, not all owners are aware of this.

My cat will only eat dry food so I always make sure that I buy one that states it's urinary tract friendly. I think the problem occurs more with your cheaper multi coloured cat biscuits!

[gizmondothefirst]

I can't offer any advice that will help, but can reassure you that ours (Burman) is a fussy git, and hates being brushed, to the point where I have scars on my wrists and he has knotted fur on his chest, tummy and hind legs/thighs(?).
We're taking him to the vets for a shave, as his legs are now knotted so tightly it can't be comfortable?! I feel bad for it but try and brush him once a day, but sometimes he won't allow any contact with the brush at all. He grabs me with his front paws and then rips my wrist/hand with his back paws! We love him to bits so we (I!!!) persevere.

As for food, sometimes he eats meat. Sometimes it has to be with gravy, sometimes jelly. Then he changes to fish only flavours. This wouldn't be too bad but he likes a change in brands too and sometimes that can be the 'posh' stuff, and others it can be the "is this good for him?" cheap stuff.
He always has wet and dry available throughout the day. 2 pouches and a bowl of biscuits (Currently Whiskers fish and Go-cat biccy's) The biscuits aren't our choice, they're his!
Some days he doesn't eat a lot, and we suspect he has either found himself a supplier or that he eats birds and mice? (He used to catch mice and then eat them all outside the back door! Gross!)

He seems happy enough, and only this week has discovered a new game which involves lying in ambush for my OH under the bed (hidden by the valance sheet) and grabbing her feet as she gets in and out of bed! Me and the real 'Giz' laugh at this!

I guess if Ripper seems happy enough and is his normal self then there is no need to worry...though I'm no expert.

[Chrissie]

Karma is right re the dried food needing to be good quality. As well as some foods causing kidney problems, the other major issue is that they can cause struvite stones. Merlin first started with Struvite problems about 10 years ago. He's been on prescription dry food ever since - again a Royal canine one - LP 34

[esmecullen]

Lol some of the replies.......... perhaps I should have worded the title better

Chrissie...... thanks for your offer............. I cant remember whether Royal Canin was one of the ones that his Lordship decided he didnt like and spat it across the floor I swear he made a sound that sounded like "phooey" as he did it lol. But anything is worth a go and will PM you my address.

I think I read something on MSE a few weeks back about Iams, but didnt really give it much thought, I think it was a glance and run.

You could be right about the moulting, I have a lot of cat hair all over the place and forever hoovering it up...... then again he still may be suffering with a furball and will bring it up in his own good time........ I have ran my hands over his stomach and he doesnt seem to be in any discomfort if I gently press, cant feel anything. I'll give him another dose of furball paste tonight.

Queenie......... his full name is Giles Wellington Mouseripper, but its a bit of a mouthful, and the looks I get when I go to the vet lol, and as he claws and rips everything......... Ripper is an apt name for him lol

Regarding the neighbours.............. I know one elderly guy has a box of cat treats........... I think they're called dreamies which he gives to the cats belonging to the girl next door....... I wonder if he's doign the same with Ripper?

thanks everyone........I'm sure its nothing but thought I'd run it past you............. I'll keep a eye on his toilet habits to be on the safe side

[Chrissie]

Esme, there are dozens of different varieties of Royal Canin. The sample of Exigent I've put in the post to you, is especially for fussy cats

[esmecullen]

And he is fussy Chrissie......... believe me.

Well the little monster last night decided that the Iams wasnt so bad after all and ate what was in his bowl. Even had seconds ???

This morning however, he's decided to play up and just turned his nose up at it. Spronkled some of the James Welbeloved crunchies on top and he is eating it again. I will be tearing my hair out before the week is over!

I've decided that as I've got to be in London for most of the afternoon and evening as well, I will leave him with a bowl of the wet food and a large bowl of crunchies & water he will just have to make do lol. When Chrissies sample comes and if he likes, I will get a small bag and see if its not just a one off and then buy a large bag to save money.

I wonder if its part of the cats plan for world domination to drive their slaves......... I mean owners potty beforehand?