Nervous Norvis Kitty

[MaxineBrandywine]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here. I Googled and found this site. I am hoping I can get some general info and be pointed in the right direction.

I'm here on behalf of my Mom. She's 85 and lives in Fla. I live in Az. I asked her as much as I could think of to ask, hopefully it's sufficient to get some input so I can pass it along to her regarding a problem with one of her cats.

She has a cat that is just 3 years old. She's had the cat since it was a kitten. I believe my niece got it for her right out of a litter of a friend.

I'm pretty sure it's a female and has been neutered.

The cat is medium weight and a tabby or tiger, she's not exactly sure. She has another cat also and it's a male and much larger. They get along fine and play daily.

Here's the problem.
The fem has a problem with throwing up. She's been doing it since she's had her. My Mom feeds her a food that is supposed to help with hair balls. She feeds her (both cats) wet food once a day and leaves dry food down all the time.

She is a very nervous cat. Mom says if she (the kitty) is in the kitchen eating and she just walks in there she will run out. She is also intimidated by the bigger cat but only when it's feeding time. Other times they are fine together.

She doesn't throw up every day but almost every day and it is almost always after eating. She is healthy looking and acting. Like I said her and bigger cat play together regularly. She displays no signs of mal nutrition or loss of energy or anything that Mom can detect that would indicate that she is lacking in nutrition.

When she throws up Mom says she does not think it is hairballs or that is has much hair in it. It looks more like her food. She has taken to feeding her on her side table so the other can won't bother her till she's done eating. He doesn't have to do anything except aproach her dish and she runs away.

I don't know anything else to add. My Mother is a loving, sweet and very quiet woman and lives alone so I know that the cat has had no trauma in her lifetime.

Thanks everyone in advance for the help
Any other info needed that might help just let me know and I will find out from my Mom.

Thanks again
Maxine

[Traci]

Hairball control foods aren't always appropriate and they don't always address hairballs....they are mostly fiber-oriented, and don't truly address hairballs in many cats.

I strongly suggest mom gets kitty to the vet for a complete health checkup, and to discuss a more appropriate diet for both cats.

Which is kitty vomiting more often, the canned food or the dry food? Whichever she is vomiting the most, discontinue feeding it. But, chances are her vet can recommend a better diet that will address the issue.

It very well could be that she gulps her food and doesn't chew it entirely, in which she WILL regurgitate or vomit. This is not good because the cat doesn't get needed nutrients, isn't able to digest it properly, and poor nutrition can lead to serious health problems. But, the vet also has to rule out dietary insensitivities or allergens as well, since kitty has had this problem since kittenhood. She could be intolerant to certain ingredients and a hypoallergenic diet or one with a novel protein might suit her much better. Her vet can recommend a trial diet and see how she responds.

I agree the cats should be fed seperately, particularly if there is ANY evidence she is intimidated by the other cat at feeding times. Mom has to be creative and make feeding time an enjoyable experience for kitty. I would suggest feeding her in an entirely different room where the other cat cannot access until kitty is entirely finished with her meal. Dry food could still be left out during the day, but I would suggest it is placed in another room, a room where kitty feels is her safe haven, more comfortable in, etc.

Cats sometimes avoid their feeding station in the kitchen for several reasons. It could be because of a certain event that occured in the kitchen (i.e., too many people in the kitchen, heavy/noisy appliances, heavy foot traffic, a bad experience in the kitchen like someone dropping something and scaring kitty.....the possibilities are endless). For this reason, maybe choose a new feeding station or another room, etc. If the food is in another room, she doesn't have to be afraid and won't run from mom every time she enters the kitchen. She could also be associating it with early reprimanding, such as jumping on counters when she wasn't supposed to, etc.

Feeding, food, and the experience must be good for the cat, food is the number one "security blanket" for cats, so mom has to ensure the experience is as pleasant and safe for kitty as possible. Keep the other kitty away from this one when she is eating, try feeding her in a different room altogether, place another "feeding station" in another area of the house where kitty feels more safe and comfortable.

Again, vet check please, to ensure she is in excellent health and for appropriate dietary recommendations.

[MaxineBrandywine]

Thank you very much Traci. I will relay this info to Mom and kitty.

Maxine