Question about older cat

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NWBluePenguin - 18 Sep 2006 03:41 GMT

My cat is 15 years old and such a sweet girl. She still has lots of vim and
vigor. About a year ago she started throwing up hairballs. I've bought
hairball medicine, hairball control food and have tried everything. Before
that, she never had a problem with hairballs. She also throws up just her
food now too. Not all the time, but about every 2-3 days she will throw up
a couple of times.

Is this normal for an older cat? Other than throwing up, she doesn't seem
to have any problems. She's happy, playful and very content. Thank you in
advance for any information or experience you can share.

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Matthew - 18 Sep 2006 03:46 GMT

Have you changed brands or give multiple brands of food. If so switch to
one type or back to the old brand.

You also may want to try a blander brand of food.

Plus schedule a vet visit changes in health for an older cat is a definite
vet visit

> My cat is 15 years old and such a sweet girl. She still has lots of vim
> and vigor. About a year ago she started throwing up hairballs. I've
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> to have any problems. She's happy, playful and very content. Thank you
> in advance for any information or experience you can share.

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tension_on_the_wire - 18 Sep 2006 04:57 GMT

> My cat is 15 years old and such a sweet girl. She still has lots of vim and
> vigor. About a year ago she started throwing up hairballs. I've bought
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> to have any problems. She's happy, playful and very content. Thank you in
> advance for any information or experience you can share.

Recurrent vomiting in an older cat can be a presenting symptom of
hyperthyroidism. The only way to diagnose it for sure is to get
bloodwork drawn, so I second the recommendation that you have her seen
by a vet.

--tension

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The Polish-Kraut - 18 Sep 2006 13:37 GMT

>> My cat is 15 years old and such a sweet girl. She still has lots of vim and
>> vigor. About a year ago she started throwing up hairballs. I've bought
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>> to have any problems. She's happy, playful and very content. Thank you in
>> advance for any information or experience you can share.

>Recurrent vomiting in an older cat can be a presenting symptom of
>hyperthyroidism. The only way to diagnose it for sure is to get
>bloodwork drawn, so I second the recommendation that you have her seen
>by a vet.
>
>--tension

I would suggest taking her to the vet for a complete checkup. My 17
year old Moses started that and the vet put her on meds for her
stomach that she had to her half an hour before every meal to help her
keep her food down.

As for hairballs - maybe brush her more often??

My furbabies

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

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NWBluePenguin - 18 Sep 2006 21:11 GMT

Thank you for all the answers to my question. I have had her to the vet and
they say it's nothing to worry about since she is healthy and happy. I
brush her very often and no matter how well she is brushed, she still has
hair floating off continuously. Thank you for your time and your answers.

>>> My cat is 15 years old and such a sweet girl. She still has lots
>>> of vim and vigor. About a year ago she started throwing up
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
>
> http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

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~*Connie*~ - 19 Sep 2006 00:19 GMT

since she has been checked out by a vet (and I am assuming there was no
weight loss) the next question is what are you feeding her? if it is dry
food, you might want to consider switching to a canned food, one with low
carbs, and no wheat gluten.

why no wheat gluten?
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/read.php?8,442555,442787#msg-442787

Wheat is a very hypoallergenic ingredient. Gluten is the protein part of
wheat. It is this protein that is the hyperallergen.

Gluten sticks to the intestinal villi which are tiny finger-like projections
to increase the surface area of the gut lining to help absorb nutrients.
When gluten sticks to these villi, they are damaged.

If you have ever heard of Crohn's disease....IBS/IBD (Irritable Bowel
Syndrome/Disease)....these patients are instructed to stay away from gluten
products. That is why there is an entire aisle in Whole Foods Market devoted
to gluten-free products.

I am sure that many cats can/do tolerate gluten but it does not belong in
cat food....but then neither does a lot of species-inappropriate ingredients
in commercial food.

(author of the post is a DVM)
Check out the links at the bottom of her post.

> Thank you for all the answers to my question. I have had her to the vet
> and they say it's nothing to worry about since she is healthy and happy.
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>>
>> http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

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NWBluePenguin - 20 Sep 2006 07:21 GMT

There is always a dry food bowl down and I feed her Science Diet or Iams
canned food. Her dry food is Science Diet for older cats with hairball
control. I will check to see if these have gluten in them. I do switch
between Science Diet and Iams. Have done this her entire life.

What's strange is I've had her all these years and this has never been a
problem. There have been no changes in her diet and no weight loss. It's
really strange. I've had people tell me it's due to her getting older and a
cats digestive system changes just like a humans does. I have a friend who
has an older cat that is doing the same thing. This friend lives in a
different state, but she uses the same type of cat food that I do.

Thank you for your advice.

This is a reply to ~*Connie*~, The Cabal, aka The Family, no longer
controls ASC-P

> since she has been checked out by a vet (and I am assuming there was
> no weight loss) the next question is what are you feeding her? if it
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
>>>
>>> http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

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rockie2323 - 18 Sep 2006 07:07 GMT

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