My cat is always cleaning herself and then she throws up everywhere!?

Question

Is there anything that can be done about this as she is ruining the rugs and settee's???Thanks!

Answer 1

I will agree with the several responders who mentioned furballs. However, I have noticed with my longhair that it's not only the fur, it's what's on the fur. When he goes outside and gets excessively dirty by rolling around in the garden or grass (which he takes great joy in doing), he comes back in and starts grooming. If I don't catch him and wipe him down with a moist towel and then brush him, I know he's due for a furball.

It's not just indoor/outdoor cats that experience this. Indoor only cats can, too, for lots of reasons, including the gastly things found in carpets, the cleaning agents to try keeping the carpets cleaned, dust mites in the home (those aren't sunbeams you see in the sunshine) and bedding, and other creepy stuff we don't necessarily see.

A few suggestions:

1. Bathe your cat from time to time (no more than once per month). I've done it many times, so I know it can be done. However, some cats are tougher to bathe than others, so you might need to go to a cat groomer. Pet Smart has cat grooming services that run about $54.

2. Watch your cat to see if there has been excessive grooming, then either put the cat outside, or put her on a floor where you can clean up the kelk easily (kitchen, bathroom, laundry room -- anything with a tile floor).

3. Cover the settees when she has access to them.

4. As mentioned, brush her daily.

5. Make sure you're not changing her food drastically. Cats can't tolerate food variety unless it is introduced slowly, by mixing in just a little new with the old, then adding more new, less old, until the transition is completed. Sudden food changes, even flavors, can trigger the kelking, as it is seen as a foreign substance by the digestive tract.

6. Make sure the food you use is a premium quality food brand that can be obtained only through pet supply stores or directly from your vet. The grocery store over-the-counter stuff is the equivalent to cat "junk food." NutroMax is a great premium catfood. (No, I don't work for them; I just use their products.)

7. Get her checked for fleas. If you have seen any flea dirt (little black specs) anyplace where she has been, especially her bedding, you can bet she is bothered by fleas. Some cats are allergic to fleas and react by kelking up. If you're not sure about this -- and believe me, indoor-only cats CAN get fleas -- check with your vet.

After following suggestions 1-6, if there is no improvement, it's vet time. Your vet can determine if a laxative is needed. One responder mentioned that overdoing a laxative is a bad thing. She's right. I don't recommend using the Laxatone without a vet's supervision myself. And it's the vet that can address the flea issue, if that is the determined problem.

Best wishes to you and your cat kid! And to your house!

Answer 2

Your cat is either long-haired, or a "shedder". There are some things you can do that are easier and probably less time consuming than cleaning up hairballs and throwup everywhere.

First, brush your cat every day. Initially this will require more effort until all loose hair is removed and under control. Then it will be a less maintenance-only effort. Still, the key is brushing every day. You can also find hairball controlling formulas of cat food, and get a product called Laxatone from your local vet. Be sure you don't overdo that though, since you can actually cause digestive problems and diarrhea if you use too much - the product is basically a laxative.

Having said that, you do need to consult a vet. If your pet is shedding excessively or throwing up from causes other than excessive grooming, it could be indicative of other health problems that need to be ruled out or treated. I have a cat that throws ups alot, and it's related to poor kidney function. We put her on a special prescription diet, and that does help. But it also illustrates my point - don't assume. Get the advice of a professional and maybe save more than your floors!

Good luck -

Answer 3

This is a very natural course of events when you own a kitty cat. It is probably the cats hair which is making it throw up in the first place. Depending upon the cat it may be possible to reduce the cats upheaval by grooming it yourself. Go to a pet store and get a brush for your kitty. You can brush the cat which a lot of cats love and this will also provide some bonding time for you and your kitty.

The only other option I know of, which the cat would hate you for would be to shave the cat.

Answer 4

It sounds like a possible hairball problem. There is special food that is made that is designed to cut down on the number of hairballs that your pet will have. Other options would include combing her more often to reduce the amount of loose fur she is cleaning.

One other solution that may have evaded you is the possibility of fleas. My fiancee had a cat that had a similar problem, and when she took it to the vet, it turned out that fleas were causing this problem. If this is the case, she will likely have some rougher patches of skin where she is being bitten. If you notice this, get her some flea killer and this may take care of the problem.

Answer 5

When cats lick themselves they swallow all that fur and they can't digest it therefore they throw up. If they can't throw up they go out side to eat grass to make themselves chuck.
You should brush your cat with a soft cat brush which will pick up most of the loose hair on her body and she wont swallow so much fur and throw up so much. and thoroughly clean all the parts where she has been sick in the past with antibacterial stuff and carpet friendly bleach as cats usually are ill in the same spots as the smell is still there. When you can hear or see her trying to throw up in your house, pick her up and put her somewhere where she can be ill, keep doing that and she will get used to chucking in that spot. If she is still doing it take her to the vet.

Answer 6

She is throwing up due to excessive hair in her digestive tract...to decrease the amount of loose 'shedding' hair in her coat, groom her at least 3x a week...if she is a long haired cat then more frequent....a comb is better than a brush....also there are lanolin wipes for cat fur you get purchase in the pet st ore or grocery store...

Dry food promotes shedding so give her a mix of canned food which has more oils in it.

If she does not drink a lot of water, buy her a aerating water dish so she has cool, recirculated water [cats don't like standing water]

Answer 7

We have a kitten (7 months), with long hair. The vet advised me that it is best to brush her every day, to avoid matting.

Being an indoor cat, without access to grass (which is ingested to aid fur balls) I have purchased both grass-bits tablets and soft-malt (in a tube), which she absolutely loves. Plus some malt-bits treats, she has not been troubled with any fur balls. She doesn't mind her back being brushed, but takes exception to her hind quarters being scrutinised!

As suggested, a trip to the vets would be advisable, in case it it something else causing her to be ill.

Incidentally, my kitten advice book states that indoor cats groom for an average 4-6 hours daily!

Answer 8

Hi there sounds like it COULD be a hairball, if the cat is swallowing a lot of hair and ythrowing up i would get him checked out by a vet just to b safe xx

Answer 9

It's normal, but it sounds like she's throwing up hairballs. Two things that help my cat with that are brushing her everyday, sometimes twice a day. The more loose hair she swallows, the more she will throw it up. Also, I feed her Purina cat food for indoor cats/hairball control. She rarely spits up at all. (it's in a green bag).

Answer 10

Brush her...alot! She's probably barfing up hair balls, right? If you brush her every day she will like up less hair and puke less. Also go to your vet or the pet store and get a tube of stuff that you put on her paws and when she licks it off it helps her digestive system so she doesn't puke as much. There is also cat food that you can buy that is specially formulated to help her digest the hair balls easier.