If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like
they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
"Garret Swayne" wrote in message
hlink.net You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. No..! Don't do that..! See below. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com They're almost certainly doing exactly what you suggest, i.e. trying to cough up a furball. It's more common obviously in longhaired cats (you don't say if yours is a longhair) but all cats will do it from time to time. Does it happen very frequently, or is it a once in a while thing..? If you're really concerned, then see your vet, but I doubt it's anything serious from what you describe. Ivor |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
"Garret Swayne" wrote in message hlink.net... You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com It's a hairball. Do nothing at the time (maybe get a magazine to catch what they hack up.) Hairballs come from the gut, not the lungs so your cat is not in danger of choking. It is probably uncomfortable (vomiting usually is) but you can't do anything to help. Over the long term, brush or comb your cat so less fur gets in them. If you use dry food, consider adding a bit of wet, or using one of the "reduced hairball" formula foods. (The Purina one does wonders for my little hairball generators... went from 4 piles a week to 1 pile a month with four cats.) |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
In article ,
..._.. wrote: "Garret Swayne" wrote in message thlink.net... You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com It's a hairball. Do nothing at the time (maybe get a magazine to catch what they hack up.) Hairballs come from the gut, not the lungs so your cat is not in danger of choking. It is probably uncomfortable (vomiting usually is) but you can't do anything to help. Over the long term, brush or comb your cat so less fur gets in them. If you use dry food, consider adding a bit of wet, or using one of the "reduced hairball" formula foods. (The Purina one does wonders for my little hairball generators... went from 4 piles a week to 1 pile a month with four cats.) Brush the kitty frequently enough to remove shedding hair, as others have mentioned. Also there is something called "Petromalt" that will help kitty pass the hairballs. it is available at your friendly local pet labyrinth and seems to be tasty enough that kitty will eat it off your finger... Bubba likes it. Of course he'll eat most anything... Anyway, it seems to help. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
On Jun 1, 7:14 am, "Garret Swayne" wrote:
I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, Slap them? I would rather pistol whip them. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
|
#7
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
Wow, thanks Cheryl for sending the video link! After watching it, I believe
that's exactly what my Zacky is doing. I think he has asthma. He doesn't get these fits often, but every now and then. I should take him to a vet to have him checked out. Thanks again... -Garret "Cheryl" wrote in message ... On Fri 01 Jun 2007 10:14:12a, Garret Swayne wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav thlink.net: You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com Garret, this can be an asthma attack. Please have your cat seen by the vet. Here's a video of an asthma attack and while it looks like a cat horking up a hairball, watch the neck sticking out as if trying to straighten the windpipe to get air to breathe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG5vBaT21_c -- Cheryl |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
"Garret Swayne" wrote in message nk.net... Wow, thanks Cheryl for sending the video link! After watching it, I believe that's exactly what my Zacky is doing. I think he has asthma. He doesn't get these fits often, but every now and then. I should take him to a vet to have him checked out. Thanks again... -Garret "Cheryl" wrote in message ... On Fri 01 Jun 2007 10:14:12a, Garret Swayne wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav thlink.net: You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com Garret, this can be an asthma attack. Please have your cat seen by the vet. Here's a video of an asthma attack and while it looks like a cat horking up a hairball, watch the neck sticking out as if trying to straighten the windpipe to get air to breathe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG5vBaT21_c -- Cheryl Hi: My cat does the same thing. She gets shot of Depo/methylprednisolone about every three months. The vet says it's an allergy. vince |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
What should I do when my cat does this?
On Jun 7, 12:37 pm, "Garret Swayne" wrote:
Wow, thanks Cheryl for sending the video link! After watching it, I believe that's exactly what my Zacky is doing. I think he has asthma. He doesn't get these fits often, but every now and then. I should take him to a vet to have him checked out. Thanks again... -Garret "Cheryl" wrote in message ... On Fri 01 Jun 2007 10:14:12a, Garret Swayne wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav thlink.net: You know how sometimes cats get into a respiratory spasming thing like they're trying to clear something from their throat (a hairball or something??) I don't know what to call it. It's very rhythmic, and it appears to be involuntary, like they're choking on something and they're trying to expel it. Every cat I've ever had goes through this from time to time. They're obviously in distress. I want to help and I'm thinking maybe I should slap them on the back to help "dislodge" anything that's stuck there, but I don't know if that would help or hurt. I'd love to know what's going on and what I can do about it, but it never occurred to me until now to go online to a cat interest group and ask! So I'm asking. Does anyone know what that spasming is called, what causes it, and what we humans can do to help our little furry friends get over their episode? -Garret Swayne garret at garretswayne dot com Garret, this can be an asthma attack. Please have your cat seen by the vet. Here's a video of an asthma attack and while it looks like a cat horking up a hairball, watch the neck sticking out as if trying to straighten the windpipe to get air to breathe. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG5vBaT21_c -- Cheryl I learned a lot from this other video. (It sounds like it was written by some drug company, and of course it's off the net, but still..) What the narration said made sense. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkebV2tv_cs tom tac |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|