Question:
Iggy is our 2-year-old shorthair cat. He was a stray and trapped at 6 weeks old. We got him from our local humane society shortly after. Initially, Iggy had problems with explosive diarrhea. We tried six to eight dry-food brands, both from the store and the vet. He had problems with all. We then started giving him just canned food, and his problems cleared up completely. About six months ago, he started chewing on things. First, he was eating shoelaces. Then he started eating holes in fleece blankets and socks. He eats chunks out of things, and we never see them again (not in his stool or vomiting). I was wondering if he could have some type of dietary deficiency. He is otherwise active and playful. He loves to fetch! Iggy also wants to go outside and breaks through our screen door. Is there any safe way to secure a cat in the yard during the summer? He stands at the door and cries when the kids are out in the yard.
A.C., Burnsville, MN Aug 08, 2010
Answer:
Siamese and part-Siamese cats are notorious wool chewers, suckers and eaters. Premature weaning, lack of dietary fiber or, more likely, some essential mineral or other nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids may all play a role in this frequently obsessive-compulsive behavior. Try giving your cat a 1/2 teaspoon of catnip; and put a drop of fish oil and a pinch of chopped sprouted wheat grass or Barley Green for cats, working up to a 1/2 teaspoon daily of each. A 1/2 teaspoon of human grade pyrophyllite clay, such as Sacred Clay from Ee Wah Kee, may also prove beneficial. Many cats enjoy nibbling from a pot of wheat-grass sprouts, a natural source of fiber your cat may crave. Try giving Iggy regular walks in a harness. You hold the leash and follow him -- the reverse of a dog walk where the dog follows you.
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