Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/13/2008

Question
Hello Tabbi, hope your well. Me and Diana are doing fine. I enjoyed the photos of your cats. I have an unusual question about mt cat, Diana. My original email was concerning her not letting me sleep,(meowing, walking on me) you advised me to ignore her when she tried to wake me, which has worked. The only time I don't ignore her is if its morning, I figure she is hungry and wants her canned food, so that is no problem. Last nite I went to sleep and was awakened about 2 am by the smell of feces. I figured she had used her litter box and got up to clean it. To my surprise there was nothing in it. I panicked, thinking she had defacated in the bedroom. I searched everywhere, under the bed, behind furniture, nothing. I searched the whole apartment and found nothing. The whole time Diana was sitting on her window perch with a bemused look on her face. Can cats, well, pass gas? Is she doing this on purpose? This is not the first time this has happened. Since her attemps to wake me no longer work, has she figured out another way to wake me? You said Calico's were very smart, she is a pickle. I know there is nothing I can do to stop this, and it is sort of funny in its own way, I am just wondering if this is her way of saying "I win!" Thank you again for your time, John~~

Answer
Hi John!

Yes, though it's not that common, cat's do get gas.

Sometimes it's caused by feeding cat food that is too low in fiber and soy. Make sure you feed a high quality brand of dry food, not the cheaper 'bargin brands'. Do not give her milk. You can add Sweet Acidophilus to her food (it's in the dairy case at the supermarket). It helps digestion and helps to elimate gas. And don't give her too many people food/table scraps.

If the gas gets EXCESSIVE it could be caused by Inflammatory Bowel Disease, an intestinal infection, food allergy, etc. and she would need to see the vet. But that is just for information, I really don't think excessive gas will become an issue.

Put a little butter or mayonnaise down her front legs periodically so she has to lick it off. It will help keep her system 'oiled' to help prevent constipation which can cause gas.

It may be a little far-fetched to think that Diana could pass gas at will BUT with a stubborn and determined calico nothing is impossible! She may have gas periodically and is smart enough to expel it where she know's it will bother you. Again, if you are sure it's nothing, ignore that behavior too. If that won't work either to get your attention, then be prepared that she may come up with another ingenious scheme. It will be fun to see what she can come up with next as an attention getter (smile).

Tabbi