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Cats/our cat attacks her tail

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Expert: - 1/9/2009


Question
Our cat is 6 years old and we had her for 4 years now.  She was taken to our vet about a month or so ago because she was attacking her tail and yelping.  This is the first time that something like this has happened.  He cleaned her anal glands which seemed to be impacted.  A couple a days later she was attacking her tail again, but not as aggressive as before.  Couple of weeks later she start attacking her tail more often than not. I noticed that she is having difficulty in releasing her bowels.  Her stool is very hard and in small pieces and odorless.  When we first got her, her stools were normal up until now.  We have not changed her food since we had her.  My husband and I are trying to slowly take her off moist food.  She eats quite a bit of dry. She weighs 14 pounds (more muscular than fat).  The vet gave us a tube of cat lax to give to her, but she refuses it.  We have a friend who recommended Booda Mix.  She said it's powder form that is sprinkled onto their food and it's flavorless and it works like a stool softener.  Can you please tell me where I can purchase this or if you have any other recommendations that might help soften her stool and/or from her attacking her tail.

Thank you so much!

Mary (sleepless in Chicago/Westchester, IL)

Answer
Mary,

It's not a bad thing for cats to have wet food, it's all about quality. I would suggest that you check out catinfo.org to find out more about the type of diet cats require. In an effort to soften this little girl's stool you may want to consider giving her about a tablespoon of canned pumpkin daily, just be sure that it's not pumpkin pie mix, cats aren't usually fond of the spices and they don't need the sugar. I have heard lots about Booda Mix and unfortunately it isn't available in my area. I can't say that I feel comfortable in recommending something that I haven't been able to research so I think that your kitty's best option would be canned pumpkin, butter or even plain vaseline, all of these will work as a stool softener.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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