Cats, Christmas tinsel and sibling rivalry.

[wolf63]

I have had my new pusscats for nearly two weeks now.

Frankie has started chucking up. It seems that he has not yet realised that he is a carnivore (18 months old!) and has eaten some red tinsel lying around from Christmas.

The vet said that 'it will pass' when I phoned him earlier.

Can somebody reassure me, through experience, that he will remove it from his guts through the two normal routes (upwards or downwards) and not via an operation.

He is slightly quiet, but not at all ill and is still eating and bullying his sister, Merlin (same litter). In fact they had a major fight last night - started by food, seems like Frankie the invalid really, really likes Tesco chicken.

Not sure who won the battle, I left them to it. I have just finished the anti-biotics from my previous encounter with Merlin's teeth.

[kaylamay]

tinsel should pass without any problem unlike somethings that cats like to eat and shouldn't. There is always the chance that an intestinal blockage can occur although probably unlikely unless he scarfed the whole box of tinsel. I would just keep an eye on him an if he continues to eat drink and poop like normal then he should be fine. IF however he stops eating or pooping and becomes lethargic or exhibits any unusual behavior then i would take him in for a blockage check. As with crawling babies who will pick up and put anything off the floor in to their mouths cats will do the same(especially with rubber bands!) Just do your best to keep things that can be easily eaten away from curious kitties. I dont buy tinsel anymore as my cats too would dine on it and have tinsely decorated poo after.
If i suspect one of my cats has eaten something that i know will pass without problem i will give them some tuna or sardines in oil to help aid in elimination. Dont give tuna or oil too often as this tends to loosen the stool.
Mikala

[kaylamay]

I forgot to address the sibling rivalry. I have a multi cat household and end up reffing many a cat fight. There is always a "pecking" order or hierachy(sp?) when you have more than one cat. Most of the time they may snuggle up together and share washes, and at other times the fur flies for no apparent reason that you can see. I will usually ignore them as the hissing and thumping only last a few seconds, but if it goes on longer i go stomping and yelling which causes the fight to breaks up immediately as cats scatter to under to sofa. Once, i came running as i heard a major cat fight going on just to find it was only one male cat having a fight with his own tail! It sounded like WWIII had begun.

[wolf63]

Kaylamay - the tuna in oil is being ignored by the ill cat and wolfed down by his sister. If she gets the runs it should be fun - she is a long haired cat.

He is still a bit lethargic, but I phoned the vet and he said that there was a very low risk of it being a major problem. I have to search the litter tray for red tinsel.

With him being poorly his sister is taking over at the dominant cat, and then when he feels a bit better he has to fight her for dominance again.

They fight over toys too - but he is dominant and she is nervous (normally) so there is never much of a fight.

I might see if I can give him something really greasy and see if it helps - maybe a hairball remedy.

[kaylamay]

Hope all goes well Wolf63. Just think of yourself as an archaeololgist when sifting the litter box for tinsel covered poop. I was a Medic in the US Army and worked on the Pediatric Ward at an Army hospital when a baby was brought in after swallowing an open safety pin. I was the lucky girl who was volunteered to rifle around in his poopy diapers for days after to see if it passed. SO.... sifting for tinseled poop should be a breeze. lol! Good luck!
ps. You're funny!

[wolf63]

Have now been to the vet and he gave Frankie a jab of antibiotics, he is still ill but obviously much better.

No tinsel came through, which was fortunate - for me anyway. The tinsel probably upset his system.

His sister has ceded to his dominance again and peace rules.

It may be a few days before he starts rushing around trashing the house during the night - the neighbours will be grateful for that.

PS do they have many babies in the US army? I have heard of boy soldiers, but I thought that they usually waited until they were out of nappies ;-)

[caduceus]

whilst there is a heirarchy that exists in multi cat households there is also the territorial issues, for example the most dominant of cats will still be wary in an area that is 'guarded' by other cats. I have one who owns the bathroom but will not come for his food until his sisters are all head down butt up with theirs. As for the tinsel, it should have passed by now - if not would call vets again to be sure.
I have a cat who regularly chucks up - this is not an illness in her case, she is merely taking on the role as parent for the other cats and regurgitating (sp?) rather than what we see as chucking up - just a thought.