Question:
I adopted my 14-year-old cat about 3 years ago and for some reason she likes to pull her fur out. I never really give much thought to it because she doesn't have any bald spots or anything. However, I always worry that she might get hairballs from swallowing the fur. She wouldn't touch any hairball remedy no matter what I do (already tried mixing it in her food, spreading it on her paws, hiding it in her treats, getting the salmon favor, the cat nip favor, the malt favor, ...). So I decided to get her some hairball formula dry food and wet food, but whenever she eats that, she throws up a lot and actually looks sick. She's pooping fine even without the hairball remedy. Am I worrying too much?

Also, what's the normal color for cat poop? My cat's poop is a dark chocolate brown and it's always been like this. Should I concern about this?

Answer:
Both of my cat's poop is chocolate brown.

If she doesn't get hairballs I wouldn't worry about it. If she does, try putting the hairball remedy stuff around her mouth.

What's the "hairball dry food formula" you're feeding her?

Answer:
try mixing a little olive oil in with her food, and give her a good comb. Lexie my cat, used to pull at her fur, but after a good comb with the flea comb she stopped.

and no, you are not worrying too much, if your cat looks sick you should get her checked over by a vet.
At one stage my Lexie looked sick, sunken eyes and just not good... you may need to get some bloods done. By my calculations your cat is about 17yrs old... blood tests should be done to rule out any old age illnesses that cats can get.
Many are not necessarily treatable, but meds can be given to help your cat lead a normal happy life.
Please go to the vet and let us know

Answer:
Originally Posted by Quins-mum
By my calculations your cat is about 17yrs old... blood tests should be done to rule out any old age illnesses that cats can get.
Many are not necessarily treatable, but meds can be given to help your cat lead a normal happy life.

My cat is now 14-year-old. I adopted her when she was 11. I do take her to her vet for annual blood test, the last one was done in June 2006. Everything seems ok from that blood test. However, I couldn't get any urine sample for the vet as I have mentioned in my other post. My cat absolutely refused to pee using the sterile litter crystals the vet gave me (it cost me US$9!!! ). I tried to get some urine while she's peeing, but she turned and scratched me and at the same time pee all over the place... Can anyone please help me???

I tried Science Diet, Royal Canine and a Japanese brand hairball dry food. The first 2 type made her sick and she wouldn't touch the Japanese brand (my seems to like it but it gives him diarrhea...)

Is there a special quality of olive oil I should use? Can I use cooking olive oil?

Answer:
If you have lots of trouble getting a urine sample, the vet can insert a syringe into the bladder. I KNOW it sound barbaric,,, But "apparently"its painless(yeah right... I'd ask for pain relief if it was my baby)
Or you can put shredded paper in your litter tray instead of litter and the vet can take a sample from that... check with them tho, as I know they can do that with Diabeties tests.
Or limit the amount of litter you use in the tray, and see if you can collect any fluid that hasnt been absorbed.- you can suck it up with a syringe.

As for poop colour - Lexies is chocolate brown... BUT when she poops, it stinks the whole house out!!! (dont let her know I told you that tho! -coz cats are pretty private in that department... Im sure she would hate me broadcasting her bowel movements over the net ). I guess as long as its not runny and has no blood, then colour is detramental to diet.

Answer:
"Two common ways of taking urine samples at the veterinarian's office are cystocentesis (a very thin needle is inserted through the skin into the bladder and an uncontaminated urine sample is obtained) and by expression, in which the veterinarian puts external pressure on the bladder causing the cat to urinate. Cystocentesis is the most accurate, cleanest way of obtaining a urine sample and is probably less painful for the cat than the expression method. "

My cat is suffering from kidney disease, which means we need to provide urine samples every so often. We've had to do the cystocentesis, and it really didn't seem to bother him that much - except for the fact that four big humans were trying to hold poor little kitty on his back, an unnatural position which any creature would be unhappy about.

Good luck with whatever method you use, and most of all good luck with your cat.

Answer:
Thanks everyone, I guess I could ask the vet to try the two ways mentioned above. Still, the insertion seems horrible...I always find it amazing that cats don't seem to be bother much by needles. Everytime I take my cat to the vet for blood test, she doesn't mind being shaved or the needle (but she minds VERY VERY much when I try to trim her nails!!!). I whined every time when I was in the hospital and had daily blood test done on me!!!

Answer: