Loss of condition down to furballs

[kinkytoes]

One of my cats (just turned 3) seems to lose condition around this time of year. He suffers with furballs and goes right off his food. Anything he does eat is brought back up almost immediately. He's on a special diet due to risk of urine crystals, has wet and dry food, doesn't seem to keep anything down. Usually grass and/or fur brought up along with his food. He's lost some weight but not skin and bones yet.

Any ideas how can I keep him in good condition during this time? I do comb him and he happily takes the Katalax I offer him every few days.

Do you use a furminator? You get lots of fur out with one of them.

They are around £15 on amazon.

Never heard of one but sounds interesting. I'm on it!

What breed is he, kinky ? (I'm wondering eg long/short/thick/sleek hair etc.)

He's a rescue mog, tabby. Maybe some Bengal in him. Usually lush thick midlength fur but it's a lot thinner now, and actually the comb I have doesn't get much out of him as a result. Whereas his brother (who doesn't suffer the same way) has a sleeker smoother coat but I get loads out with the comb!

How is his tray use - if you know? (He may do his duty outside.)

PS - I'm assuming he's been to the vet recently and has had recent worm/flea etc treatments?

Only goes indoors in an absolute emergency, so I don't really know. As for flea/worm treatments, haven't for a while. I've got some stuff waiting to use (advocate I think) but just haven't got around to doing it. Will do tomorrow!

I'd keep on brushing/combing (not just because he'll enjoy it but because you actually get out more than you realize) and also keep him on a real regular flea, worm etc treatment. He may be hunting successfully at this time of year and need worming much more regularly than he's been getting over the winter. It's worth a try and to see how he does over the nest couple of weeks.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice cozie we'll see how he goes

Just one point, kinky. I'm not at all sure that advocate covers tapeworms so you should seek vet advice on that - and get it covered also if not.

Have you seen any worms in his vomit?

Before he came to live with me, my boy was a prolific hunter. My then-to be DH didn't know how often to worm him. As a result, poor DC became very thin, dull scraggly fur.

With regular worm/flea treatments and a really good diet, he's filled out nicely and has a lovely shiny coat that hardly moults. I've found the better quality food I give him, (Royal Canin, Animonda Carny) the less hair he sheds.

No thankfully haven't found any worms! My cats don't really hunt anyway, there's not much around here for them to catch. I'll be getting a separate tapeworm tablet for them though, as cozie mentioned, it's not covered by the advocate.

Kitty seems to be ok the last few days, he's definitely thinner but his fur has improved a bit.

Read \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/a2007427-For-the-want-of-a-worming-tablet#45317966\this recent thread} by Lone and shudder. (I mean, measure out 10 inches!)