Question:
I have a couple of questions I'd like your opinion on. I have two cats who will both be 8 years old in August. They love to eat plastic (mainly plastic bags). We have to be very careful about leaving anything like that sitting around. Have you ever seen anything like this?Also, one kitty has been taking phenobarbital for two years now to control seizures. We have not seen her have one since she started taking the medication. Do you feel this medication should be taken for life? I have tried to read up on this subject, but find it confusing. We have her blood levels checked often and she is doing well.
A.R., Ozark, Mo Jun 20, 2004
Answer:
Cats often like to lick and chew on plastic and photographic prints, which I believe is because there are animal byproducts like fat (stearates) and gelatin mixed in with other potentially toxic chemical compounds in these man-made materials. So it is best to keep cats away from these materials.Cats rarely develop seizures, so it is advisable to have your veterinarian check for thyroid disease and other underlying health problems that could result in periodic spells.You may want to try your cat on a home-prepared diet containing fresh, raw meat or poultry, and do not feed her any dry cat food that is high in cereals. Then, after six to eight weeks on the new diet, take her off the phenobarbital (which can cause liver damage) and see how she does.Some spayed cats also seem to improve, in terms of hyperirritability and aggressive behavior, when given a long-acting progesterone injection; ask your vet about this as well. Such an injection may also help your cat become less seizure-prone, as progesterone has a m
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