Is chewing grass bad for my cat?
Q
ONE of my cats dashes out first thing to nibble on grass. It does not seem to bother him and he isn’t sick afterwards.
But the other cat doesn’t touch the grass at all. Why are they different?
A
MY own two cats are the same, although the grass eater does vomit sometimes.
Why a cat eats grass is a question I’m often asked. I always advise that providing the grass has not been treated with herbicide it is unlikely to be harmful.
There are many theories as to why a cat eats grass. These range from helping to remove fur balls by vomiting, reducing stress, for a source of folic acid and, my favourite, simply because they like the taste.
Researchers in California recently came up with another. More than 1,000 cat owners were asked to spend at least three hours per day watching their cats outside – 11 per cent of the cats did not eat grass at all, the rest at variable times, and 61 per cent had been seen to eat grass at least 10 times in their lives.
Only 25 per cent vomited afterwards and 91 per cent of the cats were not considered ill.
The authors believe the habit could be an instinctive evolutionary trait from wild ancestors that helped to purge intestinal parasites.
That said, if a cat seems unwell it is best to get a check-up and ensure their worming treatments are up to date.
Q
I HAVE recently acquired two young rabbits that are littermates.
One of them has started sneezing and there is a discharge coming from its nose. Is this likely to right itself?
A
I ADVISE you to get both rabbits checked by your vet. Although it is possible for a mild sneeze to improve if the housing, diet and ventilation are all satisfactory, things can go wrong if you delay advice.
Stress may be a factor with your rabbits, as they have had to adapt to a change of surroundings.
Sneezing could be an early sign of inflammation of the nasal cavity, which can result in pasteurellosis, sometimes known as “snuffles” by rabbit breeders.
The bacterium that causes the problem is present in as many as 60 per cent of rabbits, but does not necessarily cause problems in healthy animals.
An early sign is sneezing. The discharge can become more pronounced and may then be found on the inside of the paws where the rabbit grooms itself. Infection can spread to organs including the inner ear, eyes, brain, lungs and under the skin causing abscesses.
Prompt treatment aims to prevent these problems and, in early cases, a cure is possible.
Your vet may want to confirm the diagnosis by taking samples with sensitivity testing of bacteria, blood tests, and, depending on the general exam, X-rays may be required.
Sensitivity testing is important as it allows the correct antibiotic to be selected and several weeks of treatment may be necessary.
David Grant MBE was a vet at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital for Animals.Write to him at Daily Express, One Canada Square, CanaryWharf, London E14 5AP or email pamperedpets@ express.co.uk. He is unable to enter into individual correspondence.