Cat People: Are There Bones For Cats To Chew On?

[iheartscience]

My naughty kitty Olivia loves to bite things. This morning she was going around trying to bite on everything, including the pointy top of a honey bear, the lid on a bottle of water (while still on the bottle) and a pen I had in my hand. She doesn''t do it when she''s being playful, really. It''s almost like she''s teething and wants to gnaw on something.

So I was thinking about getting her some kind of dog bone or something to chew on. Not an actual bone, but maybe one of those plastic dental bones or something? Does anyone know if this would be okay for a cat? Knowing cats, she probably won''t want it, but I figured I should try to get her something safe to chew on if she''s so inclined. Any suggestions?

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Two questions. When was the last time you had her teeth looked at? Was she ever an outdoor cat as a kitten?
It sounds to me like she is having a tooth problem and trying to fix it herself with no luck. If it has been more than a year since her teeth were looked at, I would take her in. My vet tells me that kittens who were outdoors have a lot more teeth problems than those who were not. I know that has been the case with my two cats.

 

[Elmorton]

Is she the one in your av? If not, and she''s a itty kitty, Pet Stages makes chew toys for cats. They have a little bit of mesh type stuff on them, cloth-covered, and hard. I think it''s also filled with honeysuckle which is supposed to be comforting.

 

[sumbride]

One of my friends actually bought a small nylabone for her cat because she was very much a chewer. It worked for about a week and then she was bored with it. Now the cat chews on zip ties that she has around things, like the scratching post.

But yeah, if she''s not actually teething, time for a dental check.

 

[miraclesrule]

My cat loves to chew on the bones of birds, that''s for sure. I should put a warning sign in my backyard for the low fliers

 

[iheartscience]

Brazen-she''s never been outdoors-she''s always been an indoor kitty. She''s the one in my avatar. I think I will get her teeth looked at just to be on the safe side, but I''m pretty much positive she just likes to chew things-she''s been a chewer ever since she was a kitten.

Elmorton-are those chew toys just for kittens? She''d probably like them if they''re safe for grown up cats. (She''s 4.) She thinks she''s a kitten anyways-she is always playful and runs around like a maniac!

Sum-I might try a Nylabone if her teeth end up being fine. I''m sure she''d do the same thing as your friend''s cat, though!

miracles-cats are such predators, aren''t they? I bet you get lots of "presents." One of my cats is a rescue and I like to say she''s tough because she''s from the streets. When we''re playing, she can get anything out of the air-it''s insane! I know she must have been quite a hunter when she was on the streets.

Thanks everyone! Anyone else have any chew toy recommendations for kitties? (I''ll be giving them to her once I find out if her teeth are okay first, of course!)

 

[Elmorton]

We still have ours out - so I hope they''re fine for adults Pet Stages toys are safe I think at all stages. Ours don''t chew on them anymore (I think only one did back in the day, not for long), but they still bat them around and have fun.

 

[iheartscience]

Date: 4/24/2008 11:15:16 PM
Author: Elmorton
We still have ours out - so I hope they''re fine for adults Pet Stages toys are safe I think at all stages. Ours don''t chew on them anymore (I think only one did back in the day, not for long), but they still bat them around and have fun.

Good-thanks Elmorton! I just looked them up online and they look great! Hopefully she''ll actually chew on them instead of just bat them around. I just looked at her teeth (she LOVED that!) and they look perfectly healthy, but I''m not a vet, so I think I''ll still take her just to be on the safe side.

 

[anniee19]

We also use the petstages toys for our 1 year old cat. He loves the chew on the mesh ones that you can put a little treat inside.

 

[Pandora II]

Ours go crazy for lamb bones

 

[spike13]

I buy dog jerky for my kitty, it''s made from chicken, he loves them. Of course too many and he gets a little fat.

When you check her teeth the gums should be nice and pink and no tartar build up.

I''d be careful with the zipties in case she swallows them.

 

[stryeyes102]

We got our cat a greenie chew toy. I believe it was actually for small dogs but he liked it.. They do have cat chew toys out there, we had a icky ''chicken fat''(cept hard) looking one which got plenty of use.

Plus they also make catnip jaw breakers. Looks just like a green candy jaw breaker. My cat LOVED it. Toy and kitty crack, what could be better! lol

Just thought id throw those out there. It def might be dental problems though; how did the vet appointment go?