My cat eats my hair

Question
One of my cats likes to eat my hair while I sleep.  She wakes me up with the "smacking" of her feeding and I end up with short strands of hair in my usually mid-back length hair!  I know this isn't good for either her or my hair, how can I get her to stop?

Answer
Tami,

NO, that is NOT healthy for the cat. The hair can get wrapped around her intestines or cause a fatal blockage.

That behavior is more common to the Siamese or Oriental breeds, but it can be exhibited by any breed. It can be a sign of affection and a way of the cat 'grooming you', like she would a kitten. Some say it is an anxiety/emotional problem, or possibly because the kitten was weaned too early. It may also be that the cat needs a high fiber diet. There is medication for a cat's anxiety. You would have to speak to your vet about it.

I would play with the cat before you go to bed (a pet laser light is great for that) so that the cat gets tired. Then feed the cat a can of catfood. Being tired and having a full tummy should help the cat sleep. As for your hair, I would find creative ways to keep it covered, braided, or put up, where the cat won't have any temptation.

Tabbi