Why can't my cat process fur balls?

Question

I have 2 cats and 1 of them is sick with furballs. I have tried the appropriate cat food but this doesn't work. I brush her regularly too but again this is no good.

Answer 1

Is she overgrooming? She could need vet attention if she is. If you're using other than a premium brand cat food, the diet may be at fault. You could switch to a better quality food or supplement the food with omega 3, 6 and 9. You can get it as salmon oil or as flax seed oil but you need to buy it at a pet supply store so you get the correct dosages.

You may need to take the cat to a groomer and have them strip the coat. you can learn to do it yourself. When you brush, you need to make sure you remove all of the dead hair. Try using a flea comb, that should help remove a lot of the dead hair and spend a bit longer combing it. Do it daily or twice daily until you see the problem is improving then you can cut back to your regular grooming.

If the cat is a shorthair, you can wet your hands, shake them off so they are damp and rub it through the coat in the opposite direction to hair growth, that will loosen a lot of the dead hair, then comb as usual. Another way to remove it is to use your hand with a rubber glove on it and pat the cat.

Answer 2

With all the cats I have there are always fur balls around. The white cat throws up orange ones, the orange one throws up black ones and the tabbys throw them all up. They bathe themselves and each other. Brushing is good, but I use a hairball treatment that I get at the vet or at the pet store called petromalt. There are other names for it but, whatever the name it works. Some cats are able to pass the hair all the way through by themselves, and they poo them out. Most of the time they just throw them up.

I put the petromalt on their feet or on their fur because some don't like it. Others will lick it off my fingers. Follow the directions on the package (it looks like a tube of toothpaste) and it will help them pass the hairballs in their poo.

The hairballs never stop, but they quit throwing them up so often. I had one cat that had to stay at the vet because he got one lodged in his intestine and they gave him special medicine and food until he passed it. Now he is back to his regular self. He is long haired and I shave him every summer and we haven't had that problem again.

Hope this helps cause I know there is nothing worse than getting up in the middle of the night and stepping on a cold "squishie".

Good luck

Answer 3

None of them can process furballs; its just that some are more prone to them than others. Brushing will certainly cut down on the amount of fur she ingests, so you are doing your best for her. Have a word with someone at the RSPCA, or a local vet- they will know if theres any kind of medication you can get. It really hacks me off when I wander round barefoot in the morning and tread in undigested fur..........

Answer 4

I have 5 cats, not all of them are bothered by furballs. I have tried a couple of the "hairball" formula types of food. I really didn't find that they seemed to help either. So, I still have two who do have hairballs. It's messy, but, what can you do.......

Answer 5

I use a product called Laxatone. It is a laxative and lubricant for hair ball removal and also has an iron supplement in it. All you have to do is apply it to the cat's mouth or even the paws. They lick it off because it has a good taste to it. This was a prescription med my vet sold me. You may be able to find something similar at PetSmart or Walmart.

Answer 6

they make a gel for furballs, its suppost to taste like tuna, but most cats wont take it willingly, go to your pet store and try that, they also have special treats made for hairballs, there are alot of things out there, go to you biggest petstore and look around or as someone who works there for help, someone who knows a thing or 2!

Answer 7

Give your cat a teaspoon of mineral oil in her food. That should help her get rid of the fur balls. I hope this helps.

Answer 8

hmmmmm not sure u r doing the right thing though by combing him regulary. my ginger tom is a long hair and if i didnt comb him he would have loads of fur balls. he needs plenty of water and grass as this is why they eat grass to bring the fur balls up.
dont know how many times u r combing him but try everyday. hope it helps cos it cant be comfortable for him.

Answer 9

You could try feeding your cats raw food which is natural thing for them to eat. If they caught a mouse, they wouldn't take the time to cook it before they ate it. I feed all 20 of mine raw food and they don't have any hairballs and they aren't bald either.

Answer 10

brushing her teeth wont make a difference with fur balls, use the fur ball food along with grooming her at least once a day