Any tips for hairballs that I might not know about?

Question

I brush my cat frequently and I have gone through several tubes of the hairball treatment you put on the cats paws. My poor cat needs to try something new. If you have any tips that I might not know about, I would really appreciate them. Thanks!

Answer 1

If your cat is eating dry food, that is an issue: dry food slows down the intestinal transit time; food moves along slowly because it is not easily digestible, and the hair your cat cannot ingest gets moved out through its mouth. Felines in the wild do not struggle with diet, domestic cats do. The major difference between domestic and wild cats is diet. My longhair's hairballs decreased Dramatically once I moved him off dry food. Cats do not have the necessary thirst drive to make up for the moisture they need but that the dry completely lacks, so they will never lubricate their systems enough with extra water alone.
Try to get kitty on a good canned food. www.catinfo.org can help you understand feline nutritional needs, and lists some high quality canned food choices (unless you choose to go raw, but that would require research, which can also be found on the same website). If you choose canned, you can also start out by adding some Wild Salmon Oil - get the capsules from a health food store. An excellent brand is Carlson's, as it's rigorously tested for levels of toxins. Use a needle to prick a hole in a capsule, and squeeze the capsule into the wet food 2 x a week. You can get these capsules for a reasonable price at most h f stores.
Psyllium powder is something else you might try - it also is not expensive. I cannot recall the correct ratio at the moment (this is also something I tried that turned a corner for my cat), but you can find the proper amount in "The New Natural Cat" by Anitra Frazier. Psyllium is fiber so you will NEED to add the right amount of water in with it. This psyllium is to be used 1x/wk if you choose to employ this method. I will also try to find the amount and then I will add it onto this answer in the next couple days - so if you're interested, check back and read through my answer for the ratio. This psyllium will help kitty move things out. (If you don't add enough water, your cat will become constipated.)
Slippery Elm (from health food store) is another good natural lubricator.
I Strongly advise you to check for the book I listed above - all these remedies are in it, and it is Extremely helpful! Also the website!

Answer 2

Something that works for my 5 indoor fur children.... mine are on a dry food diet, no cans, no pouches. so when I feed them, I drizzle a small amount of vegetable oil over their food. (not a lot, just a drizzle) I have 4 short hair and 1 long hair and less hairball problems than with store bought hairball treatments.

Answer 3

Have you ever considered shaving the cat? I had a long haired Persian, and twice a year, I would take her to a good groomer...(not the vet) and they would shave her all over, except her tail. She loved it and it took about 4 months to grow out. I know you might love the long hair on your cat, but if he/she is having hairball problems, think about it. It might really make it feel better.

Answer 4

I have two persians with very long hair one gets a hairball may be three times a week the other one doesn't. I get them shaved when it gets warm now that settles it.

Answer 5

I put a glob of Vaseline on the top of their front paws just the way you use the hairball meds. Works great. And brush your cat daily or even several times daily if she'll allow it.

Answer 6

well this helps i have a long haired cat myself and all i do is give her hairball food n i mix afew treats in wit it then when my cat finishes the bowl i reward her!

Answer 7

I would assume your cat doesn't go outside. Try getting some cat grass. You can find it pretty much anywhere, definitely in any pet supply store. Your cat will eat it. It should help some.

Answer 8

I would use this as a last resort, but if your cat has really long fur or really thick fur have his or her fur thinned out or shaved. A friend of mine used to have to get her cat shaved and the cat LOVED it. Her fur was so long and so thick they just couldn't do anything else with it.

Answer 9

Petromalt will help with hairballs. I use it on my cat.

Answer 10

Try the catfood that has the hairball meds built right in...