can anyone help me with a cat hairball/vomiting problem?

Question

I've had my cat since she was 4 years old and now she's 8. When I first got her, she had no hairball problems. She later started occasionally throwing up so I started giving her hairball remedy treats. They worked well even though she'd still have hairballs. They just weren't as often. I used to feed her wet food all the time but stopped doing that for a couple months. Now, however, I'm starting to feed her wet food again and whenever I do, she throws it up. This didn't used to happen. Just this morning, she threw up a handful of food all over my bed and it was gross. Can my cat not handle wet food anymore? I only want to take her to the vet as a last resort since she's a house cat and gets carsick VERY easily. Anyone know what's going on?

Answer 1

Cat are sensitive to change. You should do all food transitions slowly. Since her tummy is upset, you may want to get a mild wet food from the vet and slowly introduce the new wet food you want. I do agree that wet is better! I prefer a grain free food after that whole pet food scandal a couple months back, and use Wellness canned food.

If there isn't hair in the vomit, it is not a hairball. It is probalby a reaction to the sudden food change. Get hte mild food, and then do a slow transition to the new food. Like add a tablespoon or less of the new food after a few days on the mild food, and slowly increase the new food and lessen the mild food.

Also, this is shedding season, so you will want to brush your cat out at least twice a week with a cat comb. My one cat I do every other day because he has very thick fur and tends to get hairballs. Brushing him often helps reduce the hair he swallows and we have fewer problems with him.

Answer 2

Between two indoor cats, I am very familiar with this problem. First, I try to eliminate as much hairballs as I can by giving them the Laxatone. I actually use the one you can buy at Wal-Mart in the white and blue tube called HairBall Remedy. As my cats have aged, I have noticed that the hairballs are more frequent, also. So I try to use the HairBall Remedy as directed. It does help. Also, my vet has one of my cats on a special diet that is all dry cat food, and he has said that is ok, as the above poster stated, just provide plenty of water. Hairballs are an unfortunate part of cat ownership, but they can be lessened.

Answer 3

One of my cats, who is also prone to hairballs, could not tolerate wet food that well either. The vet told me they tend to gorge on the wet food a bit more, and that it was perfectly fine to switch to an all dry diet (with plenty of water to drink of course). I mix in some hairball control formula (dry) in his food. He also gets brushed a couple of times a week, and an occasional dose of Laxatone for hairballs. All of this hasn't cured him 100%, but it has reduced the amount of hairball puking that goes on.

Answer 4

brush her daily. this will help minimise the amt of hair she licks and swallows.
and r u sure it's a hairball problem? the food she vomited on your bed, is it full of hair, or just food? if it's not a clump of hair, then she might be allergic to the wet food.
if it really is a hairball problem, try feeding her hairball control dry food one meal a day, and the other meal you can continue with with wet food, and see if it improves. Or you can try mixing the 2 together at each meal.

Answer 5

Cat :) But an INDOOR cat for sure. With dogs, you have to let them out and they get dirty, fleas, etc. With cats you just scoop out a litter box every day. Then dogs are just more sloppy in general. They slobber and lick everything, cats don't do that. Both need care though and they both shed so you have to vaccumn and clean up after them. Generally vet care for cats is cheaper and easier to maintain too. Dogs can get expensive really quick, not saying cats can't, but you don't have to worry about getting heatworm pills for a cat, and if you choose to not vaccinate your indoor cat (after the initial kitten visit-this IS important) there will most likely be no problem. If you have a dog, you must get all of the shots every year. Some people will say you need to get a cat shots also but I had 2 cats that lived to be 25 and 27 and never had them unless there was a medical reason such as surgery, etc. where they had to be vaccinated. Anyways, cats are easier too because they don't need as much attention as a dog. They need attention but they can take care of themselves during the day. You don't have to worry about them peeing in the house or chewing up your couch. Good luck, get a cat :)

Answer 6

I grow a pot of grass for my cats. Helps with the hairballs and with their digestion. You can buy the seeds at petco or petsmart. Sometimes they have a small pot already grown. You can also try brushing your cat more often so they are not swallowing so much hair. In the summer my cats tend to cough up more hair balls because they are shedding more.

Also, try a different brand of wet food. It's possible the one you are giving her is upsetting her stomach.

Answer 7

If hairball remedies aren't working and she is throwing up consistently, take her to the vet. Just don't feed her in the morning when you take her so she doesn't get carsick.

Answer 8

go to your vett and get the hair ball meds. save his life