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RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

Kenogirl — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:03:48 GMT

Whiskas Temptations makes a cat treat that's aimed at hairballs. I started giving my guys these goodies about a year ago, and their hairball problems have pretty much dissappeared. They do contain Petroleum, which is a primary ingredient in most of the hairball remedies, but I don't get bitten or clawed when I "administer" the remedy.

Some other preventatives:

- The oil from tuna fish packed in oil (if you buy tuna in oil): drain the oil from the can of tuna and either pour it over their food or give it to them straight. They love it because it smells and tastes like fish.

- Olive oil: add about a teaspoon to their wet cat food and stir it into the food.

- Fiber from greenstuff. Cats are grazers, meaning that they like to eat grass and other greens, which give their system the fiber needed to keep their digestive systems clean and clear. You can get a "grazing kit" at most stores that sell pet products. It's relatively inexpensive, and the cats can indulge at their leisure. Also, a shred of iceberg lettuce from the dinner salad or sandwich goes over pretty well!

Again, grooming is a critical issue, especially in long-haired cats. You have to brush, and brush and brush, especially during the summer. My two are short-hairs and live inside an air-conditioned house, but since it is now 105+ degrees outside, they are shedding like you would not believe. So, we begin the brush, brush, brush . . .

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

Willow — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:02:40 GMT

Most hairball remedies ARE made with petroleum jeppy (Petromalt, etc.), so you can just use Vaseline if your cat will take it. I don't like to use petrolum products, and there are some natural hairball jellies available. Vegetable oil will work, too. A little canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix, just pumpkin) will give extra fiber to move the hairballs out the other end .

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

PeaLoki&Gabe — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:23:09 GMT

I have a girlfriend who insits on putting petroleum jelly on the side of their paws that they groom with helps with hairballs, I can see why it would work, but wouldn't recommend it because it's PETROLEUM why would you put a derivative of what you put in your car inside a living being?! Make lotions, and bath & body care products, so i have all kinds of butters and such that would be better alternatives (Lard would probably work too, cold bacon grease-they'd be happy to rub it on themselves, and it won't hurt them)

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

RoseTea2008 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:34:33 GMT

Hello ! I have 3 cats , 2 long hair and 1 short hair.

I feed them Hairball Removal Remedy twice a month. You can find the remedy in vet clinics & pet stores. There are many brands. The Hairball Removal Remedy is jelly texture. It smells good. I squeeze an inch of the jelly in a spoon & my cats will lick it. The Hairball Removal Remedy helps the cats to eliminate their hairball.

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

slegned — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:16:06 GMT

My girls get Petromalt (salmon flavored) hairball treatment every Saturday. They have had no fur ball issues and think the Petromalt is a treat.

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

PeaLoki&Gabe — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:41:35 GMT

add a teaspoon of cooking oil to his moist food, or his water the extra oil will help ease the movement of the hairball. But grooming is the best prevention for them absolutely.

Making sure they are well hydrated and have enough fat in their diets helps when they do get one, the extra water and oils makes it easier for them to get it up and out.

RE: HAIRBALLS!!!

Maria3 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:32:03 GMT

Grooming it's the best way of preventing hairballs. And it also prevent hair in your clothes (or your visitor's clothes ).

Some kind of cats need to be groom everyday, other don't need so much grooming. Apart of the hair problem some cats have a tangle problem. If their hair tangles they can hurt themselves because of that. Because the hair pulls the skin when they move and they develop skin problems.

I don't know if that can happen with your kind of cat.

HAIRBALLS!!!

Rinny — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:57:03 GMT

i've grown up with short haired cats and my baby, muffin, who just turned a year old is long haired and has started getting hairballs. i'd never seen one before until about a month ago!

i know they have cat treats and stuff that are supposed to help with that, but i was wondering if anybody knew of some good products or prevention methods? does grooming them alot more help? thanks!