Fur Balls

[Englishbird]

My poor cat is really suffering with fur balls. Ironically it's not his fur - it's because he cleans the long haired one! He's always been like it (they're two and a half) and it lasts about 1-2 weeks, then he's sick and he's ok again for a couple of weeks.  He looks so sorry for himself and goes off his food and just sits on the floor.  His stomach is quite distended as well.  I've taken him to the vets for it once but they just gave me this paste to put on his food - which of course he wont eat.  The cat with the long hair doesn't seem to suffer at all! Is there anything i can do for him?

[Clanad]

Bacon grease or other oily food the cat might like can be added to the dry food.  This will assist the cat passing the hair.  Not to much, though and add it to it's diet gradually.  Our Persian rather likes the paste from the tube... so much so that it is given as a treat by itself rather than added to food... Luck!

[PurplePixie]

It's really important that you get some treatment down him, as a furball can cause a life threatening blockage. There are loads of different flavours of hairball remedy that should be given regularly if your cat is prone to ingesting hair. There must be some flavour that would tempt him. You could always mix the stuff with a food that he can't resist...fish maybe, that would disguise it.

[woofgang]

If you have a really picky animal, then try putting the paste or oily remedy on his front paws, he should lick it off. My weimaraner suffers from a similar problem, they are great self groomers and ingest vasy quantities of fur when they shed, also mud etc if they have been out in bad weather. We had to start with the paw trick, now she licks it off a spoon

[Englishbird]

Thanks guys - glad i asked, I didn't realise it was dangerous! the vet certainly didn't point that out! If I made sure he ate a bowl of tuna with some of this stuff in once or twice a week would that be sufficient? or would he need to take it every day.

[FP]

Try putting the paste on the tip of his nose.  He will lick it off without fail.  Like Clanad's cat, my ginger cat actually likes it.  My ginger cat was 'hospitalised' and on death's doorstep once with a hairball blockage! 

 

If you give tinned tuna, try to get the variety made specially for cats.  The tuna for human consumption contains salt (especially the 'in brine' variety).  Once or twice with the paste should be OK, but initially whilst he is actually suffering, give in daily.

[undercovers]

my cat simply loved cod liver oil and malt you just couldn't stop him if you opened the jar - that was for his bad joins though, but it did seem to improve his coat and temper (bit of a scratcher somethimes)

[Diane]

I have 11 cats and it can be a real problem. Some cats cope better than others. My Vet suggested that I try the Hills Science food especially for the problem. There is really little or no difference in cost from ordinary cat food and it really does help. Even my old and fussy cats eat it without a problem. Please do take care with salty varieties of fish as it can put up the blood pressure and cause kidney problems. Most cats like cheese and a piece of buttered toast also helps.  Good Luck!

[peanut]

How about brushing the longhair kitty as often as possible to remove the loose fur. Then you can use a hairball paste like suggested above. My cat loves to take a paste called "Petramalt".

[Englishbird]

Right, have got the paste and will make sure he takes it in whatever form i can get him to.  Have also looked into the hills science food and the vet is going to get me a free sample.  Thanks again for all your responses, and don't worry they don't get tuna very often at all, only mentioned it because i know he'll eat that.  Didn't know you could get cat tuna though, will keep an eye out for it. Marmalade is also looking better and sends his thanks too :o) soppy, I know.

[FP]

I think the brand of cat tuna is called 'Hi Life'.

 

As for being soppy, well that's good.  Nothing wrong with being soppy  :o)

[nrmatth]

also try a petroleum ointment like vaseline to put on his paws.  He'll lick it off and it's over the counter.

[EMMA4CHRIS]

try using hair ball control science diet which you can buy as dried food