Hairballs

salemwitchchild

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
1,440
Purraise
1
Location
Kentucky
It seems like at least once a week poor Puff is getting hairballs. I've put off taking him to the vet because he's not a year old yet and I was wanting to wait one more month so that he can have his shots and a check up all at the same time. But I was just wondering since he gets hairballs so frequently is there anything the vet could give me besides the paste that I already have? Having along haired dog and cat probably isn't helping any. Is there a better brush I could get for him maybe?
 

gingersmom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 11, 2006
Messages
8,028
Purraise
22
There are hairball formula foods and treats available, and a lot of folks swear by the Zoom Groom or the Furminator.

How often are you brushing him?

I give Ginger a dose of Petromalt about once a week or so, and she hasn't had any hairballs in quite a while.
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
adding some oil to the wet or dry food .... pumpkin or sweet potatos
 

renny

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 25, 2005
Messages
1,767
Purraise
1
Location
Ontario
I would also recommend getting your kitty (and the dog too) groomed. I get Lucky done once every 3 or 4 months and she has had no hairballs since i started that, and before that it would be once a week. She also hated the petromalt, wouldn't eat the food with any oils added to it etc.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

salemwitchchild

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
1,440
Purraise
1
Location
Kentucky
Originally Posted by GingersMom

There are hairball formula foods and treats available, and a lot of folks swear by the Zoom Groom or the Furminator.

How often are you brushing him?

I give Ginger a dose of Petromalt about once a week or so, and she hasn't had any hairballs in quite a while.
Probably not as much as I should. About once a week with a slicker brush. Do they make the Furminator for cats? Or can you use the dog version on cats to? I thought about buying it for Kota awhile back. What is Petromalt?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

salemwitchchild

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
1,440
Purraise
1
Location
Kentucky
Originally Posted by Renny

I would also recommend getting your kitty (and the dog too) groomed. I get Lucky done once every 3 or 4 months and she has had no hairballs since i started that, and before that it would be once a week. She also hated the petromalt, wouldn't eat the food with any oils added to it etc.
I do the grooming myself. I do not trust others to do the grooming. Especially after hearing the local groom shop here let a dog run across a busy street. And I consider it our bonding time.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

salemwitchchild

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
1,440
Purraise
1
Location
Kentucky
Originally Posted by sharky

adding some oil to the wet or dry food .... pumpkin or sweet potatos
What kind of oil? Mineral oil ok?
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
Originally Posted by SalemWitchChild

What kind of oil? Mineral oil ok?
No I like olive but flax or corn will also work
 

gingersmom

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 11, 2006
Messages
8,028
Purraise
22
Originally Posted by SalemWitchChild

Probably not as much as I should. About once a week with a slicker brush. Do they make the Furminator for cats? Or can you use the dog version on cats to? I thought about buying it for Kota awhile back. What is Petromalt?
I don't have a furminator - I use a shedding comb on my two because they have long fur, and I use a long-hair groomers rake for their tails, which works VERY well. The shedding comb looks like a regular comb but has alternating long and short teeth, and it works REALLY well for me. Ginger has sensitive skin, so I can't use the slicker brushes on her.

Petromalt is a mineral oil hairball treatment that has a malted flavor. Ginger just LOVES the taste, but for Ferris, I have to squish some onto the top of his paw to get him to eat it.
You can get it at most pet stores in the US - I'm sure you can find it online pretty easily.
 
Top