Hairballs???

kazanlak

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
64
Purraise
11
a few times now I've noticed my female kitten will crouch with her neck extended and begin these wheezing hacking sounds. she has yet to cough anything up that i've seen (although one of my cats threw up on the floor the other night, i don't know for sure which one it was.)
does that sound like a hairball problem? i've had cats before, and surprisingly enough never had a cat who had a problem with hairballs. these can be corrected with home remedies right? i'm really hoping i don't have to take her to the vet AGAIN i've had these two cats since december and spent close to $700 in vet bills so far.
 

cloud_shade

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
2,807
Purraise
17
Location
Oregon
It does sound like hairballs. My mom's cat has done this every once in a while for years and rarely produces anything (she's 14 years old now). As long as she is only doing this occasionally, it only lasts for a few minutes, and she is not in any distress, I would probably treat her at home. You can be "hairball remedies" that are basically a sticky goo flavored like malt, chicken, or fish that acts like a mild laxative to help the hairball pass straight through. Common brand names are Laxatone and Petromalt. If your kitty won't try it, try bumping it against her nose just a touch to make her taste it (she'll lick it off her nose). If that doesn't work, you can smear it on the top of her paw which will force her to lick it off (just be sure you actually smear it--I've had cats fling it against the wall otherwise). Other things you can try include adding a small amount of pure canned pumpkin to her food. What kind of food do you feed her? Sometimes foods with extra fiber can help as well.

If she continues to have trouble with wheezing, or if she shows any other signs like loss of appetite or lethargy, please take her to the vet. Rarely hairballs or other objects can cause an intestinal blockage which must be treated.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

kazanlak

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
64
Purraise
11
I'm glad that it does sound like hairballs to you. i was concerned by the fact that she was hacking yet not actually coughing anything up.

i'll try the home remedies and keep and eye on her. i've heard that hairballs can cause intestinal trouble and want to make sure this doesn't happen.


Oddly enough my cats are very good about doing the hacking and vomiting in the tile floor in the kitchen where cleanup is easiest instead of somewhere with carpeting...
 

duchess15

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 23, 2006
Messages
3,825
Purraise
14
Location
Wishing I were anywhere but here
Lexi would do the same thing, but sounded almost as if she were coughing. Our vet told us to give her a bunch of that hairball gel three times a day for a week. After that, she stopped. She will rarely does it now. But when she did she NEVER coughed up anything. I think all cats respond differently to hairballs and I would try that gel. You can get it anywhere.
 

kalikat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Messages
2,057
Purraise
1
Location
Sydney N.S.W
My old cat coughs up hairballs all the time. She retches until it comes up, looks like a length of poop. I've heard indoor cats need access to grass. I tried to grow from seed but it died. Long haired cats need regular brushing to help prevent hair balls.
 

sharky

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

My old cat coughs up hairballs all the time. She retches until it comes up, looks like a length of poop. I've heard indoor cats need access to grass. I tried to grow from seed but it died. Long haired cats need regular brushing to help prevent hair balls.
Hairball control food and gels will help
 

urbantigers

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Apr 30, 2006
Messages
2,175
Purraise
7
Location
UK
Originally Posted by Kazanlak

a few times now I've noticed my female kitten will crouch with her neck extended and begin these wheezing hacking sounds. she has yet to cough anything up that i've seen
Jaffa does this from time to time too and he's never brought anything up. It lasts a few seconds and then he's ok. I think he must get some hair stuck in his throat and eventually manages to get rid of it by swallowing. I mentioned it to the vet once and she said it sounded like hairballs and if it was only happening occasionally and not for a long time then not to worry.
 

techiegirl

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Sep 28, 2005
Messages
232
Purraise
1
Location
Orange County, CA
Many times, people mistake asthma for a cat trying to bring up a hairball.
Check out these 2 videos and see if they are similar...

Here is a video of a cat having one type of asthma attack:

Here is a more informational video:
 
Top