My cat has an ongoing problem with hairballs. She will go a month or more with no probs, then vomit her food (most always with fur in it) until she gets a pellet of fur out. Then she'll be ok again - repeats the process in a few weeks. I think the problem is hairballs, not something else, as since this is flea season and she's biting and licking so much, it's been worse. I got her on Frontline which has helped, though I treated her a couple weeks ago, and now she's really biting and licking again. She's an indoors cat, so I don't really understand the flea problem. Though we're used to living in apartments, and now we're in a rural country home.
Anyway, I've given her a tsp. of olive oil each day and a sensitive stomach food, and she's been doing better. Though she did throw up a couple days ago (though I think it's because i fed her earlier than usual - she doesn't seem to do well eating early in the morning). But later that day, she kept her food down fine and hasn't been vomiting until today I noticed a large pellet of fur. My co-worker, who also works at a vet's office, suggested shaving her. I've never heard of it, but it sounds logical. At least then we can rule out hairballs if the vomiting continues. I guess light anathesia is usually used, but it can be done without it. I was just curious to see if anyone here has done this. It sounds expensive ($25 w/o anathesia - I could get my hair cut and styled for that!). And if it has to be done every month... what a hassle. Though, I'm at my wit's end with the hairballs. Most people can just feed their cats and go - I've never had a cat with such problems. I'd like to try the Furminator (anyone use it?), but it's so expensive, and I don't know if it would work on my cat. She's not a long-hair. I feel like I should go ahead with the shave at this point. But, I want some unbiased opinions first (since my co-worker works at the vet's and would of course support it). We live in the midwest, so it can get chilly this time of year, but Maise is an indoor-only cat. That is really the only concern I have. That, and the anathesia, though my co-worker thinks it won't be necessary since she says she'll make sure she'll be there to hold her. Maise doesn't mind grooming too much (I groom her with a fine tooth comb every other day). So, anyone shave their kitty (wow, that sounds dirty!
). What are the pros and cons?
Anyway, I've given her a tsp. of olive oil each day and a sensitive stomach food, and she's been doing better. Though she did throw up a couple days ago (though I think it's because i fed her earlier than usual - she doesn't seem to do well eating early in the morning). But later that day, she kept her food down fine and hasn't been vomiting until today I noticed a large pellet of fur. My co-worker, who also works at a vet's office, suggested shaving her. I've never heard of it, but it sounds logical. At least then we can rule out hairballs if the vomiting continues. I guess light anathesia is usually used, but it can be done without it. I was just curious to see if anyone here has done this. It sounds expensive ($25 w/o anathesia - I could get my hair cut and styled for that!). And if it has to be done every month... what a hassle. Though, I'm at my wit's end with the hairballs. Most people can just feed their cats and go - I've never had a cat with such problems. I'd like to try the Furminator (anyone use it?), but it's so expensive, and I don't know if it would work on my cat. She's not a long-hair. I feel like I should go ahead with the shave at this point. But, I want some unbiased opinions first (since my co-worker works at the vet's and would of course support it). We live in the midwest, so it can get chilly this time of year, but Maise is an indoor-only cat. That is really the only concern I have. That, and the anathesia, though my co-worker thinks it won't be necessary since she says she'll make sure she'll be there to hold her. Maise doesn't mind grooming too much (I groom her with a fine tooth comb every other day). So, anyone shave their kitty (wow, that sounds dirty!
