Hairball Food

M

ms.blackie

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
246
Purraise
1
Location
Wadsworth, OH
Does anyone feed hairball food this time of year just for shedding?
I was considering adding this as a staple mix it what the small amounts of dry my cats already receive. Instead of giving butter and and cat hairball treats.etc...
Thinking this might be easier and more consistent.
 
S

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
I don't but then I have cats that are on very specific diets. (I won't trade less hairball risk for crystals, watery diarrhea, or vomiting
)

What is the main diet? Do you have and use a furminator a couple times a week?

I have two DSHs with thick undercoats and a DLH that I am just brushing a bit more.

If you have hairball prone cats that can safely eat these foods (which are often lower quality and could contribute to shedding)they still need hairball remedy a few times a week or more.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3
M

ms.blackie

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 7, 2006
Messages
246
Purraise
1
Location
Wadsworth, OH
Main diet is wet. various brands. Fancy feast, better types.
Soulistic, authority, wellness....etc..
Dry, Nutro max and taste of wild.
I have a furminator but it think its kinda rough on their skin. I use
the Kong Zoom Groom a couple times a week followed up with a people
longer comb those goes to smaller teeth on one end.
I have one DSH and one long hair.
 
S

strange_wings

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 20, 2006
Messages
13,498
Purraise
39
Fairly decent foods. It may just be lower humidity inside and the season making it so bad. You could try getting a high quality fish oil supplement to help improve coat quality.

A furminator can be irritating if you're not careful. I don't use them on my kitties bellies, for example, because I'm worried I'd scratch a nipple. Do give it another try for their backs, sides, and around their necks. For the long hair, run the comb through the fur first so there are no tangles. Use the zoom groom the rest of the time.

I've noticed that the zoom groom is pretty good at getting loose top coat off, and moderate for undercoat. The furminator seems to miss the top coat but can really get the undercoat out. Use short light strokes with it.

Funny story: the other day I was brushing the undercoat out on one of my outdoor cats with the furminator because it's getting in the 80s and 90s here now. She loves to be brushed and kept rolling around so I couldn't see very well that I accidentally over brushed a spot on her shoulder.
She has a thin spot now - but the skin under it was not irritated at all.
 
ducman69

ducman69

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
3,232
Purraise
47
Location
Texas
I've read a lot about them, and personally I just am not convinced its the right way to go.

Personally, I would just feed a high quality grain-free diet, and that generally results in a shinier coat, and just make sure my cats are getting sufficient hydration, exercise, and aren't overweight.

Furminate just a bit once a week, and try not to bathe your cat which washes away essential oils and can dry out the coat.

In the very rare instance a kitty needs help w/ a hairball, can always keep those flavored vaseline tubes available, and a dab should be all it takes.
 
goingpostal

goingpostal

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
853
Purraise
1,220
Location
MN
I'm not a fan, they just add a bunch of indigestible plant fiber, so your cat would need to eat more just to get the nutrient they need and you are filling them full of junk they don't need and may be harmful. I would keep up the brushing, maybe add some fish oil, an egg once a week. If they are having issues you can add some canned pumpkin or olive oil or plain vaseline to clear it out but I wouldn't make it a habit as it's just pushing everything through, good and bad. Also watch those cat laxatives, I had some sitting around and was going to give it to the cat after she hacked one up last week, looked at the ingredient list and it was full of sugar! Threw it out. Also they usually have mineral oil which can be an issue.
 
sharky

sharky

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

Fairly decent foods. It may just be lower humidity inside and the season making it so bad. You could try getting a high quality fish oil supplement to help improve coat quality.

A furminator can be irritating if you're not careful. I don't use them on my kitties bellies, for example, because I'm worried I'd scratch a nipple. Do give it another try for their backs, sides, and around their necks. For the long hair, run the comb through the fur first so there are no tangles. Use the zoom groom the rest of the time.

I've noticed that the zoom groom is pretty good at getting loose top coat off, and moderate for undercoat. The furminator seems to miss the top coat but can really get the undercoat out. Use short light strokes with it.

Funny story: the other day I was brushing the undercoat out on one of my outdoor cats with the furminator because it's getting in the 80s and 90s here now. She loves to be brushed and kept rolling around so I couldn't see very well that I accidentally over brushed a spot on her shoulder.
She has a thin spot now - but the skin under it was not irritated at all.
Click to expand...


I use curry combs with good luck
butter can help(unsalted)
many have issues with pumpkin( allergies to oh this taste icky) but it is very good for both kind of fiber to push and pull
 
just mike

just mike

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
2,083
Purraise
38
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Originally Posted by Ms.Blackie

Main diet is wet. various brands. Fancy feast, better types.
Soulistic, authority, wellness....etc..
Dry, Nutro max and taste of wild.
I have a furminator but it think its kinda rough on their skin. I use
the Kong Zoom Groom a couple times a week followed up with a people
longer comb those goes to smaller teeth on one end.
I have one DSH and one long hair.
Click to expand...
The diet sounds okay. It could be the humidity in the house. I use a Furminator about once a month and they get a brushing every day. I get very few hairballs these days. You can try a supplement like fish oil or one of those vaseline hair ball products. You squeeze a smidge on a paw and let them lick it off.

I've never been completely sold on the Furminator but it really does get a lot of hair out. I don't like using it too often.
 
feralvr

feralvr

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 30, 2010
Messages
18,474
Purraise
689
Location
Northwest Indiana
Someone on this site recommended the Temptations Hairball treats during shedding season. So I started my cats on five each everyday. They love the treats. I also give them 1/2 tsp. of vaseline every week. Lots of brushing with a cat slicker brush too. Seems to be helping alot.
 
just mike

just mike

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
2,083
Purraise
38
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Originally Posted by Feralvr

Someone on this site recommended the Temptations Hairball treats during shedding season. So I started my cats on five each everyday. They love the treats. I also give them 1/2 tsp. of vaseline every week. Lots of brushing with a cat slicker brush too. Seems to be helping alot.
Click to expand...
I have found that the brushing and a good quality food really helps with the hair balls. I haven't had to use the vaseline or the treats. The treats I use are the feline Greenies. Greenies aid in dental health which is a concern of mine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top