Hairball Control

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
My long haired tabby grooms herself often even if I brush her once or twice a week and throws up hairballs.

What are productive off the counter items for controlling hairballs?
 

mamamia

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
59
Purraise
1
Location
Southeast USA
Okay...please don't laugh, but we used to use vaseline!  It worked great for my cat Taco who was part persian.  She had several hairballs a week and the vet suggested we put a little vaseline on her paw once or twice a week.  It worked great for us!  It would be worth asking your vet about.
 

mrblanche

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 28, 2008
Messages
12,578
Purraise
119
Location
Texas
I'm not laughing; we used to do the same thing.  Did it help?  It was so long ago, I can't remember!
 
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
I just sent an email to a cat specialist from a feral cat clinic and asked her which of those 2 would be best for the $$$$.
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
Well, my vet was unfamiliar with the use of egg yolks as a hairball treatment. She did some research of her own after our discussion about it and the results I've reported to her in my cats. She is now recommending it to others. But I expect most vets are not familiar with the idea. Even cat specialists.

But I'll be interested to hear the response. :)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
She just replied to me saying olive oil on the paws cause it's more nutritious.
 

mamamia

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
59
Purraise
1
Location
Southeast USA
Good to know!  It's been years since my vet suggested vaseline.  I'm glad to learn of a better option!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
I replied asking her how often and here's what she told me
Once a week should be fine or you can mix a little teaspoon in their food once a week or get regular human tuna fish in oil once a week too. Any of those should help without giving diarrhea.
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
I hope they help. I personally prefer preventing the hairballs by improving gastric motility (the acetylcholine via choline in egg yolks) and stopping the hair from getting bound up in the stomach in the first place (the lecithin in the yolk, or additionally provided as a supplement, breaks up the fat (via emulsion) that binds the hairballs).

Olive oil may help; most tuna is packed in soy oil. I avoid soy anything for myself and cats; I avoid processed oils for my kitties, and as obligated carnivores, I avoid plant-based anything when there are animal-based solutions. :)

(My feral cats aren't out there lapping up olive oil. ;) ).
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
A few minutes ago Dolly was doing the regular hairball coughing without throwing up
 

franksmom

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
1,159
Purraise
34
A few minutes ago Dolly was doing the regular hairball coughing without throwing up
This could be an indication there is a blockage. Is she eating?

The only thing that worked for me was to get Frank shaved. He is now hairball free and a lot cooler in the summer heat (even with the ac it has been pretty humid the last few days inside).
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
A few minutes ago Dolly was doing the regular hairball coughing without throwing up
I know it's the season for it, but just wanted to put this out there - you're sure it's a hairball hack? Our Flowerbelle had issues with hairballs for a long time, and we assumed her cough was always a hairball cough. Turns out it was asthma. ...and it's also the season for allergies. Just a thought.

I don't know if you ever read this thread, but if you're familiar with food grade diatomaceous earth as an internal parasite preventative in ferals, this idea sure makes sense for a quick solution to existing hairballs (as well as prevention): http://www.thecatsite.com/t/250653/egg-lecithin-for-hairballs It's the last post in the thread.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
I know it's the season for it, but just wanted to put this out there - you're sure it's a hairball hack? Our Flowerbelle had issues with hairballs for a long time, and we assumed her cough was always a hairball cough. Turns out it was asthma. ...and it's also the season for allergies. Just a thought.

I don't know if you ever read this thread, but if you're familiar with food grade diatomaceous earth as an internal parasite preventative in ferals, this idea sure makes sense for a quick solution to existing hairballs (as well as prevention): http://www.thecatsite.com/t/250653/egg-lecithin-for-hairballs It's the last post in the thread.
I had already put the olive oil on her paws, which she licked for a while. If I hadn't put it on her, she would have thrown up instead of doing the coughing.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #15

ferals

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
2
She eats fine everyday
 
Top