I believe my 3.5yr.old cat has a hairball stuck in his intestinal track. Please help

I tried to research other people's questions but I'm still not getting the answer I'm looking for.

I'm no vet but I'm pretty sure my 3.5 year old has a hairball stuck in his stomach, that's really what I was hoping for anyways but I honestly believe it's moved to his intestines because he's not eating, he's lost bunch of weight, has no interest in his favorite treats and usually never refuses wet cat food. I bought some of that paste stuff to help lubricate his intestines with NO PETROLEUM in the ingredients cause I've read a bunch of stuff saying to stay away from that.

I'm freaking out he is my first baby, my husband and I got him as our first baby when we bought our first home, I've called a bunch of vets but they only give me price that cost to just bring him in to get looked at. And I'm trying to get a ball-park estimate of what might cost if they have to do surgery. None of them will give me a rough estimate. Can anyone give me suggestions or tell me how much you paid if your cat had to have surgery to get hairball removed? Thanks so much, it's been rough week and I feel so horrible that he's hurting and in pain, but on another hand our finances are super tight so we need a rough estimate in case we need to get a loan or borrow money.

Has anybody out there gone through this and had to have there cat go through surgery? How much did you get charged, please any help will be appreciated and we would be extremely grateful. Any estimate is better then none at all at this point.

Thanks everyone who takes the time too read my rantings, I'm just a concerned parent to my first baby and I'm freaking out! He's never been sick, so I'm worried to death, can't sleep over this.

@nbastien9184 I don't know that anyone can give you that information as it will really depend on what the issue is ..  but you do need to get your boy to a vet

I'm in Australia but we have an article that will give ideas for affording this:

[article="32915"]No Money For Vet Care How To Find Help And Save Your Cats Life​[/article]  

Please check your options and have him seen to ASAP as your boy isn't well.

nbastien9184 said:

I tried to research other people's questions but I'm still not getting the answer I'm looking for.

I'm no vet but I'm pretty sure my 3.5 year old has a hairball stuck in his stomach, that's really what I was hoping for anyways but I honestly believe it's moved to his intestines because he's not eating, he's lost bunch of weight, has no interest in his favorite treats and usually never refuses wet cat food. I bought some of that paste stuff to help lubricate his intestines with NO PETROLEUM in the ingredients cause I've read a bunch of stuff saying to stay away from that.

I'm freaking out he is my first baby, my husband and I got him as our first baby when we bought our first home, I've called a bunch of vets but they only give me price that cost to just bring him in to get looked at. And I'm trying to get a ball-park estimate of what might cost if they have to do surgery. None of them will give me a rough estimate. Can anyone give me suggestions or tell me how much you paid if your cat had to have surgery to get hairball removed? Thanks so much, it's been rough week and I feel so horrible that he's hurting and in pain, but on another hand our finances are super tight so we need a rough estimate in case we need to get a loan or borrow money.

Has anybody out there gone through this and had to have there cat go through surgery? How much did you get charged, please any help will be appreciated and we would be extremely grateful. Any estimate is better then none at all at this point.

Thanks everyone who takes the time too read my rantings, I'm just a concerned parent to my first baby and I'm freaking out! He's never been sick, so I'm worried to death, can't sleep over this.

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I'm so sorry to hear this. Our persian cat is also going through a 0% appetite mood right now after a very rough week vomiting. Certainly our cat has not a hairball, nor a foreign object inside, so that's a good sign. I'd recommend you go to the vet, so that a thorough physical check is made. Very likely the vet will let you know if you need X-rays or not if he's able to feel something inside him. Surgery is a last resource, but sadly, sadly needed if there's something in there with the potential to risk the life of your cat. What's the breed by the way? How much weight he hast lost and since when?

You will only be able to get a rough estimate of the $$ for any procedure. Ask different vets in your area to get a better idea, but remember to always look not only for the lowest price, but for a reputable vet. You will put your baby's life in his/her hand. 

Kitties that don't eat need to get to a vet ASAP. Now, it's normal to worry--they are our babies--I've just gotten over my 2 kitties bout of pancreatitis and my boy seems peckish tonight, but I think he's just reacting to the reduction of the prednisone. I'm keeping a close eye on him though so I feel your pain.

Hairballs don't usually block the intestine----and the only way to rule this out is an Xray to see if something is indeed blocked. Is your kitty drinking water? Running a fever? Its essential to always go to the vet to rule things out, and make sure your kitty is feeling ok. He may indeed have a furball but may be constipated as a result---and if he's really backed up, that will cause him not to eat.  Does he go outside? If so, you want to rule out that he didn't eat something that's making his tummy upset.

It's always good to make notes of your kitties behaviors/etc ---the more observant you are, the better your kitties will be when they need to be diagnosed.

Wishing you and your kitty the best!!!

darkhorse321 said:

Kitties that don't eat need to get to a vet ASAP. Now, it's normal to worry--they are our babies--I've just gotten over my 2 kitties bout of pancreatitis and my boy seems peckish tonight, but I think he's just reacting to the reduction of the prednisone. I'm keeping a close eye on him though so I feel your pain.

Hairballs don't usually block the intestine----and the only way to rule this out is an Xray to see if something is indeed blocked. Is your kitty drinking water? Running a fever? Its essential to always go to the vet to rule things out, and make sure your kitty is feeling ok. He may indeed have a furball but may be constipated as a result---and if he's really backed up, that will cause him not to eat.  Does he go outside? If so, you want to rule out that he didn't eat something that's making his tummy upset.

It's always good to make notes of your kitties behaviors/etc ---the more observant you are, the better your kitties will be when they need to be diagnosed.

Wishing you and your kitty the best!!!

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We got him from the humane society Syu first his ears where folded down when we got him 3 years ago so I thought he was fling to be one of those folded over cat's. But he looks nothing like he did when he was a kitten, he's super long tiger striped with spots like a leopard on his belly. I thought he was a mix between a domestic tabby and a Bengal. Just because how lean he is, I not sure how to check if he has a temperature without sticking one in his butt and he's really ornery when it comes getting brushed, or really even being petted. He's always kind of kept to himself. But I also can't get him on scale long enough. He's a touch one. I'd say he's lost 4lbs. And he's never been outside, all our cat's are inside cat's. He drinks water but within 2 minutes he throws it up. This is the 4th day I've been giving him that hairball laxative stuff and he actually looks a little better. We put him in a separate room cause he looked at the cat dishes and I thought maybe he wanted to finally eat HE ATE! So I'm going to keep giving him this medicine and watch him closely for couple more days and pray it was just a stubborn hairball stuck fingers crossed everyone!

If he hasn't eaten in 4 days and is vomiting up his water, it is a medical emergency and the last thing I would do is wait and see for another couple of days. Apart from what is actually the immediate problem, cats very easily go into hepatic lipidosis if they don't eat, which is a form of anorexia. The liver starts to destroy itself and the condition can be fatal. Please go to the vet for detailed examination. At least then you will know what you are dealing with, and can decide a course of further action. Waiting will only increase his pain and discomfort and lessen the chances of a full recovery. There are all sorts of things it could be - a urinary infection could cause the symptoms he has and that is treatable with a course of antibiotics. But he needs to see a vet now.

He is starting to eat I've been giving him that past lubricant that the vets gave us and he FINALLY ATE a little dry food then I gave him wet food and he ate almosT half, he hasn't vomited in day and a half,I know he's peeing but I haven't seen him poop, it's hArd cause we have 3 other cat's, we have 5 liter boXes but our air dOesn't track the upstaiRs and I have no way to ContAin him from the other animals down here and I don't want to sHove him in a hot room when he's already feeling crappy. But wet have an appointment for Friday. So we will see....But he's MoVing aRound better I just wish I could find out if he's pooping, I've seen him pee a few times. We'll see... my poor little baby ;(

His lack of eating will have caused him to not poop for a bit, in my opinion the key here is now that he has eaten, if he keeps it down or vomits again within 24 hours after food.

If he does not, I would say he likely has gotten past what the problem was.

Is he long haired or short?

Good news! Fingers crossed that he keeps it down.

He's a long haired cat and he is super hard to brush, he screams and yells like he's being torchered. I just try to go slow and talk to him, before I wouldn't attempt to brush him cause he would get so mad and try to bite me. I told him you really don't have a choice now buddy cause you obviously can't handle it. I bought this spray stuff that's supposed to help with the shedding. He's turned around a lot since last week. He's eating, we are giving food that's half broth half turkey then the next step up is thicker wet food then mix with dry food. Still giving him paste stuff, which he isn't fighting me on cause I think he knows it's helping him. Just happy to see him doing little better, thanks for everyone's help. I'll stay updated :-)