Fur balls in special needs cat

I just spend almost an hour giving the history on our cat, hit "preview" and poof, it was gone.  Don't have time to re-type all of it!!!!

Please help.  We have a two year old VERY long fuzzy haired Himalayan/Siamese cat.  He is groomed at least once per day but will only tolerate it for a minute or two.

He was rescued by us after 8 months of intense rehab (over 3,000 $$ spent by the rescue organization.) He had many problems including pneumonia, chronic upper respiratory disease, had 7 teeth pulled due to abscesses, projectile sneezing, etc.  

We have had him for 10 months.  Sneezing is infrequent and under control.  Weight is good but he is a very picky eater.  He is groomed daily.  We have him on hair ball food which he doesn't like (IAMS) from the vet.  His fur balls are severe, I mean SEVERE.  He throws up at least 4 times a week, often more, and is an obsessive groomer.  His fur is fluffy and dense.  He gags, makes a horrible whining sound and then passes a fur ball.  I don't often see the fur balls in his litter box.

Today I found him with his mouth wide open, like he was suffocating.  I quickly tried to remove the hair out of his mouth (an excessive amount) but got badly scratched in the process.  He swallowed it, don't know how, but am now waiting for the throw up to start.

He has all but destroyed our house with the vomit (on furniture, carpet) and loose stools.  I have read up on fur ball remedies, cookies, food, paste, etc.  I need to the best, most effective remedy asap.  PLEASE give me advice on the best product so I can save his life. 

We love him and will press on of course.

Please help!!

excessive hairballs in long hair cats is common.

You are brushing often which is good- and hairball forumula food is also good.

Try upping fiber- add some canned pumpkin to her food.

You might also add a very small amount -- around half a teaspoon -- of petroleum jelly, olive oil or butter to your cat’s food. This too will help push through fur in the digestive system.

Thanks for the reply.  Everything that I have read says petroleum jelly is bad.  Is it only "bad" when used in fur ball remedies?  

Any ideas on the chronic loose stools?

I can't help on the stools. Pumpkin helped my cat when he had bad bowel movements but not sure if it will do the same.

Tiny amount of jelly is OK, just not a spoonful or anything, just a lick

It could be diet related.  He could actually be sensitive to the food which doesn't help the hairball issue. Have you tried something without grains and canned?  The chronic diarrhea might indicate food intolerance or he might have some uncommon parasite. A PCR diarrhea panel will help diagnose that and rule out parasites.  The only other suggestion I have is maybe trimming his fur to cut down on the amount of hair.

Thanks!  Yes, I have investigated food allergies.  I wish he would just eat the very expensive hair ball food we have.  At his old vets recommendation, I tried the all natural cat food (very expensive) which he would hardly eat.  She said it was because he would rather have the high sugar diet of friskies (or current equivalent we get from COSTCO).  I couldn't keep good weight on him and he was painfully skinny.  So.... either I get hair balls from crappy food (severe) or get hairballs (less severe, but still present) from low quality food but low body weight.

It's hard when you have a picky eater.  EEEErrrrrrr.

As for the hair cutting, I bought good hair cutting sheers for humans and we slowly pick away at the masses of fur.  He HATES it.  

Have you tried any fur ball remedies, over the counter?  There are so many it is overwhelming.  Mixed reviews.