Cat care question: Upchucking/Hairballs

[Queasy]

I did some searching around and couldn't find anything on this question so, I'm going to try here since I've noticed quite a few members own cats.

How common is it for your cat to upchuck/gag up hairballs? I have three cats and it seems like everyday I come home to 1 or 2 pukings to clean up. My wife and I have tried changing foods, hairball treats, etc without much success. They are currently on a Purina Hairball dry food diet with meat treats every weekend.

We're getting a bit concerned because our 10-month old is starting to walk (he'll army crawl but is not very mobile) and we are worried that he'll end up playing in cat puke one day when we aren't looking.

 

[Geekbabe]

It sounds like you need to start brushing your cats a couple times a week.The hairball control diet is good but you can also add a treatment that you add to the food or that you put on their paws,that will greatly reduce the hairball problem and will make the cats more comfortable.

 

[LordThing]

I have 2 cats, Jinx and Lilo. One is about 7months old and the other is about 5. So far we have had Jinx puke a couple times. We weren't sure if it was just sickness or what. About a month ago she had a bad span of 3 dyas where we would find small piles of it all over the place.

We never catch her doing it, just find the aftermath. Really is weird. So, for us it seems fairly infrequent. Not sure what you can do. We give her some hairball medicine that is flavored like tuna every week or so. Seems to have cleared up most problems.

~shrug~

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
It sounds like you need to start brushing your cats a couple times a week.The hairball control diet is good but you can also add a treatment that you add to the food or that you put on their paws,that will greatly reduce the hairball problem and will make the cats more comfortable.

Two of them (Hobbes and Missy) are long-haired Maine Coons. The other (Pigpen) is short black-hair and he seems to be the one hacking up the most. I'll have to find the hairlball medicine to add to their food. I've tried brushing them before but they don't like it much...may have to try a different brush.

It may be all for naught though. My son is going to be checked for allergies soon and we're afraid that he's allergic to the cats. If he is, we'll have to give the cats up which I would hate to do because he loves them and his face lights up everytime one is near.

 

[SharkyTM]

also, as disgusting as this sounds, check their puke for green stuff... if you find some, it might be plant parts... Our cats back home, Sally and Ozzie (both VERY short hair cats) never have hairballs, but they really enjoy eating leaves off my mom's houseplants. They eat the leaves/stems, walk around for a while, then get violently ill.... i dont see the point, but they keep doing it, so they must like it, or its beneficial. If they're eating plants, try to move the plants away from where they can get to them. Should help...

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: SharkyTM
also, as disgusting as this sounds, check their puke for green stuff... if you find some, it might be plant parts... Our cats back home, Sally and Ozzie (both VERY short hair cats) never have hairballs, but they really enjoy eating leaves off my mom's houseplants. They eat the leaves/stems, walk around for a while, then get violently ill.... i dont see the point, but they keep doing it, so they must like it, or its beneficial. If they're eating plants, try to move the plants away from where they can get to them. Should help...

Nah, its not plants. We don't have any in our house for this very reason. And, it is not beneficial in anyway. Cats are just stupid that way. My cat, Pigpen, swallowed a piece of plastic, got sick for a few days, and we had to take him to the vet for a shot. He eventually pooped it out and got better but we still have to chase him away from chewing on plastic bags all the time.

 

[snooker]

Originally posted by: SharkyTM
also, as disgusting as this sounds, check their puke for green stuff... if you find some, it might be plant parts... Our cats back home, Sally and Ozzie (both VERY short hair cats) never have hairballs, but they really enjoy eating leaves off my mom's houseplants. They eat the leaves/stems, walk around for a while, then get violently ill.... i dont see the point, but they keep doing it, so they must like it, or its beneficial. If they're eating plants, try to move the plants away from where they can get to them. Should help...

I have always heard that when Dogs and Cats alike eat plants, then usually they have a belly ache. Not no vet to confirm it, that's just what I have heard....

 

[C'DaleRider]

Just go get some hairball med.......it's just an oil-based laxative, and I smear it on chin and paws. My Siamese gets hairballs if I don't give him that stuff weekly.

 

[Smaulz]

Our cat was doing the same thing 'till we switched 'em to Iams (sp?) hairball control. Seemed to be the only one that actually worked.

 

[Bryophyte]

My cat is short haired and doesn't get hairballs, but I'm allergic to him (mildly). Once in awhile, when he's shedding badly I'll put the long extension hose on my Fantom vacuum, leave it in the laundry room, snake it under two doors, and use the brush attachment on the cat. He is afraid of the vacuum, but because it's so far away, he doesn't realize that all the attention he's getting is somehow associated with "the beast". Works better than any other brush. This reminds me that he's shedding. Better go get the hose...

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Just go get some hairball med.......it's just an oil-based laxative, and I smear it on chin and paws. My Siamese gets hairballs if I don't give him that stuff weekly.

You can also just plunk a fingerfull of it on the roof of their mouth if they'll let you. Saves getting paws/chin greasy.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: C'DaleRider
Just go get some hairball med.......it's just an oil-based laxative, and I smear it on chin and paws. My Siamese gets hairballs if I don't give him that stuff weekly.

You can also just plunk a fingerfull of it on the roof of their mouth if they'll let you. Saves getting paws/chin greasy.

I'm stopping myself from asking what it's like to get your *cat* greasy. That would be impolite and crude. I was raised better than that.
edit: can't type

 

[pandapanda]

My cats hate the hairball stuff, but LOVE plain ole vaseline. It's cheap and it works.

 

[Amused]

First of all, Purina is crap. Go to your local pet store and pick up some Science Diet Hair Ball Control. It really helps.

Secondly, your vet has a paste that you feed the cats (don't try sticking it in their mouth, wipe it on their forelegs and let them clean it off... they'll have it cleaned in minutes) that REALLY helps to curb hairballs.

Some cats are more prone to hairballs than others. My current cat never gets them, but my old cat got them often before we had her treated (she lives with my ex now).

 

[Analog]

shave the cat.

 

[Descartes]

I have two large really long haired cats, but they really don't have hairball problems that often. One of them did for a while but I put that paste on his paw for a few days and it cleared up the problem.

I feed them Eukanuba if that makes any difference.

 

[zephyrprime]

I find the key to keeping my cat hairball free is combing him. Not brushing but combing. Brushing just doesn't seem to work as good as combing. I use a plain old black pocket comb.

 

[notfred]

I think my cat has puked twice since we got her in april.