We have hairballs... a lot of hairballs...

[Bucasmom]

OK so what's the "science" behind this hairball thing? I've been reading a few posts about it and that putting some vaseline on their paws and having them lick it off will prevent them from barfing up fewer hairballs.... isn't it normal for cats to have them on occasion? I can see, if there is food coming up with it then it will raise BG levels...

I'm wondering if it's because Buca had been so sick and wasn't grooming himself for awhile after he was first diagnosed, and now that he's much better he's been catching up on it so therefore he'll have more in his system... I've been brushing him more to try to help this, but he seriously has coughed up 4 this week alone!

I was going to start using miralax in small amounts in his food anyways, but should I try vaseline? Will this make it so that they will pass through his system rather than him hacking them up all the time?

 

[kross]

Hi, not that I can really reply with a great answer but my little guy was just diagnosed the other day and has been quite sick for over a month. He had been unable to groom himself very well until the last couple of days but I sat down and gave him a solid brushing and removed what seemed to be half a cat worth of fur :-S. I have found that the "FURminator" works great on removing undercoat but it is a bit expensive. You can get it at Petsmart and on amazon.ca.
Also, I was wondering if you did put your little one on raw food as I read that you were looking into it? Which store did you end up going to for that? I was thinking about trying a store in West Edmonton but don't know anyone who's tried raw here. Are you further up north from Edmonton?

 

[BJM]

If he's behind on his grooming, give him some help with as much brushing as he'll let you do.

I'd start with something wide-toothed at first, maybe a coat rake or even a matt cutter (if really clumpy or matted), to help unsnarl any tangles, remove the very loose stuff and if needed cut out mats.

Then I'd progress to a brush, perhaps a soft or wire slicker, depending on coat thickness (soft for thin/fine coat; wire for thick/coarse coat). You can remove a lot of fur with the wire slickers, but they ma be uncomfortable for a thin/fine coat (scratchy tips)

If a lot remains, using a furminator will remove substantial undercoat; you can overdo and wind up with a partially bald cat.

A small amount of vaseline may help hairballs move through, rather than coming up.

 

[Bucasmom]

Hi, not that I can really reply with a great answer but my little guy was just diagnosed the other day and has been quite sick for over a month. He had been unable to groom himself very well until the last couple of days but I sat down and gave him a solid brushing and removed what seemed to be half a cat worth of fur :-S. I have found that the "FURminator" works great on removing undercoat but it is a bit expensive. You can get it at Petsmart and on amazon.ca.
Also, I was wondering if you did put your little one on raw food as I read that you were looking into it? Which store did you end up going to for that? I was thinking about trying a store in West Edmonton but don't know anyone who's tried raw here. Are you further up north from Edmonton?

I went to Tail Blazers in Edmonton... but they didn't really have anything I wanted... it was expensive... I also looked at the Wellness wet food everyone on here has raved about ,and it was $2 a can!!

For now we're sticking to the whiskas in the resealable containers. Now that I have him OTJ (day 12!!!) I don't want to mess with anything just yet.

I live 8 hours north of Edmonton, and haven't gotten away lately because Buca has been high maintenance lol ;-)

 

[hmjohnston]

Don't forget that you can make your raw food diet- having a grinder does help though. I borrowed mom's mixer which has a grinder attachment and she finally gave me it as I was using it more than she was :lol: .

Dr. Lisa talks about the right food diet on her site- http://catinfo.org/

and the recipe is here: http://catinfo.org/?link=makingcatfood

Good luck! And so glad to hear about the imminent OTJ!