August 20th, 2009
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You know that sound – as you’re sitting, playing on your computer there comes a hacking noise from your cat behind you. It’s somehow different that other kinds of coughing – you can hear him straining to get something foreign out over and over.
It’s hairball time. Almost all cats get hairballs, some more often than others. Long-haired cats like Himalayans tend to be most prone. There’s not too much you can do once your cat has a hairball. You can gently push on his stomach to help get it out. But prevention is best. Try feeding a food specially formulated for hairballs, try Petromalt on a regular basis or try a home remedy such as pumpkin. Even brushing his teeth can help to keep them at bay. |
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I wanted to know how to prepare the pumpkin as a home remedy for hairballs? I have two cats. One likes petromalt, the other doesn’t. However, they may want the pumpkin which will be more economical for me. How about Crisco or vegetable oil added to their good? I caught the picky one eat crisco when I wasn’t looking. Not sure of it’s effects, I am more careful now when I leave it around when I am baking. I need our advice.
Thanks.
Yup, my longhaired Merlyn used to have those often, then I started mixing his kibble with IAMS specifically for Indoor Cat Weight Control & Hairballs & within a month, it near completely stopped. Now its been around 8 months & no hairballs at all.
This is a good post, very good indeed !
Many thanks.
luv sjg
Sheila: That’s great news!
Jack: Pumpkin dose for cats: Less than 15 pounds – 1 -2 teaspoons a day; 15 – 35 pounds – 1 – 2 tablespoons a day.
Crisco are vegetable oil not good for cats and, at best, will be ineffective.
- Kelly
My Maine Coon has a severe hairball problem. The best food that works to control this problem is Science Diet Hairball Formula in cans. I also offer him the dry; but the wet works the best.
Sentry’s Petromalt: Mineral Oil 44%. That’s better than petroleum jelly (look at Hartz — ugh!), but what I like even better is Sentry’s Natural Defense Hairball Remedy. It’s made with soybean oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, cod liver oil, flaxseed oil, and even beeswax! The best part is that my cats that hate hairball remedy like it.
Forgot to add wheat grass. I buy it at the grocery store (Safeway) in the grocery store. My indoor cats demand their greens!
My cat is totally inflexible about what she’ll eat- and what she won’t eat; the only food she WILL eat is Purina Dry catfood for indoor cats. NO moist or canned food-EVER! I’ve tried to get her to eat a little canned food at dinnertime and at other times as well- but she refuses everything (including human food, tuna, cheese, chicken, eggs, babyfood, sardines, cod-liver oil, milk- I’ve tried it ALL!) She’s a long-haired cat and gets frequent fur-balls but won’t eat petromalt or any other furball remedy. What she will accept is an eighth of a Tablespoon of petroleum jelly, applied to the backs of my hands and spread evenly so there aren’t any big “glumps” and warmed up to my body temp and this seems to help.her eliminate the furry beasts. Of course it’s more work for me- but that’s what Valet’s DO.
Valet to Miss Precious Cuddles
Kris: Thanks for the suggestion!
Little Doll: Thanks for the natural suggestions. I love Sentry.
Derek: That’s the only food my cat will eat, too!
If you spread the Petromalt directly on the back of your cat’s front paw, he or she will have to lick it off. I find a sneak attack works the best so keep the finger with the Petromalt out of sight until the last minute.
Great advice Nancy!
About the petromalt and the front paw…..I did that and my kitty proceeded to run down my freshly painted hallway flipping his paw as he went, to get the petromalt off him and onto the walls. What a mess but it was funny too.