Hairball City!!!

[mpoier]

Hello everyone!

I have 2 kitties and I have noticed some serious hairball treats left on my carpet when I wake up in the morning...

I have been giving them this stuff called Petromalt, a hairball treatment that tastes good to cats, but I don't think its working very well (obviously!).

Do any of you have a good hairball treatment, besides hairball food? (I have to give Bailey special UR food for his urinary disorder...)

Thanks!
M

[Uabassoon]

Do you brush your cats often? Brushing will help remove a lot of the dead hair and hopefully make for fewer hairballs.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

How old are your cats? If they are getting on in years, you might want to have the vet check them for kidney failure. They do a blood test that tests several different "levels" in their blood. Tubby was always one to have hairballs, but when it got to the point of almost everyday, I figured I better have him checked out. Turns out he is in the beginning stages of kidney failure. Since they caught it early enough, it wasn't fatal. I give him 1/4 of a Pepcid everyday and this seems to have dramatically slowed the progress of the kidney failure. He was diagnosed over 2 years ago now (I think) and he is doing fine. However, I was recently reminded of how important it is to him to get this Pepcid everyday. We left Saturday morning for the weekend, didn't get back until Sunday evening. Since it was only overnight, I didn't call the pet sitter, so Tubby had no Pepcid on Sunday. Monday morning he had a major puke session and it was horrible for me because I felt so guilty.

The vet says the Pepcid not only slows down the progression of the kidney failure, but it helps soothe his tummy too, which means he feels like throwing up less, which is a good thing all around.

So, you might want to have the kitties checked out by a vet. Even if they have no problems with their kidneys, the vet might have some suggestions for you since the Petromalt doesn't seem to be working.

Oh, and kidney failure is sort of a common thing among older cats - but young ones have been known to get it too.

Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

[shais_mom]

After getting them checked by the vet ensuring they are ok, Kylie LOVES the Purina Right Bite Hairball treats. I think they are tuna flavor. I notice if she doesn't get them regulary (which she would like to be everytime I walk into the kitchen!) she leaves me presents!
There is also some stuff called catlax or a hairball treatment. Cats are supposed to love the taste, you put it on their paw and they lick it off. Kylie hates it and flings it all over the kitchen so it is a BATTLE to get her to take it!