Apr
02
are there any home remedies for hairball treatment for cats?
ByI get medicine from the vet but in some cases its hard to
afford in between pay day. Any home remedy solutions?
I get medicine from the vet but in some cases its hard to
afford in between pay day. Any home remedy solutions?
11 Comments
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:27 pm
get a really big dog
April 2nd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I hear ya on the between pay day thing…
You can use vaseline… but I do not want anything of mine eating petrolium. If you go to Wal-mart in the pet dept. they have a tube called hairball rememdy ( malt or fish flavored) cost under $5.00 and once per week feed the cat a little on your finger,
My cats used to yowel in delight everytime I showed them the tube.
the first time I gave it to them..I put a little vanilla ice cream on my finger then spread it on ( gross I know) but they LOVED it.
after that it was nothing to get them to eat it.
do not spread it on the leg like the tube says
your finger is clean and hairless…..
Good luck!!!!
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:07 pm
The absolute best way to get rid of hairballs is not an answer most people want to hear. It’s comb the cat. Yes, tedious, yes, some cats hate it…but it is the #1 stopper of hairballs.
Cats get hairballs due to the hooks on their tongue pulling the loose hair out of their coat, which they then swallow. This builds up as hair is very resiliant to the juices that break normal food down. Eventually they hack it back up when it’s too much and becomes uncomfortable for them.
Yes, you can buy hairball remedies which do somewhat help by providing oils to make the hair go further along in the digestive track, however, that doesn’t solve the real issue. The real issue is your cats eating hair.
Go buy a “slicking” comb for cats. These are the combs with little tiny metal prongs. These are designed to pull those loose hairs out of the coat. You will have to do this for a few days before you’ll notice results, however, you _will_ get rid of hairballs.
I use to get about 3 hairballs a week with my short haired cat. After trying the normal hairball solutions, I called my vet and asked him what he recommends. He said comb the cat. I called my one friend who is going to school to become a vet…they said the same thing. So I did it. Now I don’t get any hairballs…literally. It’s been over 8 months since I’ve had a hairball…and that’s when I started combing the cat.
Side note, I see somebody mentioning Vasaline…don’t do this to your cat, Petroleum is harmful to cats, dogs, and humans. Don’t go there. That’s like using clorox bleach to clean your car…yeah, it works, but not good.
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
i recommend u call your vet….syurp of eppacack might work…but it would be more responsible to ask a vet what u can do….to help the cat expell the hair ball…..there are over the counter remedies you can get at places like walmart…and such..not expensive or go to your nearest …feed supply and see what they have…but when in doubt call the vet…..hope this helps
April 2nd, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Brush them regulary, they get hairballs due to the amount of time they spend cleaning themselvs..so regular brushings with a wire brush will lower the risk of constant hair balls.
April 2nd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
They sell a hair ball remedy gel/paste/liquid concoction at the grocery store or pet supply store. It runs around 5 $ and it should be in the cat toy and shampoo aisle in your grocery store. I can imagine that it is very expensive at the vets because there is plenty of things I have to buy there.
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Use mineral oil. It will ease vomiting or it will pass out with the feces. 1 tsp. daily should wok.
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I use several different items. I bought hairball cookies and Purina One has a food that is made to help with hairballs. This seems to be working for me. Its been a long time since my cat has had one. Also, there is a otc hairball remedy that is like caramel. My cat just licks it off of my finger. I know these aren’t exactly home remedies, but they may be less expensive than the meds from the vet and they will last a lot longer even if you only use them when you can’t get the meds from the vet.
April 2nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is safe and cheap and effective. All those hairball remedies are flavored vaseline. It turns to liquid in the intestines and helps to pass the haiballs. I worked for a vet for many years and we didn’t even sell the flavored stuff.
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
You can use real butter-not margarine- It will coat the intestines like the hairball medicine and help the kitty pass the fur ball. Just let him lick it off your finger. If he won’t do that you can put a little dab just under his nose and he will lick it off in an attempt to clean his face. Sometimes we have to out smart them for their own good.
April 2nd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
FEED YOUR CAT SOME BUTTER