this sounds silly, but what happens when a cat has a hairball? what does it sound like or look like? we've had him for 4 years almost and i've never seen one before. i've not been so diligent in doing a daily brushing with the beast lately, and am hoping a hairball is all it is.
**warning, this is very gross and very detailed**
he was his normal self this morning, let me sleep til about 8. we went downstairs, the kid freaked out. he puked in the bathroom, and i could see actual food. he had JUST done it. he moved into another room after she freaked out and horked up some more that looked almost like a cocoon. i found, in the living room later, another spot of stuff that i actually thought was poo. it wasn't, it was more puke, but nothing discernible as far as food particles, just mushy gunk. he must've gotten sick in another place because i found that one just now, like the other present he left me a few feet away. i don't know if the living room gifts were before or after his bathroom episode. he's currently his normal snoozing lazy self.
the only other time he's puked was when he ate something and got obstructed, resulting in surgery, so i'm a little concerned. is puking multiple time normal hairball behavior? like actual regurgitation vs like heaving?
kris
Full Version: Hairball Behavior
thats the same behavior ive seen when my cats hwark up a hairball
they never seem to do it before they eat, its always after they eat...a lot
and theres a huge mess
they never seem to do it before they eat, its always after they eat...a lot
and theres a huge mess
thanks! i'll probably keep an eye on him just in case, but hopefully he's done leaving me gifts. gross.
kris
kris
I don't have a cat nor have I ever owned one but I have babysat a few. 
The last cat I babysat had a hairball about every few days. 
Like you described it just looked like poo... it was a long solid mass that was accompanied by yellow bile. He never puked anything else or was sick in any other way, just the one hairball every few days, luckily they are pretty easy to clean up, lol. Not sure why he would throw up undigested food though...maybe he just ate too fast this morning? 
I just googled it to see if I could find any useful info (even though you are the queen of googling and I'm sure you've already done that!
) and it came up with some you tube videos, gross. 
Hopefully some cat owners will be able to help out better!
The last cat I babysat had a hairball about every few days. Like you described it just looked like poo... it was a long solid mass that was accompanied by yellow bile. He never puked anything else or was sick in any other way, just the one hairball every few days, luckily they are pretty easy to clean up, lol. Not sure why he would throw up undigested food though...maybe he just ate too fast this morning? I just googled it to see if I could find any useful info (even though you are the queen of googling and I'm sure you've already done that!
) and it came up with some you tube videos, gross. Hopefully some cat owners will be able to help out better!
Hairballs can actually be somewhat dangerous. They can cause blockage in the intestines, which can lead to serious health issues and even death.
The best way to avoid them is to do what you're already doing. Daily brushing is a must, even for short haired cats. You can also get special food which helps with hairballs, and there are a few other methods to prevent them. If this continues, I'd contact the vet and see what s/he recommends.
The best way to avoid them is to do what you're already doing. Daily brushing is a must, even for short haired cats. You can also get special food which helps with hairballs, and there are a few other methods to prevent them. If this continues, I'd contact the vet and see what s/he recommends.
if the hairball is keeping the food from being digested then it will come up with the hairball, or in the preceding attempts to get it out
ive done a million and one things that are supposed to prevent them but i never can
ive done a million and one things that are supposed to prevent them but i never can
lol i *almost* googled it but figured it would be easier to ask here.
the last time he puked was when he ate this bead type deal on a long string. we seriously could have lost him. i guess i'm one to err on the side of caution and called the vet right away as he isn't prone to puking. but it started with some undigested food then. that and the most horrified look i have ever seen on an animal. now that he's well and healthy, i can laugh about his face, but man. he had this look like WTF is going on?? lol.
he gets a mix of 2 cat foods - crunchy cat chow and indoor formula, which is supposed to help reduce hairballs, and he usually gets brushed daily (but as i admitted, i've been lax lately, like every other day or once in 3 days). guess i better get my butt in motion and help him shed.
kris
the last time he puked was when he ate this bead type deal on a long string. we seriously could have lost him. i guess i'm one to err on the side of caution and called the vet right away as he isn't prone to puking. but it started with some undigested food then. that and the most horrified look i have ever seen on an animal. now that he's well and healthy, i can laugh about his face, but man. he had this look like WTF is going on?? lol.
he gets a mix of 2 cat foods - crunchy cat chow and indoor formula, which is supposed to help reduce hairballs, and he usually gets brushed daily (but as i admitted, i've been lax lately, like every other day or once in 3 days). guess i better get my butt in motion and help him shed.
kris
You can go to the local pet supply store and get a hairball remedy... those are usually useful. If you don't have a local pet supply store my old vet used to recommend just using cat treats covered in vegetable oil. Give the cat a few of those a day and it'll help get the hairballs out of their system apparently.
My boyfriend's cats have hairballs and they look similar... kinda like poo or just a ball of mushy guck. Generally if you pull it apart you should be able to tell that it's hair but they're so gross most people won't pull them apart. His cats also make a nasty nasty sound and look when they hork them. Yick.
Hairballs can cause impaction in the digestive tract and cause serious problems for cats, on some rare cases they can be lethal. The best defense is regular brushing. If you have a pet supply store in the area go and look at "The Furminator" brush... they are very pricey as far as brushes go but they do a GREAT job of removing hair for cats and dogs. I swear I've gotten enough hair off 1 cat to make 2 more on occasion. You use the furminator a bit differently than a normal slicker brush so make sure to read the directions before brushing
My boyfriend's cats have hairballs and they look similar... kinda like poo or just a ball of mushy guck. Generally if you pull it apart you should be able to tell that it's hair but they're so gross most people won't pull them apart. His cats also make a nasty nasty sound and look when they hork them. Yick.
Hairballs can cause impaction in the digestive tract and cause serious problems for cats, on some rare cases they can be lethal. The best defense is regular brushing. If you have a pet supply store in the area go and look at "The Furminator" brush... they are very pricey as far as brushes go but they do a GREAT job of removing hair for cats and dogs. I swear I've gotten enough hair off 1 cat to make 2 more on occasion. You use the furminator a bit differently than a normal slicker brush so make sure to read the directions before brushing
Some other things you can try for hairballs:
Olive oil on his food
Cat Grass
Cat treats made for hair balls (this is what my vet normally recommend since our mail - who is the one who gets hair balls - refuses to eat any greens)
If this isn't normal for you cat, you may want to find out why he is just now having hairballs.
Olive oil on his food
Cat Grass
Cat treats made for hair balls (this is what my vet normally recommend since our mail - who is the one who gets hair balls - refuses to eat any greens)
If this isn't normal for you cat, you may want to find out why he is just now having hairballs.
QUOTE (QTQP4me @ Sep 14 2008, 02:50 PM) 
this sounds silly, but what happens when a cat has a hairball? what does it sound like or look like? we've had him for 4 years almost and i've never seen one before. i've not been so diligent in doing a daily brushing with the beast lately, and am hoping a hairball is all it is.
**warning, this is very gross and very detailed**
he was his normal self this morning, let me sleep til about 8. we went downstairs, the kid freaked out. he puked in the bathroom, and i could see actual food. he had JUST done it. he moved into another room after she freaked out and horked up some more that looked almost like a cocoon. i found, in the living room later, another spot of stuff that i actually thought was poo. it wasn't, it was more puke, but nothing discernible as far as food particles, just mushy gunk. he must've gotten sick in another place because i found that one just now, like the other present he left me a few feet away. i don't know if the living room gifts were before or after his bathroom episode. he's currently his normal snoozing lazy self.
the only other time he's puked was when he ate something and got obstructed, resulting in surgery, so i'm a little concerned. is puking multiple time normal hairball behavior? like actual regurgitation vs like heaving?
kris
**warning, this is very gross and very detailed**
he was his normal self this morning, let me sleep til about 8. we went downstairs, the kid freaked out. he puked in the bathroom, and i could see actual food. he had JUST done it. he moved into another room after she freaked out and horked up some more that looked almost like a cocoon. i found, in the living room later, another spot of stuff that i actually thought was poo. it wasn't, it was more puke, but nothing discernible as far as food particles, just mushy gunk. he must've gotten sick in another place because i found that one just now, like the other present he left me a few feet away. i don't know if the living room gifts were before or after his bathroom episode. he's currently his normal snoozing lazy self.
the only other time he's puked was when he ate something and got obstructed, resulting in surgery, so i'm a little concerned. is puking multiple time normal hairball behavior? like actual regurgitation vs like heaving?
kris
Hi Kris, You can go to walmart and get a hairball remedy it comes in a tube. You can put it on your finger and hope the cat licks it off. If you put it on their paws they will lick it to get off to take it off themselves. I've used it before long hair cats usually have this problem more so than a short hair. They pass the hair ball out the other end so its better than hearing them gagging. I've found it in the kitty litter before after trying the hairball remedy. In the past I used it about 3 times on 2 different cats at first try it was easy they were curious. I always bathe and brush my cats which you already know it helps. They have all past of old age..except one that I've had since 1994. Shes had 2 hairballs her whole life. I'll be surprised if she lives another year. Edna
As others have already mentioned, The Furminator is AWESOME and addictive. Very worth the money. Make sure you use it somewhere easy to vacuum or outside patio.
If your cat gives you a hard time about eating the hairball paste, you can try mixing it right into the food, maybe in a teaspoon of canned food a couple times a week. There are also several different flavors available to try. Liver, chicken, tuna, catnip, etc.
If that doesn't work, try offering plain whole milk. About 1/8 cup daily ought to do it. Again, if not accepted by itself, try mixing it with food. Make sure its regular whole milk, not skim or cat milk. The fat will get the bowels moving and soften the stool slightly to help swallowed hair to pass through the back end instead of coming up as a hairball. Watch the stool consistency and adjust amount accordingly. Works like a charm for my guy. He gets constipated easily so he gets a little milk on his "cereal" every morning
If your cat gives you a hard time about eating the hairball paste, you can try mixing it right into the food, maybe in a teaspoon of canned food a couple times a week. There are also several different flavors available to try. Liver, chicken, tuna, catnip, etc.
If that doesn't work, try offering plain whole milk. About 1/8 cup daily ought to do it. Again, if not accepted by itself, try mixing it with food. Make sure its regular whole milk, not skim or cat milk. The fat will get the bowels moving and soften the stool slightly to help swallowed hair to pass through the back end instead of coming up as a hairball. Watch the stool consistency and adjust amount accordingly. Works like a charm for my guy. He gets constipated easily so he gets a little milk on his "cereal" every morning
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