I have a long haired cat and he'll be 2 on Valentines Day. I got him from my aunt because her son was allergic to him and they had to get rid of him and I've only had him for a couple months.
He throws up hairballs quite often. I give him medicine for that about everyday, but it's not working. THe thing is, since yesterday, he's been throwing up more. It's like a yellow bile stuff. He threw up throughout the night and this morning. I don't have the $$ to take him to the vet right now, but I did call them and they didn't seem to be concerned and just figured it was in relation to the hairballs.
I cannot keep him. I have 2 younger children and I do my best to keep my house spotless. My kids play all over my floors and I frequently mop them, but he's throwing up all over the house and sometimes I don't even know he's thrown up because I'll be out. I confined him to our guest bathroom with the litter box and no food/water early this morning. I let him out when we all woke up and the first thing he did when he came out was throw up.
I feel really bad for having to let him go, but I just cannot deal with this any longer. My kids come first and I'm tired of hearing the baby scream while I keep cleaning cat throw up. Where can I take him? What can I do?
Well I went to the vet and bought a different kind of hairball remedy and changed his food so hopefully that will help. He hasn't thrown up at all today so that is great! I'm not going to get rid of him, I really do love him, so I'm going to try all I can do to fix this problem because I know he doesn't like it either. Thanks for all of your advice! You guys are great!
Just change his food to something easier on his tummy. We use the Meow Mix for indoor cats. He likes it and doesn't throw up so much anymore.
I have a longhaired cat that does something similar. I take him to the Petsmart at Park & Tollway and have him shaved like a lion. During the time that the hair is short he won't throw up. If you are not wanting to shave him, make sure you brush him often and give him OTC hairball medicine (you can wipe it on their leg and they will lick it off) often. We have all laminate flooring so cleanup isn't too much of an issue, but in the past we have used Spot Shot with success. Good luck!
How often do you groom him? I have two persians, both of whom are over 14 years old. If I don't groom them regularly (i.e, at least once a week - ideally twice), they have this same issue - yes, it's a royal pain. But, the grooming reduces the problem tremendously. And, for things like the couch, I keep that covered with blankets when we're not using it - we keep bedroom doors closed. You are doing a reasonable thing by restricting him at nite, and then let out during the day when you're around - cat's sleep over 18 hours/day, so the issue is fairly controllable (and humane) using this technique. My cats' furballs generally are noticeable as you can hear them start to spit it up - I have often been able to move them to a surface that is very cleanable or even stick them on a newspaper.
But, again, frequent grooming is the key. The special foods for this problem can also be very helpful. That's currently not a choice that I have now because one cat is on the Rx cat food (due to a past liver issue), so all the cats eat that. But, we had very good luck with both the Science Diet Sensitive stomach and the Hairball formulas in the past.
keep his litterbox clean and empty.
Cats are clean creatures and some won't go if the box isn't clean and empty and that causes a back-up. I just saw this on tv not too long ago and that is what the vet said that they consulted.
It could even be that it is time to clean the box itself, change the litter. The clumping kind is bad about this. Parts get sifted back that they can smell and don't like.
Sometimes they could just have an aversion to a certain brand or type or if the litter you are using isn't doing a good enough job, you might try another.
There are also snacks that have hairball medicine in them to help pass things along.
Also, get food with no artificial or plain colors so it won't stain the carpet.
Another option for if you do keep him would be to let him go outside to do his business. They can get in the habit of going out or you can put in a door.
good luck
PLEASE DO NOT USE VASELINE! It is petroleum jelly, yes petroluem like you use to fuel your car. It is toxic in high doses. I don't know what type of hairball remedy that you are using, but some of the cheap ones use petrleum jelly as a main ingredient. It is likely that the reason Kitty is getting worse is because of the "remedy" that you are using. Try changing that first and give him quality cat food.
I don't know if you allow him outside, but cats will eat grass to settle their stomachs. I will let mine out for about 10 minutes in the backyard with supervision, he eats some grass, throws up, and runs back to the door to go back inside. It's not a daily ritual, but an occasional.
Best of Luck!
Nichole,
Def change the food, Purina hairball remedy food works well for my mom and her 5 cats! She doesn't give it struaght though, mix it in with the other food. Also try to brush your kitty daily if you can, or at least a couple of times a week. Another cheap hairball remedy that cats like and won't harm them is a little butter or margarine on your finger, they'll lick it off! Best of luck!
I'm so sorry to hear you have to give him up, But I understand completely. The kids should come first. I already have two cats and a dog (and 2 boys) so I can't offer to take him, sorry. My Vet takes cats in and finds them homes. Every time we go there they have a picture up of a different cat up for adoption so they do find them homes. In fact that is where we got out 2nd cat. Jason-Little Road Animal Clinic in south Arlington, ###-###-####. I see you are in Irving so that may be too far to go for you. Contact a local vet and see if they can take him. Good Luck and don't feel too guilty about having to let him go. He will find the home he is meant to be in.
I went through the same thing with our cat and our vet told us to put a thin coat of vaseline on the end of his nose, so that way when the cat licks the vaseline will get on his tongue and go down his throat and that will put a coating on his throat so that way the hairballs will stay down. Our cat did it when she was a kitten and did the exact same thing yours is doing. If you can, try hanging on to the cat a little longer and see how she does. I think this is just a kitten stage, but you need some sort of lubrication so she can keep the hairballs down. Hope everything works out.
I you do decide to get rid of him dont feel bad your kids come first and that is a lot of work in itself.You can go in front of walmart and give him away some one will take him.If you have to confine him to a room dont feel bad either just think if it wasnt for you he might be a stray and eating out of dumpsters.You just have to do what is best for you and your family.Also you can have your cat shaved then he wont have the hair ball problem.I have worked at a vet clinic for 3 years and worked in pet stores and for a groomer so trust me when I say you arent alone.They actually look pretty cute they leave the hair on the head and tail and part of the legs.
take him to your local humane society.
I highly recommend calling your vet and see what they suggest for Food for your cat. Don't get rid of the cat he just needs some special food. Go to your local feed store and purchase the HAIRBALL formula that SCIENCE DIET manufactures. Stop giving that hairball medicine to him so often and see what this new food does for him. Warning: Mix it with what he is currently eating and gradually over a weeks time switch him over to the new food. Cats are very sensitive so you do not want to just take the other food away and give them something new. That maybe the whole problem, the food you are feeding him also.
I have four cats of my own and just love them! Let me know how everything turns out.
A. C
Bless your heart!I've been through the same thing & know how it feels.What I have used in the past is the over the counter meds for hairballs (you can get these meds at walmart or the grocery store.)Honestly I think I would call the west texas veterinary supply that is located on n. treadway in abilene and the # is ###-###-#### I really think they would have something that would really kick it in the butt. I've also heard there's a home remedy & I think it is peanut butter and you just put a chunk on the cat's paw and they lick it off. (cats do not like anything on thier feet)GOODLUCK TO YA! message me & let me know if anything works.I really don't think you'll have to find your cat another home.Again good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check his food. Could be having a reaction to it. Some are harder to digest than others. Ask a vet maybe call a couple and see which one they recommend for cats that are sensitive.
I would call a couple of different vets and get there advice or even a cat resecue person they should be more than willing to give good advice. I would have him on a dry sensitive digestion food. People think that all food is the same but it definitely is not, it may be more expensive but it is more nutrition so you can feed a less amount and if that it the problem it should cure it. I would make sure it is a recommended hairball med. the other is he could have eaten some thing yucky or something that will not digest. Until it clears up, I would leave him confined to 2 rooms. They do not like to get sick where thay sleep so, you may have to have 2 designated rooms w/ hard floors. Hope this helps.
Hi,
I have a long haired cat to. I think they all do this. They need to be brushed 2 times a day, you can try that. I stopped giving mine hairball controll meds and food and then shaved him short. That helped alot and now he only coughs up once a month. I seem to think the meds are making your cat worse and it sounds like he is having a bad reaction to them. I would stop giving them to him and just shave him. But if you really don't want to deal with it any more go to petfinder.com or it might be petfinders.com and ask someone where to drop your cat off. I found mine on there they have special people that take different breads of cats. I hope it works out and you can keep him or he finds a good home. Take care - M
