How can I get my cat to stop eating hair!!??!!

[joeybee12]

One of my cats just loves to eat hair. She and her sister are long hairs, so there's often hair on the floor or where they've been laying around. I vacuum every other day and pick up stuff, but basically it's a losing battle. However, I don't care about that--the problem is if some is left around, Scarlet will sniff around and eat the little hairs or clumps! Of course, a few hours later she'll throw up. Last night she threw up, I cleaned it up, and two minutes later she's sitting on the floor eating a big clump from her sister, so I chased her and grabbed it out of her mouth. Yes, they get brushed every day. She's a small cat, and throwing up so often can't be good for her. She's not sickly or anything, but she loses a lot of food when she does this, and yes, she's done this all her life! She's now 9. She won't eat the hairball formula food or treats, and if she did, it might help her process the hair she eats.

Any adice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[joeybee12]

1. Kicke, because this is a cat htrea, dammit!

Someone's gotta offer some advice!

[NMDemDist2]

2. she throws up ? get some hairball medicine so it will go on down

my cat loves it, eats it right off my finger. You said she won't take the medicine, what I did was smear it on their leg (so they would "clean" it off) and before I knew it, she loved it


Pet Gold Hairball Remedy malt flavored formula is the tastiest and most effective hairball remedy for cats and kittens available.

Hairballs, caused by cats licking and swallowing hair while grooming themselves, are easily prevented and eliminated with this delicious preparation.

Indicators of hairballs, include coughing, gagging, vomiting and constipation.

http://www.petco.com/product_info.asp?familyid=7058&sku=3557167316&tab=2&dept_id=630&c1=623&c2=630&c3=&ct1=Health+Care&ct2=Hairball&ct3=

[joeybee12]

3. That's a good idea, and I should have thought of that! One of my sister's

cat's is very old and has thyroid problems. They give him the meidicine in his ear, and he licks most of it off, so it goes in either way.

BTW, Scarlet's sister--Melanie--loves vaseline! I leave a jar on the floor and she thinks its a treat. She doesn't have hairball trouble because of this--the main ingredient in most of those products is vaseline anyway! Wish Scarlet would eat some! Thanks.

[barb162]

7. my cats won't use it and I got some more vet only stuff they are

supposed to love and same result. WWhen I smear that stuff on my cat's paw, he sticks his paw under him and then it gets on the upholstered chair instead of him licking it off. One of my cats can eat the hair and it goes right through him, but the other one pukes or gets an upset stomach.

[jukes]

4. cat salad

grass clippings will also help void hair. occasionally it will be regurgitated w/ the hair, often it will pass through digestive tract picking up hair as it passes.

the clippings also provide enzymes destroyed during the processing of food, thus aiding general digestion.

most cats get very excited when it's provided, & gobble it down.

[joeybee12]

5. Yuk! Although I have to admit that some of our cats--when growing up--

were often seen nibbling on the grass in the back yard!

Thanks!

[donheld]

6. Shaving works every time

:evilgrin:

[joeybee12]

9. Smart ass!

[Logansquare]

11. No joke--a friend of mine takes her long-hair to Petsmart for grooming

They shave him down to a shorhair length, leaving his head and the tip of his tail. He looks so cute afterwards, and no more hair balls!

[joeybee12]

12. But then I'd have to shave both--because Scarlet eats her sister's hair

as well as her own.

[maveric]

8. Try feeding her Cat Food!

She's probably just hungry.

[joeybee12]

10. Double Smart Ass!