Cats and hairballs..

[supernova]

So, since it's been a while since I've had cats...


What is the approximate amount of time between the awful coughing and actual upchuck?

My tortie has been been doing this off and on since yesterday evening. I used to keep oil for this and let them lick it off their paws. Is that still valid?

[MorningGlow]

1. Depends on the cat

We've got one with really, REALLY fine, medium-length hair, and she can't bring up a hairball for love or money. She can go a week or two horking up just saliva (and then she gets pissed off and poops in a non-litter-box location, as if that's going to help).

We give the MG kittehs the salmon-flavored hairball goo; it's basically flavored Vaseline. x(

[supernova]

2. Yeah, I saw that in the store

I may have to break down and buy some.

And she likes to eat MY hair too. I have a feeling a good chunk of this is MY blonde hair. :P

[MorningGlow]

3. Kittehs is so weeeeird

Eating your hair--isn't that a psychiatric disorder?
:rofl:

[supernova]

4. Do you think olive oil would work?

That's what I have right now, besides out and out vasoline. :P

[GoCubsGo]

6. Butter or margarine work in a pinch...

Margarine is just solidified oil, and would be less messy than olive oil. Same goes for butter. Most cats like them, too, so much easier to get them to consume either of them.

[Demoiselle]

5. It's generally a long enough gap for me to wake up and either:

(1) boot the cat off the bed so I don't have to clean it off the covers, or...
(2) leap out of bed, cross the room and boot the cat off the good chair so I don't have to clean it off the chair.
I'd estimate 10-15 seconds.
Oil sounds like a good idea. Maybe I'll try it.