Hairballs

01-26-05

I have been giving Miss Tiffany a "taste" of butter (or margarine) just about 2 or 3 times a week. Since I have done this for the past 3 or 4 years I would like to bet she has had at the most 6 furballs. It is funny too cuz when she sees the finger being pointed in her direction she knows what kind of a goodie I have for her AND COMES RUNNING FOR HER TREAT. SHE LOVES IT. I only give her approx 1/16 of a teaspoon (the tip of a knife. Swipe it onto your finger and let 'em lap it off.)

Trust me when she sees the toast she comes fast enuff cuz she knows there is butter on it.

Becky Taylor

09-19-04 Update on Hairballs:

I wrote the report below about two weeks ago and have a little to add. After reading up on the websites I found, I realized that I had not been combing Sly any more. I have gone back to combing once a day, every day and have had no more hairballs or the need to use the hairball treatment. It is wonderful! And Sly is a much happier kitty.

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The above photo is Sly the Solar Cat. He has fairly long hair and is always grooming.

Long before Sly came to our home, I had placed Arlene Correll's article on home remedies in her section of this newsletter. One was a method of controlling hair balls. I thought they were what cats "coughed up." But what Sly did was to throw up his meal. Along with the food would be this giant ball of hair.

The treatment is best done fast; before Sly could figure out what was happening. And don't let him see anything coming his direction. The big secret? Vaseline! Just a good sized dollop on the finger and smear it on his nose. He will quickly lick it off and soothe his system and no hairball problem for days. If I don't do it on an every other day basis, he will be throwing up another and loosing an expensive meal.

Yes, Sly is fussy about the food he will eat. When we first acquired him, he would eat anything; he was starving. He never had regular meals or clean water. He slept outdoors where ever he could find a spot. He had been declawed and could not well protect himself. So, he became a housecat and seems to never miss going outdoors.

I laughed at Kathy (and Jack) in New York when writing about their low expenses, except for their spoiled cat having a favored food. Yes, I know about that. We've tried many brands and types of kitty food. Outdoor kitty, Meowie, will eat almost anything and has never seemed to have any hairball problems. He has his manhood and claws intact so he is better suited to being on his own.

I made a note below with the website article I found about combing Sly. There was a time when the hair on this back, near his tail, was getting matted and sad looking. Sure enough, all it took was combing and it was nice and pretty again. I thought I was going to have to bathe him and I don't think he'd go for that at all. No way!