I recently have adopted a cat who seems to have a hairball problem. What is a frugal way of dealing with this instead of purchasing the hairball remedies? She is beautiful tortiose shell female. Spayed and declawed (not to happy about that). We also have two dogs and a mouse.

Beth

Most cats do this. The way we resolved it was to get food that is specific to hairballs.

We purchase IAMS for our cat and since she has been on this food, we haven't had any "hairball" problems.

Beth, there are foods out there you can buy that help with hairballs. I have one long hair kitty and she loves this food, it is called Purina One Special Care Hairball Formula. Big name, but it is one of the best brands you can buy in the grocery store. She only has a furball about once a month. Here is a site with a lot of information on different cat foods, http://cats.about.com/cs/nutrition/. Now I have heard that you can give your cat PLAIN vaseline as a hairball remedy. But please check with your vet first as I am not sure about that.

I have 9 cats indoors and I feed them the Purina food and another food called Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care. I buy it in the pet store, it is more expensive but they eat less of this food, as thier bodies absorb more nutrition from it. Also, I only pick up maybe 3 hairballs a week with this many cats!! Both of these foods are nutritionally better for your cats and for you! The major thing for cats, is they MUST have fresh water available to them 24 hours a day. They can very easily get a urinary infection. Here is another link on cat foods. http://cats.about.com/cs/nutrition/tp/premdrycatfood.htm

HTH

The food Diana mentioned is very good and cheaper than the Iam's, also if you can brush her, that will help. My tortie loves to be brushed, that is our ritual, at least every other night she crawls up on my lap and I brush her, my male kind of likes to be brushed but he prefers to bite on the brush..lol.

I give both my dog and cat Vaseline--the dollar store variety! It works fine. Most of them love it and will eat it right off you finger. If not, rub it on the top of your cat's paw and she will lick it off.

The vaseline will not hurt them?

Thanks for all the advice so far.

Beth

I give my cats Laxatone.It is a chicken or beef flavored gel that you can give them by itsself or mix in their food.I feed mine Purina Cat Chow and I mix it in their food.I give them a Teaspoon or Tablespoon depending on the cat for 5 days straight then you give them some(usually a teaspoon)once a week to prevent it.My cats refuse to change cat food.It comes in a 2.5 oz tube.My vet charges $7.00 for it but I ordered it online for about $2.50 each.Since then I have had any more problems with it.One cat loves to be brushed and the other one will attack or bite you if you attempt to brush her.

Pertoleum jelly (generic name for Vaseline) is the major ingredient in Petromalt, which is given for the very same reason. The only difference is, Petromalt is flavored!

I know I am late but you can also put a teaspoon of olive oil in her food and it will help her pass them.