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Hi there. A few weeks ago, one of my cats kept throwing up and then stopped eating altogether. We took her to the vet the next day for a checkup. The doctor said he didn't see anything wrong with her and she probably had a hairball. He gave her some sort of laxative and she recovered quickly. She just threw up just now. I'm wondering if there are any home remedies for cat hairballs I can give her without having to take her to the doctor again if it's nothing serious? Is there something safe I can give her (a food?) if she does get another 'hairball'? My 2 cats never had Hairball issues before. This is the very first time so I am clueless! Thanks!!!

My fuzzy kitty gets feed a furball formula food which really helps keep that fur moving on thru the system. There are ointment type solutions that you can get at just about any pet store that should also help. I haven't ever used any of them tho so can't verify their effectiveness.

Some cats barf for no apparent reason. Don't assume its hair balls until it happens a couple of times.

If you are on good terms with your vet and the cat has the same symptoms as last time the vet my prescribe the laxitive without seeing the cat. I can't hurt to call.

And to reduce the hair balls reduce the amount of hair the cat eats. I use a coat rake to comb hair out of my cats' coats before they have a chance to lick it out and eat it.

Not to be gross (but then again animal lovers can't afford to be too squeamish about certain things ), you need to examine the vomit to see exactly what your cat is throwing up. If it is hairballs, you will see a compacted mass that is pretty easy to determine to have been fur at one point.

If hairballs are the problem, there are many over-the counter remedies that can be used on a regular on-going schedule to prevent them from forming in the first place. Most come as an ointment form in a tube that you squeeze onto your finger and administer directly into your cat's mouth. They also come in a variety of flavors that most cats enjoy and actually LIKE to eat!

Check out DrsFosterSmith.com (Doctors Foster and Smith at 1-800-826-7206) for some ideas. I would only use professionally manufactured products ~ no home-made remedies however. And, as always, check with your vet before starting any new regimen with your cat.

PS. JoW is right that regularly combing your cat's fur will dramatically decrease the amount of fur your cat consumes. No need for combing with my four short-hair cats BUT the two Maine Coons are a completely different story!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Idaho Resident,