How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

Every so often she throws up what looks like a sausage and I can only assume its hair. It hardly smells. She is brushed regularly.

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

Yes, that's a hairball all right! (Why aren't they called "hair sausages")? The reason they are that shape is because the come up through the esophagus, which is shaped like a tube.

There are several things you can try. The easiest is putting about a half teaspoonful dab of petroleum jelly on your finger and see if she will lick it off. If she will, do it two to three times a week. My female cat would lick it off like it was a treat...but my male cat will have nothing to do with it!

There are hairball remedies you can buy wholesale from animal supply companies. I use Revival Animal company out of Iowa and have found them to be very good. They have trained advisers on staff to answer questions, and they are on the web www.revivalanimal.com.

Actually what has worked best for me are the Friskies Hairball remedy treats. You can find them at Wal-Mart, Target , etc. for about $3/bag. My cat has had no hairballs since I have been using these.

Hope one of these ideas will help!

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

Get some Kat-a-lax from your vet, I swear by it.

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

change its food! believe it or not some cat foods like eagle pack holistic select has ingredients ( natural, holistic of course) that reduce hairballs to none! i used to give my cats purina before i knew better and they always had the runs and hairballs...now they have firmer stool and have no hairballs also their coat is amazing now and they are both very old cats and they got a second wind of life!!

my motto is why treat the symptoms...get rid of it all together!!

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

Definitely get a laxative! I have to use it on my Persian and also short hair (he grooms the Persian!). Also, Science Diet has a hairball control formula especially for this problem. Yeah, those are nasty surprises in the morning! Just be careful! If you're not treating the hairballs and not finding those surprises it could mean that kitty is getting backed up with them and might need surgery (worst case scenario). Good luck!

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

there are numerous types of hairball remedy on the market, my vet sells one called de furr um which is good but most pet shops sell them so just get one from there. i buy one that has pre and probiotics in it.

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

I have two long haired cats and they always used to get hairballs.I have tried many different foods.The best food is IAMS hairball control it works really well you would not believe how it works they went to having one every week to about once every two months.Give it a try.

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

Get a hairball control cat food, and dont give them laxatives! De-Furr-Em paste works as well, they usually will lick it from the tube but if they wont spread some on their paws, they will lick it off, some cod liver oil in the food seems to smooth the path as well, have a browse in a pet shop, all this stuff will be available there.

Brushing them dosnt seem to make much difference, apart from giving them beautiful coats and stopping that horrible matting, they will still ingest a load, just by washing themselves!

How can I prevent my maine coon from having hair balls?

I have a lond hairred cat and she would throw up alot at a time too. i take her to the groomers for a wash and a shave and she is so much happier without the high maintenence of cleanning herself.You should probably call around for pricing though first.She will love you for doing it.