National Hairball Awareness Day!

Today is the National Hairball Awareness Day! (we think this is a USA thing, but us cats in Canada still get hairballs!) In our house, we use a FURminator brush, at least on me, because mum says I shed more than my sisters do. (Mum is pretty sure that Pandora hardly sheds at all, but I think she does!)

We got some great information from FURminator, and these are some helpful tips! We haven't tried all of them yet:

1. Regular Grooming: Decrease the amount of hair your cat ingests by using the FURminator deLuxe deShedding Tool, which reduces shedding by nearly 90 percent.

We use this every week!

2. Home Remedies: Add a little canned pumpkin to your cat’s meals once or twice a week. The fiber in the pumpkin can help move any hair clods through their system.

We have never tried this!

3. Stay Hydrated: Encourage your cat to drink plenty of water by placing various bowls throughout the house. The water will help flush out the hair before it has time to clump in the stomach.

We recommend using a water fountain type bowl if you have kitties (like me) who like to drink from running water. It's cheaper than keeping the tap dripping! :)

4. A New Menu: There are several specially formulated cat foods that aid in the fight against hairballs. Always consult with your vet first before making any drastic changes to your cat’s diet.

We do like our foods, but we have to be careful with Pandora's tummy. So we don't use any special hairball foods.

5. Ask Your Vet: If you believe your cat has a chronic hairball problems ask your veterinarian to recommend a laxative supplement to help prevent ingested hairs from forming hairballs.

We have a good vet, and she hasn't yet had to recommend anything.

5. Keep cats active to stay healthy; they’re athletes at heart. A healthy cat can jump as much as seven times its height and yet 21 percent of cats are considered obese or overweight by their veterinarians. Interactive toys with feathers on the end will encourage cats to leap, stretch and stay active. Keeping cats active will help them maintain a healthy skin and coat, as well as increase balance and coordination.

We play a LOT! My favourite toy is a string that I can chase after if mum (or Zowie) pulls it along. Pandora's favourite toy is her brown mousie. Zowie likes strings too, but she also has fun playing with the green felt ball.

We hope that these tips will help you with your hairballs. Have a good weekend everyone!