Cat Information

Any one familiar with cat health?

My cat is not an outside cat. He ended up getting outside and was gone for two weeks. He came back with fight scratches and he is as skinny as a bone!!! I already called the vet his appointment is next Thursday. The question would be that he has a hairball stuck in his throat and he can't get it out. He keeps trying to hack it up. He has been trying on and off since last night when he came back. If I pat him on the back he tries very hard. Should I be doing this? Any ideas to help my poor kitty get it out?

Public Comments

1. let ur car eat some vaseline. it wont harm them. it has to be regular vaseline not the scented stuff. not too much. mayb like a spoon full. i do it to my cats wen they need it. they also have food thats for hairballs
2. He needs to go to the vet ASAP, next thursday is WAY too long especially if he is coughing and has a lost significant amount of weight. Are you sure it's a hairball? I suspect that he's coughing, not trying to hack up a hairball. He could have contracted any number of illnesses such as pneumonia, FIV, FELV or even FIP which is fatal. He really needs to see a vet now, not in a week.
3. Try some hairball medicine - Almost All pet stores sell this, and so does Walmart. It contains a petroleum jelly that slicks the hairball. Follow the instructions, but I would actually you cat an inch or two a day (it comes out in a thick, icky gel). By the way, I'm quite happy you got your cat back. While at the vet, have your cat microchipped so if he does sneak out again and animal control picks him up, you will get him back quickly.