4.29.2010

Health and Aging Kitties

I wanted to help Romeo share this important information about hairballs and kitties.  I know about hairballs very well because my mom has had to rush me to the vet a few times in the past because I had a blockage.  I have so much floof that it's hard for my mom to keep me from ingesting too much.  I get brushed at least twice a day and sometimes more, but I still have a lot of floof.  One of these days, mom is going to get me the FURminator to see if it will help.  I bet I would have another kitty of floof if she ever used one on me.



A Closer Looks At Cats: 
Wellness, Aging, Instincts, and Hairballs


In observation of National Hairball Awareness Day (April 30th), we’re taking a closer look at the cat: feline wellness, aging, instincts and the dreaded hairball!

*Provided by FURminator, Inc.

Did you know?:

  • When a cat coughs up a hairball, it is actually choking. This hacking can be dangerous and can cause death in some cases. Cats will over-groom themselves, especially in the spring during peak shedding season. To reduce the amount of hair ingested, and the corresponding hack that follows, many veterinarians recommend the FURminator deLuxe deShedding Tool for cats; it’s a safe, natural and holistic way to lessen the amount of hair cats ingest.  (Wow!  I didn't know this.  No wonder it scares mom so much when she hears me in the hallway.  Mom, it's time for that FURminator!)


  • Cats have primal instincts and the location of their water bowl can prove it. In the wild a cat would never drag its kill to a watering hole to eat and drink at the same time. House cats have inherited this same instinct. Owners should keep a cat’s water bowl in a separate location than their food bowl. Cats will drink more water (and this increase will help their system clean itself of ingested hair).  (Another interesting piece of information.  Mom started putting out a separate water bowl in her bedroom underneath the air condition vent.  She always thought I liked the water because it was cool, now we know the real reason.)


  • A cat’s age can affect how they shed. As a kitten matures their coat changes in several ways - texture, thickness, curl and coloring. This transition may take up to two years depending on the breed. Once a kitten’s coat has matured they will begin to shed more by dropping their “kitten coat”. Consult with a veterinarian or groomer on when a cat’s grooming needs change.  (Mom used to take me to the groomers every six week during the first six years of my life.  I would get a bath and a good comb out.  The vet doesn't recommend baths for me now that I am a senior ladycat.) 


  • 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.  (I love fev-ver toys!  At almost 15 years of age, I still like to play.)

28 comments:

Gemini and Ichiro said...

We know about those frustrating grooming things. We love our furminator--even I like it--and I don't need it but Gemini loves it too!

Poppy Q said...

I don't like my furminator much, but it is good in the spring when I am moulting.

Your mom should definately get one.

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

Those are great facts my dear, but if you keep putting up the baby Praline photos we're gonna have to have a medical team standing by to take care of Rumblemum - she's fainting from all the cute!!

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

Lots of good information there, fanks.

Kea said...

Great info! We have water bowls upstairs, in the basement and outside in our little back space, but not near our food.

We don't have a Furminator...Only Derry loves to be brushed, and our human uses a comb and kitty massage brush on him, which he can't get enough of!

The Taylor CatSSSSS said...

Oh yes. Mommy loves to use the Furminator! You look fantastic! Floofy sweet Praline!

Love, uSSSSS

Daisy said...

Those are some interesting facts! We do keep our water bowl in a separate area from our food dishes. It is better that way!

Anonymous said...

We have a Furminator here but mama has never used it on us. You just gave her ideas!

Marg said...

Thanks so much Praline for all the good information about the furminator. We love the last picture of you jumping out of the box. Well done. Have a great day.

The Florida Furkids said...

Great tips - thanks for sharing!

Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

SeaThreePeeO said...

Loads of great informations! Thanks Praline!

CCL Wendy said...

Thanks for all the tips about hairballs and general cat health, Praline. We will take them to heart.

It's obvious that your mommy takes very good care of you!

wildcatwoods said...

Good info - didn't know about the water bowl! Our senior kitty Chica got blocked - nothing came out and she was very sick but it was the middle of the night and we live an hour from an ER vet - Mom gave her lots of water, and put slippery elm in it with a plastic syringe. She coughed up a huge huge furball! It was stuck and nothing would go thru! Good thinking Mom!

Lisa Kolosey said...

That is great information. Our floofy brown tabby BJ, has choking hairball problems. I give him a soybean oil based paste to help him pass it through.
~Lisa Co9T

Remington said...

Great information! Thanks for sharing!

Brian's Home Blog said...

Those were really interesting, I didn't know the first one either because I usually don't have that problem...but my sisters do!

Anonymous said...

Thanx for the hairball info! Cricket is the only who who hacks them up and mom brushes her about 4x a week...looks like at least once a day is in order. But the brush she as, stinks, and will have to make a trip to PetSmart for the Furminator. Your baby pics are just too cute!

Anonymous said...

what a informa-tive post, Praline! my mommeh says she will save dis infa-may-shun, cause it looks like i might have kinda long furs when i grows up!
~Baby Audrey

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

Thanks for that info it was very enlightening. Mum gets scared when I hack furballs and thats why I get my cut every year to make me more comfy.. You are lucky cause you let mum brush underneath. Mum hasalso bought a furminator to try.. Hugs GJ xx

Jacqueline said...

Love that first photo of Praline talking to the flashy box!!...Great information for cats of all ages...xo...Calle, Halle, Sukki

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

I don't like the furminator, but Boo, Ping and Jinx do. Gracie will bite it. Momma is surprised I shed so little since I have such a thick double coat (typical for manxies).

purrs
>^,,^<
Abby

Summer at sparklecat.com said...

That's a lot of very useful information! We have a drinkwell fountain, and all us cats like to drink from it. So that also is a way to encourage us to drink water.

Baby Patches said...

Those are furry good tips and yessssh momma hates it when we chokes on furs so she tries to keeps us FURminated even though I don't likes it when she steals my furs.

I knows your momma tried a pet fountain once, was it a drinkwell? Me and brofur did not likes da fountain at all at first but da lady told momma tips to gets us to try it and it worked, so we luvs our drinkwell fountain now.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrs

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Thank you for all the good info!

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

We love our furminator...even Zippy. She doesn't really need grooming but da attention is always good.

The Island Cats said...

Those were some interesting facts, Praline! We're gonna tell our mom to furminate us!!

Mark's Mews (Marley, Lori, Loki, and Binq) said...

We are lucky we got short furs and dont have that problem. Hacking up a hairball sounds awful...

Pet Shoppers Palace said...

Yes the FURminator is great, you wont beleave the hair you will remove, I have a link for the FURminator combs. http://www.petloverspalace.com/Furminator/1915/index1.html