Hairballs, cat with kidney problems

gettingready

Fred has been diagnosed with kidney failure some time ago - he is fine, nobody would say he is not well. Looks good, eats like a horse (prescription diet) but started throwing up hairballs almost daily now.

I know there is dry food from different brands to prevent hairballs but Fred has never ever eaten anything dry in his life (just refuses) so wondering if anyone knows of a wet food alternative? Something suitable for cat with kidney problems? To get rid the hairballs?

Hillbilly1

The hair ball diets are usually mainly higher fibre. There are wet high fibre diets such has Hills WD. That could be mixed with his renal diet, although lost prescription diets now say they are only effective if fed 100%.

There is a also the option of adding fibre to his current diet - ask the vet but usually a sprinkle of normal high fibre granules would work.

All these do is move the extra hair through to be pooped out rather than brought up through the mouth.

There is also kata lax which helps lubricate the poop, but doesn't ensure the hair goes that way!

Does the hair ball regurg distress him?

gettingready

Thanks - Fred is the most fussy eater that I have ever seen.
He is moist food only 100%, he will rather starve that touch ANY dry food/treats etc. Can not see being able to put any powdered stuff on his food.....

May need to talk to his vet on Monday as yes, it seems to be bothering him

He is on Hills k/d and goes through 5-6 sachets per day which is VERY expensive but he is my boy and I can afford it at the moment so no problem here but with others I pop in a few hairball control bits of dry food mixed with their normal dry and no problem, Fred is just something else.... sighh

paddypaws101

5/6 sachets a DAY, wowee!
You are right to be concerned about him bringing up hair every day though GR.
This article is interesting
http://consciouscat.net/2011/04/29/theres-no-such-thing-as-just-a-hairball/
also this thread started by Shoshannah
http://www.petforums.co.uk/cat-health-and-nutrition/363061-hairballs-they-normal.html?highlight=hairballs
In my own experience....frequent vomitting can lead to Pancreatitis

gettingready

Interesting about food.. Hmmm

From my 4 cats Fred is the one that sheds the least and has the best, really smooth shiny coat. Looking at Fred one would never say there is anything wrong with him at all. And that too makes me wonder about hs diagnosis - he had blood taken twice (tests were repeated as even the vet looking at him would never ever suspect kidney failure) and confirmed BUT...

Macius, my wobbly scruff ball - that one has horrid fur. I used Zara's rake for double coated dogs on him today and brushed out 2 large handfuls out of him. HIS coat looks horrid, never smooth, often looks greasy etc but he is fine. Hmmm

Teddy has a weird coat, very dense but very short, fluff like - this one I can brush a bag out of but he won;t let me so just walks around scruffy looking giant.

George is ok, can brush him, depends on the day nothing or a lot but generally ok-is.

But all 3 other cats eat dry and wet, Fred only eats wet. And he only started with the hairballs after being put on the k/d diet which again is weird...

Gold_Dust_2

Do you think that the K/D is causing it? Perhaps you could try another type of renal food, or try his usual food with a phosphorus binder? That's something to ask the vet about. I hope he feels better soon, I had (and have) a kidney cat, and it's such a terrible disease.

Edit: does he eat kitty grass at all?

Lilyjade

Have you tried a furminator brush. One of mine has a really thick coat so loads of hairballs, despite regular brushing. We tried the Hairball malt paste but it gave her the runs. So we bought a furminator and we have had no hairballs since! It's amazing the amount of hair it gets out. Expensive but worth it.

gettingready

I do think k/d is causing it or some other problem - definitely not his fur as he has amazing, sleek fur and never moults much, not like my other 3 boys...

No kitty grass, my other 3 munch on this but Fred - nope.

Fred is a weirdo anyway - he is mummy;s boy, does not like to go out much, perhaps 1-2 times per week for an hour. Never ver touches any dry food or treats. Very fussy with wet too.

I tried other renal diet options but he did not like any at all - he seems to TOLERATE Hills k/d only.

Will see how it goes and take him to the vets if this continues/gets worse of course.

But he stresses so much when I take him to vets - full works, tongue sticking up and panting like a dog all the way, foaming at the mouth, screaming on top of his voice, the full works sighhhh

tutkusmom

You can maybe try this to see if it helps?

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/supplements_specialty_cat_food/cat_pastes/malt_pastes/209609

calicocat

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks - Fred is the most fussy eater that I have ever seen.
He is moist food only 100%, he will rather starve that touch ANY dry food/treats etc. Can not see being able to put any powdered stuff on his food.....

May need to talk to his vet on Monday as yes, it seems to be bothering him

He is on Hills k/d and goes through 5-6 sachets per day which is VERY expensive but he is my boy and I can afford it at the moment so no problem here but with others I pop in a few hairball control bits of dry food mixed with their normal dry and no problem, Fred is just something else.... sighh

Mine does this now too, mine won't eat Hills food at all...cant stand the stuff.

How old is he?...mine is now moist food all the time as older.....and chucks up food..plus hair balls now often bless her.


Mine used to eat loads of grass but doesn't now.

How old is Fred?

gettingready

Fred is just nearly 4 yo...