Hair Balls

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

TO ELIMINATE HAIR BALLS
A hair ball is an accumulation of hair in a cat's stomach as a result of
his or her own grooming. This can occur even if you brush your pet
regularly. Symptoms are a dry cough, vomiting after meals, and/or
constipation. You can help your cat eliminate hair balls by applying a bit
of petroleum jelly to the end of his or her nose to lick off.
Combing is the best way to prevent hair balls. Long-haired cats need a
combing two or three times a week, but for short-haired cats once a week is
fine.
The natural shedding season for cats is during the spring, and to a lesser
degree, the fall. Cats may also shed because of stress (illness, moving,
owners away on vacation) or because of dry indoor heat used during the
winter months. During the shedding season, try to schedule a few extra
grooming sessions.
If yours is an indoor cat, it may help to prevent hair balls to keep a
little pot of grass available. Keep the grass pot in a place that your cat
frequents: by a sliding glass door or on a favorite window sill. Just make
it accessible to your cat for occasional nibbling.
Grass and other vegetable matter is fibrous and is not easily digested by
cats. These fibrous materials tend to absorb water, expand, and soften,
which provides bulk in the digestive tract. This helps to carry hair and
other nonorganic residues out in the feces.
Mixing one teaspoon of mineral oil with your cat's food once or twice a
week will help prevent hair balls and constipation.
Source: The Cat Lovers Cookbook by Tony Lawson 1994
ISBN: 0-517-10110-6 ; typos by Dorothy Flatman 1996
Posted to MM-Recipes Digest V4 #2 by "Rfm" <Robert-Miles@usa.net> on Dec
24, 98

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