My fluffy cat has hairballs & constipation. What safe oils can help?

I would not suggest using Vaseline or mineral oil for your cat. These products can contain substances that are harmful when ingested. Your vet should have a product similar to the one you've been buying and if not ask them to order Laxatone. I would only recommend giving your cat VET approved medications and supplements. Human doctors and pharmacists may be well intentioned, but they are not familiar with feline anatomy and what could possibly hurt them. ALWAYS talk to your vet first.

Liquid paraffin (5mls every 12 hours) or specific products like katalax can be used to lubricate gastrointestinal system and avoid obstructions. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I don't recommend to do this. Olive could cause significant GI upset. Instead use a product like Laxatone. You may also switch your food to a hair ball formula. I recommend the formula by Royal Canin. daily brushing will also help. If Oliver continues to have problems, have him examined by the veterinarian.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Olive oil can be used to help normalize bowel movements but too much can lead to diarrhea. I would recommend using 1 tablespoon of olive oil on the food with each meal. I would not recommend this for recurrent bouts of constipation as there may be an underlying condition that needs medical attention. Olive oil is safe for cats and if you notice that Tiger develops diarrhea, discontinue the olive oil. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

The hairball oral treatment is about the best you can do at home. If he doesn't go after say 24-48 hrs and continues to vomit then he will require an enema to remove the hardened feces in his colon, poor guy. I would caution about using over the counter enema's, because if they contain phosphate they are extremely toxic to cats, so it is best to have you vet perform this if needed. For long term maintenance you may want to consider keeping Blazer on a fiber supplement and/or a hairball formula food.

He could be having difficult defecating due to the extra hair around his anus. You can use grooming clippers (not scissors!) to trim the hair on his backside and under the tail, or find a groomer for a sanitary clip. I recommend a supplement for hairballs, like Laxatone, that will help bind hairballs so they can pass. You may also consider daily brushing, as this will help Mr. Josie get rid of loose hair so that he doesn't ingest as much. However, what you have described could be a sign of constipation. Often times loose stool will move around the harder stool in the colon, and this fluid can have a very foul odor. Mr. Josie may need to see the vet to confirm constipation and receive appropriate treatment.

Poor Toby! As a starting point, be sure that Toby is urinating normal volumes in the litter box without straining. The signs of urinary obstructions in male cats strongly mimic those of constipation (straining in the litter box unproductively, vocalizing, vomiting), and urinary obstructions are a life-threatening emergency. If Toby is not urinating normal volumes, go to an emergency vet immediately. Constipation is a relatively common problem in cats. Cats should normally have at least 1 normal (not dry and hard) bowel movement per day, but occasionally, a cat will skip a day. If Toby is truly constipated, make sure he is drinking plenty of water. Try mixing additional water in with his food to assure that he is well hydrated. Dehydration will exacerbate constipation. If he will eat it, you can also try offering him small amounts of canned pure pumpkin to increase his fiber intake. I have never found oils to be overly effective in constipated cats. If the constipation persists, Toby may need to go to his vet for an exam. Some constipated cats require enemas and prescription stool softeners. This article also has some additional information: https://www.petcoach.co/article/best-home-made-remedies-for-your-constipated-pet/ . I hope this helps and that all goes well!