Can I give my cat olive oil to help pass a hairball safely?

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.

Olive oil is safe to give to cats, so a small amount may help, however if there is a severe intestinal obstruction it likely won't clear it. If the oil doesn't help, or the vomiting continues, veterinary care is unfortunately needed, and many emergency clinics are still open for services. Other things to try can include feeding smaller meals more often so that Mama isn't eating a huge amount in one meal, which may help her better keep down what she is eating.

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.

I would recommend having Masha evaluated by her veterinarian. Long haired cats should only have 3-4 hairballs per year. Any more than that can actually indicate gastrointestinal disease. She will likely need bloodwork and possibly an abdominal ultrasound. If there is a problem such as inflammatory bowel disease for example, she can be managed with medications and perhaps a prescription diet. I hope this information helps you and Masha!

Castor oil can be quite irritating and gut spasm is not helpful in such cases. Gentle lubricant laxative such as hair ball paste and frequent small meals can help encourage such items to pass but any colic, vomiting or constipation should be checked by your vet

Coconut oil is safe, but I can't tell you for sure or not if it will work! If Kyra will allow it, the best thing to prevent hairballs would to brush her frequently to remove the extra hair so that she doesn't swallow it when grooming. Here is some more information about hairballs in cats: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3558

Absolutely NOT on the coconut oil. That could cause worse issues like pancreatitis and/or diarrhea. Please keep in mind that many different things can cause vomiting in cats so Tigger may or may not have hairballs. I strongly recommend you get him to a vet for an exam. In the meantime you can try a hairball remedy that you can buy over the counter like this one: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/tomlyn-laxatone-tuna-flavored-hairball-lubricant Use as directed on the package. Hope this helps.