Laxatone definitely helps. Our vet also suggests mixing in small amounts of canned pumpkin into the cat food — provides a little more fiber so that the furballs pass easier.
Use these with a regular brushing regimen.
Years ago, we had a mixed Maine Coon kitty with similar issues (hair balls and constipation). She did eat the Laxatone but you need to do this on a regular basis. I only purchased tuna with oil and she loved it. You can also try canned pumpkin puree... sounds strange but many cats will eat it. It is high in fiber and helps eliminate the constipation. With the oil/laxatone/fiber... you have to adjust the amount. Too much and the poor kitty leaves a mess. Good luck, Red.
Put plain vegetable or wild salmon oil on the cat’s food if you feed dry.
You could also switch to moist food.
Runny poo is better than surgery.
Hope the cat gets well soon!
A vet told me years ago neutered male cats are particularly prone to these kind of blockages. Much good advice here. I have 3 cats who won’t take any of the hairball meds so I use a multi-layered approach: (1) meds mixed into the small cans of wet food (I use 3 oz between 3 cats - that way I am sure everyone gets their med); (2) dry food that has furball control; (3) brushing; (4) the dog is clipped since the lot of them insist on grooming him as well as themselves and each other.
Butter.
Vasaline on paws every so often does the job. Our kitties often live into their twenties so it must not have hurt them.
You’ve gotten advice similar to the cheap route I take: “indoor” formula food with a shmear of Vaseline - on top of the paw so she grooms it off naturally, if she won’t lick it off my offered finger.
Hope your kitteh feels better soon! I agree with others; if your vet did not also do bloodwork in combo with the surgery (to rule out other issues) then you should look around for a new vet. Also, definitely start giving your baby either Laxatone or Petromalt or any of the “lubes” for kitties. They all do the same thing, just about, but have different flavors. If you find one he likes, he may lick it right off the tube (as one of my cats used to do). The various lubes are specially formulated to help them pass hairballs and will do a much better job of that than butter or olive oil or what-have-you.
Hope your baby is better soon!
They make HAIRBALLL FOOD now...Purina and Science Diet specifically has the hairball brand. I use it..they love it. Also, a couple times a month, give kitty a syringe of mineral oil...just a couple CC’s. Do not give it around the time of his regular meals though because it prevents absorption of nutrients...but this will help his constipation.
So it’s issues now? It used to be “challenges”, and before the EUPHEMISTIC era just simply “problems”.
Ours don’t like Laxatone, but they do like grass gel: http://www.amazon.com/Grass-Gel-For-Cats-Hairball/dp/B000G6T2GG/