Category Archives: Whiskers on Wednesday

I have a question for all you feline slaves owners lovers out there. And it’s a bit of a hairy topic: furballs. The reason I ask, as you probably deduced, is that Henry coughed up a hairball. But this wasn’t any hairball, this was like a fur-roll the size of my pinky finger. Ew gross mental images. Here, look at the pretty kitty for distraction: I would classify Henry’s coat as a medium-length. I’ve been looking at breeds, and unless he’s just a regular American longhair, orange tabby… I would probably describe him as a Ragamuffin (all the way down to his “fatty pad on lower abdomen” which made the Vet say he needed more exercise.). All the Ragamuffin characteristics seem like Henry: “They greet family members at the door and will follow their people around the house. Because of their gentle nature, Ragamuffins are generally kept indoors for their own protection. They tend to be very vocal at times and are very lovable.” Okay, now, back to the hairball business. I brush Henry. Maybe not as often as I should (weekly) but I do brush him (every 2-3 weeks) with a Furminator. He’s not particularly pleased with the Furminator, but he puts up with it. So my question(s) are: How often do your cats get hairballs? Do they cough them up or pass them? How big are they usually? Is there anything I can do to avoid coming home to barfy-hairballs on my carpet?