I've had Cat-Boy now for about three months. He's settled into his new
home and is very normal and happy. He has a lot of Maine Coon in him,
so his fur is not only long, but very dense. At a casual glance he
looks fat, but not after you pick him up and realize that there is way
more hair than cat.

When I first got him he was puking up hairballs about once a week.
We're talking serious hairballs, so big I am amazed he can get them
through his throat. He's a good boy about it, though. As soon as he
throws up he comes to me and meows to get my attention, then goes to
the pile of puke on the floor and tries to cover it up. Since there is
no litter to cover it with the exercise is unsuccessful, but on the
other hand he manages to get his papa to go clean it up with a paper
towel, and that satisfies him.

Someone here suggested the hairball remedy type food, so I bought
some. It worked great until the past couple of weeks. Now he's back to
throwing up about once a week. I suspect the problem is that it is
spring here and he is probably shedding some of his old hair. Even the
hairball remedy cat food can't handle the volume.

I've tried brushing him, but he doesn't seem to like being brushed.
He's extremely affectionate, loves sitting in my lap, being petted and
getting attention. But when I bring out a comb or brush he reaches for
it and tries to bite it. He doesn't really complain or scratch me when
I try to brush him, but constantly fighting with him for control of
the brush makes it just about impossible to accomplish anything.
Furthermore, surprisingly, when I do brush him I don't get a lot of
fur in the brush. He grooms himself all the time, so I suspect he's
taking care of the fur all by himself, leaving little for me to brush
out. That's great, except when I have to clean it up off the floor.

What I'm wondering is if there might be a better hairball remedy food
I can get -- maybe one with more hooks in it to catch the hair. He
won't touch canned food (I've tried over and over). But he'll eat most
any kind of dry food. I've been giving him Purina One and Iams
Regular, both the hairball remedy kind. I put out a bowl of each and
he eats from both bowls, although I think he eats a little more of the
Purina than the Iams.

Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

--
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