Conference misery::feline_v1

Cats can have hair and scalp problems due to diet.  My cat, a ?medium? hair,
used to shed continuously.  The vet prescribed a fatty acid supplement (it
smelt like fish oil) and it helped a great deal.  Vitamins can also make a
difference . . . you should check with your vet.  I have also heard feeding the
cat an occasional raw egg can help. 

As far as getting rid of the hair once it is off the cat, I can only suggest 
moving every few months! 

Steve

   Gary and I got a Vaccuum cleaner from his parents as an early wedding gift. 
It made all the difference in the world!  (Especially the edge attachement that
gets it out of corners.)  We had an "electric broom" before ans it just sort of
pushed it around on the floor.  I read somehwere of some cats that actually
like ot be vaccuumed!  I tried it on mine.  (Just for kicks.)  Most ran away.
(I have 5 by the way.)  But as long as Sam was on my lap he loved it.  He 
rolled over on his back and let me get his tummy.  I don't know how jumpy your
cats are, but you might try it.  If they like it, it can't be beat.  It seems 
to pull off more than brushing does.  By the way, my cats shed all year long
and there is nothing wrong with them.  

tlh

	My long-hair cat, Chorniy, LOVES to be vacuumed - unless he's
in one of his feisty moods.  I use the Dustbuster (little hand vacuum,
for those Brits who read this - don't know if you have them) since it's
less threatening and easier to use.  Jim uses our big old celler vacuum
on him, and says Chorniy doesn't care.  But then, they have a strange
relationship anyhow.  Koshka will put up with a little vacuuming, only
with the Dustbuster, and then will run off.

	I don't have too much problem with hair, since our two cats are
both indoor cats.  I purposely got dark colored cats, since most of our
furniture is dark, so maybe I just don't notice the hair.  I'll let you
know if it shows up on our beige rug, if they ever deliver it.

RE .1

My understanding about raw eggs is that you really should only feed your cats 
raw egg yolks.  The whites should be strained out - something about it 
possibly contributing to mineral deficiencies and/or kidney problems.  My 
recollection of the exact reason is hazy, but my vet did recommend that we not 
use the whites.   Anybody else know anything about this?

The only problem we had with this was that Star didn't like the taste.  
However, she enjoys an occasional egg yolk beaten into a cup of milk.  It has 
made an amazing difference in the sleekness of her coat.  

By the way, although Star's coat was rather dry, she doesn't seem to shed 
much.  Freebie, on the other hand, is perfectly fine, and sheds all the time.
Think of it as one of the joys of cats...

- Chris

    I have also heard from my vet that raw egg whites should not be
    fed to cats.  I don't remember the reason.  To keep my cats coats
    in top condition I mix one raw egg yolk into their food and stir
    it all together.  Each cat gets 1/3 egg yolk twice a week.  They
    go crazy on the days they get egg yolk and gobble it up.  Oddly
    enough, my shorthair sheds much more than my two longhairs.  This
    is probably due to the density of his coat.
     
    Jo Ann
    
    

    My ferret book says to give them margarine, butter or mayonnaise
    to help dry skin and fur.  My ferrets were scratching from dry skin
    and it really helped.  I've also heard this advise is good for dog
    and cats.  Also give your cat vasoline rubbed on the top of the
    paw to rid them of intestinal hair balls.  Rub a glob on the top
    of paw and smooth it out.  This way they can't shake it off.  They
    must lick it off and so swallow it.  This is also recommended for
    dogs.

There is a brand of fur-ball treatment called PETROMALT that is pleasantly
flavored and therefore much easier to get down your cat.  I get it at
a local pet store.  It comes in tubes.  My cats all simply lick a nice
big dose of it off my finger each week.

					D