From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2001-03-30 17:38:00 UTC
Subject:
Okay, Joe sent one of the furballs home to me and I used my microscope.
On first pulling the furball apart as gently as possible I compared
it to some of Jumper's fur in the flea comb (both guard hairs and
undercoat ones). The stuff in the furball was MOSTLY shorter,
thinner in diameter, and kinkier. I do NOT know how much of that can
be caused by stomach acid. Some of it was definitely fur like in the
comb so doubt that threads in the same region would have some a lot
altered and some not.
They differed, too, from the fake fur in one of those bedsacks, but
some of it was a dead-on match with the fake fur in two other
bedsacks. In addition, some seemed to match closely to fake fleece
lint pulled from a hammock.
We already know that the fleece beds and fake fur beds do lose a lot
of their fluff, especially, from what is found when cleaning is done.
I have already begun lining beds with sheeting, and will do a few of
those at every chance till all are done. The fleece ones that have
soft outer sides will also get covers made for them.
It may not be the answer, but we have never had furballs before in
all of these years and we suddenly have two with large fur balls.
That does not bode well, and if covers and linings might help then
they are more than worth my time invested.
Meanwhile, I wonder if any vets want to start looking at fibers in
furballs to see what might and what might not be there?