To Jon-Anne Elise Sieffert: That's essentially what hairball remedy is - petroleum jelly, except they put a little bit of flavoring in it.... As long as there is nothing else in that petroleum jelly, such as preservatives or some aromatic substance to give it a nice smell - you can use it instead of the hairball remedy with no ill effects. -- Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP Department of Veterinary Pathology [log in to unmask] Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [log in to unmask] Washington, D.C. 20306-6000 (202) 782-2600/2602 [Posted in FML issue 1176]