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Cat
Hairballs
Has your cat been coughing and
hacking? If so, he may have hairballs. If you see disgusting
skinny oval blobs on the floor, you will know that your cat has managed
to dislodge one of his hairballs.
What exactly is a hairball? It is a mass of hair and food that
did not digest that forms inside a cat's body. Loose hair that collects
on his tongue when he grooms himself. For some reason, the hair comes
together and forms a ball in his stomach instead of simply passing
through his body. Since these hairballs aren't able to break down
and be digested, cats often cough them up to get rid of them.
While most cats don't have a problem with dislodging hairballs,
they can occasionally pass into a cat's intestines and cause a blockage.
This can be a life threatening problem. There are a few signs you should
look for to find out if your cat's hairball is dangerous. If your
cat seems to be constipated, he may be experiencing a small blockage. If
he seems lethargic and his coat is dull and unhealthy looking, or he is
eating less than usual, then he may have a serious blockage. Either way,
you should take him to your veterinarian to be sure a hairball is
the problem and to have it removed.
Of course, it is much better to prevent hairballs than to treat
them after they have formed. One of the easiest ways to keep your cat
from developing a hairball is to groom him frequently, especially
if he has long hair. Thoroughly comb or brush his hair each day to
remove excess hair. If you begin this routine when he is a kitten, he
will actually look forward to being groomed. In fact, some cats
will even bring their combs to their owners so that they can be groomed.
If your cat doesn't care for brushes and combs, try a grooming glove,
instead.
If your cat still seems to form occasional hairballs,
there are several dietary aids that you can try. One of these aids is
dry cat food that was developed to help prevent hairballs. However,
don't just buy the first bag of hairball formula cat food you
see. Be sure that it is high in protein and other nutrients, as well. If
your cat already has a hairball, you may want to shop for
a gel that can be added to his food that will help the hairball pass
through his body. This gel is actually a lubricant. Talk to your
veterinarian before using one of these hairball remedies for a long
period of time, as they can end up removing important vitamins and
minerals along with hairballs.
Finally, some people have their own remedies and recipes for removing
hairballs. Before using folk remedies to treat your cat, please
consult with your veterinarian to be sure you aren't unintentionally
causing harm to some other part of your cat's body. A few common
folk remedies are butter, mineral oil, and pumpkin.
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