Cats and Hairballs

What are Hairballs?

If you ever stepped on one barefoot, you probably know… Hairballs are not really ball shaped, but rather sausage-like wads of wet hair that your cat has vomited.

Hairballs are formed when the cat swallows too much hair from its fur. While self-grooming, cats often come upon dead hair. Because cats' tongues are rough one-way surfaces, they are unable to dislodge the hair from their mouths and spit it out - they have no choice but to swallow it.

Ingested hair usually travels along the cat's digestive system and gets excreted in the feces. The problem occurs when the cat swallows too much hair and can't pass it along the usual route. In that case the hair accumulates in the stomach and forms a wad of compressed hairs. The cat finally vomits the mass of hair, making quite a spectacle of coughing and retching.

Any cat can suffer from an occasional hairball, but some cats are more susceptible than others. Generally speaking, longhaired cats tend to swallow more hair mass, simply because they have more of it. The density and length of the cat's fur are thus a factor.

The Danger of Blockage from Hairballs

The major problem that hairballs can create is intestinal blockage. Sometimes, the cat can neither pass the hair in the stool, nor vomit up the hairball. The hairball remains in the cat's intestines, partially or even totally blocking them.

Blocked cats exhibit signs of constant attempts to vomit, often perceived as a dry cough or retching. Constipation can also indicate blockage, and it's often accompanied by loss of appetite.

Older cats are also prone to hair-induced blockage. As the cat ages, its digestive system becomes weaker and its bowel movements may not be strong enough to expel the hair.

Blockage can be a serious medical condition. Other things than hairballs may cause intestinal blockage, so you should contact the vet as soon as possible for a professional diagnosis and treatment.

Hairballs Treatment and Prevention

If your cat is prone to getting hairballs, there are several things you should do:

Brushing

Brush your cat regularly to get rid of dead hair before your cat has a chance to swallow it in the course of its own grooming. This is probably the best way to prevent hairball problems.

Laxatives

If your cat suffers from hairballs despite constant brushing, you may consider using a hairball prevention product such as Petromalt. These are basically mild laxatives based on mineral oil or petroleum jelly. The cat can't ingest this type of fat and it lubricates the inside of the digestive system and enables the excess hair to move forward and be expelled naturally in the feces.

Many cats like the taste of hairball prevention products and they will often lick it directly off your finger. You can also get the cat to ingest it by putting a dab of the laxative on the top of the cat's paw or on its nose and let it lick the stuff off while grooming. In her book, Think Like A Cat, feline behaviorist Pam Johnson-Bennett warns that some cats may shake their paw to get rid of the laxative instead of licking it off. Make sure that your cat actually ingests the gel or paste rather than smearing it all over the walls.

High Fiber Diet

Cats with chronic hairball problems may need a change in diet. A high-fiber diet can help to increase bowel movements, thus preventing hairball blockages. Consult your vet, if you think your cat may need a change in its food. There are commercial cat foods especially designed for cats with hairballs problems.

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