hairball in poop?

abnihon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
294
Purraise
3
Location
New York City
This is the first time I've seen this. Samson has lots of fur so sometimes vomits big hairballs, but today I found a piece of poop (I know because of the smell...) with a hairball in it.
It was in the kitchen.
He normally doesn't have accidents, so I'm guessing it got stuck on the way out and freaked him out.
He was dragging his butt around the apt as if something was still stuck there.
I checked and he was fine.
But then I found the poop/hairball in the kitchen, so I'm guessing it was connected.
Is this normal?
Should I be worried?
 

fifi1puss

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
2,150
Purraise
13
Question #1: when you say dragging his butt around does he literally drag it? Because it can mean an anal gland impaction and is very serious. Which could also explain why he eliminated in a strange place.

Other than that concern it is okay for hair to be in the fecal matter as well as when they vomit it. You can also give him a lubricating serum for his hairballs so they pass easier and won't build up in the tumm or intestines. They come in all sorts of flavors so your cat will be glad to take it.

You cats are very cute but also very furry so i can imagine its going to be a long term issue for them. But it is easy to help.
 

darlili

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
3,310
Purraise
14
Location
Illinois
Yeah, sometimes the hairball will be eliminated that way as well. But, I agree, if he's scooting, I'd make an appointment for an anal gland check. It's not as common in cats, but the sometimes the glands aren't expressed and you'll want professional help (yes, the tech can show you how, but, from what I understand, most people are more than happy to pay for the service!)

It's not always something you can tell as an owner. My girl had a dental cleaning, and I asked for them to check her glands since she was out anyway and turned out they were hard and needed expressing - she was even developing a little abcess. She never scooted and never had an out of box event, so I really had no clues.

Now, I'm going to take her in every few months til we can get an idea of whether she needs help every so often or not - I was told it's basically the cost of a short office visit, so fairly nominal. Normally, they can express without sedation, and it's not terribly expensive.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

abnihon

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 3, 2005
Messages
294
Purraise
3
Location
New York City
well he stopped scooting in his butt after I wiped it for him (even though nothing was really there..) He gets poop stuck to his behind a lot since he's so furry and sometimes scoots to try and get it off until I help him.

So I'm hoping the scooting is over and it was just a panicked reaction to having a hairball filled poop stuck to him.

I gave him some of that hairball gel, which he doesn't like, but hopefully it'll help the problem in the future.

And if the scooting continues I might call the vet.
But he hasn't done it in a few hours, so hopefully it's over.
 

darlili

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
3,310
Purraise
14
Location
Illinois
I hope so too - and you can always ask them to check when he's in for his normal check-ups.
 

carolina

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 17, 2008
Messages
14,759
Purraise
215
Location
Corinth, TX
Not only it is normal, but it is the best way to eliminate the hair... Vomiting hairballs is not really healthy... Healthy kitties pass them on their poops. Yes, from time to time they can get accidents - a long hairball, or it gets stuck on the fur around their bottoms, if they are long haired...

Adding fiber to my Lucky's diet solved her hairball problem - she used to throw up hairballs from time to time, and now she passes it the normal way, and hasn't had a problem ever since we started.

As others said, a hairball laxative/remedie might be a good idea... a little bit of butter from time to time works around here (unsalted).

As for the anal glands - my Lucky also has anal glads issues - hers don't get impacted, but I do need to take her to the vet to get emptied, as they get full. Her symptoms are excessive licking/grooming. She starts to lick her bottom too much. Sometimes a little bit of anal gland secretion comes out too... Vet time it is. Just watch the signs... It doesn't happen all of the sudden...
 

sharky

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
27,231
Purraise
38
I agree get a vet check to make sure nothing else is going on.. but that is the preferred method of getting rid of hairballs
 
Top