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hairball in poop?

post #1 of 8
6/10/09 at 3:55am
Thread Starter 
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?
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post #2 of 8
6/10/09 at 8:58am
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.
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post #3 of 8
6/10/09 at 10:43am
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.
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post #4 of 8
6/10/09 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
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.
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post #5 of 8
6/10/09 at 12:24pm
I hope so too - and you can always ask them to check when he's in for his normal check-ups.
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post #6 of 8
6/10/09 at 2:41pm
My 3 eat Royal Canin Intensive Furball kibbles which makes them poop the fur out, so yes it's normal
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post #7 of 8
7/7/10 at 9:14pm
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...
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post #8 of 8
7/7/10 at 9:27pm
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
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