Cats and Hairballs

All pets have health issues that are innate to them and the cat is no different. They have a variety of special diseases and problems that can develop in addition to the traditional fleas, ticks and, of course, hairballs.

Hacking Up Hairballs
Cats are precocious and they love to leave you little presents, such as dead mice and birds. One present you don’t like to find, however, is the hairball. Hairballs, or trichobezoars, are really balls of hair. Hair is not digestible and since your cat spends a good amount of time licking and grooming itself, it also spends a lot of time hacking up hairballs. The hair does not pass through the digestive system, so the cat has to hack it up.

The cat has a serrated tongue that easily captures their hair as they groom. Cats with long hair are more likely to develop hairballs. Cats with shorthair will too, but not nearly as badly. If your cat is unable to get up a hairball, it can cause digestive blockage and will need to be treated by a veterinarian. Usually a cat will require surgery to remove those hairballs. There are several preventative steps that you can take to do your best to keep the hairball problem down to a minimum.

Prevention Tip #1
Regularly brush your cat. The more you groom the cat, the less hair it will swallow on its own. Brushing helps to get rid of the dead hair before the cats licks and grooms itself. You can also wipe your cat down with a moist towel to capture stray dead hairs.

Prevention Tip #2
At your local pet shop you should be able to find special hairball treats. These are edible treats that help to breakdown hairballs. Many of these also contain mineral oil. Some cat food has also been developed to aid hairball prone cats.

Prevention Tip #3
If hairballs are a constant problem you can use a special lubricant that is designed to help your cat pass hairballs. Products that contain petroleum are best. These are also available in several flavors so that your cat will readily consume them.

There is no cure for the hairball problem, but these are just a few preventative steps that should make your cat’s life a little easier.