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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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