Hairballs

Horrible Hairballs



Your cat's health is important. Your veterinarian can teach you all about the many health

conditions your cat could experience, but it is also important to learn about such things

on your own. If you want to be sure that you cat is getting the best care possible, you

need to watch for signs that something may be wrong with your pet. One common

medical condition that affects many cats is hairballs. While hairballs are normal for a cat

to some extent, you should contact you veterinarian immediately if you think the problem

is out of control.



Cats get hairballs mainly because they spend so much time cleaning themselves.

Although cats do not like water, they do like being very clean at all times, and they do so,

of course, my licking their fur. You cat probably grooms many times every day. Because

cats also shed, they swallow a lot of their own hair. Most of this passes naturally through

the cat's system, but occasionally the hair becomes matted and entwined in the stomach,

causing a hairball that is too large to pass through the system. When this happens, the cat

vomits the hairball.



If your cat seems to have an abnormally high amount of hairballs, you should talk to you

veterinarian. About a quarter of all digestive blockages in cats come from hairballs that

cannot pass or be vomited and this can make you cat very sick. Huge hairballs that size of

baseballs have been known to form in a cat's stomach. A hairball of that size can easily

kill your cat.



There are a number of signs you will see in a cat having a problem with hairballs. If your

cat is retching often, has a change in digestion, or has a swollen abdomen, he or she may

have a problem with hairballs. Your veterinarian can give you cat flavored medication

that your pet will love. Contained inside are non-digestible oil lubricants that will help

your cat pass hairballs easier. Taking this medication regularly will prevent your cat from

ever forming such hairballs. Another great way to prevent hairballs from forming is a

high-fiber diet, possibly including a fiber supplement. Home remedies, on the other hand,

are not a good idea, because they could cause other problems with your cat's digestive

system.



When in doubt, call your cat's veterinarian. Animal doctors are specially trained to help

you help your pets. When you report health abnormalities to your veterinarian, you are

able to best keep your cat healthy and safe, no matter how many hairballs may form.