Hairballs in cats develop as a result of their careful – sometimes excessively careful - grooming routine. They are usually harmless and will safely pass all the way through the intestines and being eliminated; if they remain in the stomach, they will eventually be vomited. However, there are also situations when they may become hazardous and cause serious health problems for your cat.
What must cat owners do to keep hairballs to a minimum?
The grooming routine of a cat also collects loose hair, which will be swallowed. The long-haired breeds (Maine Coons, Persians etc.) are more likely to have hairballs, as well as older cats, considering that age makes them more and more preoccupied with grooming themselves.
There is nothing to do in order to totally prevent hairballs, but their frequency can be reduced with some of these solutions:
• Regularly groom your cat - Try to convince your cat to let you brush her coat frequently, or take her to a professional groomer every few months. The more loose hair you remove from her coat, the less hairballs will form in her stomach.
• Buy "hairball formula" food; you can find it available in pet stores. This food type is designed to help hairballs passing through the digestive system and being safely eliminated. There are also other hairball products available, usually based on mild laxative. Although laxatives are efficient in allowing the stubborn hairballs to pass through the intestines, it is advised that they are used only under the supervision of your veterinarian. This advice also applies to the use of food designed to be effective in relieving hairballs obstructions.
• Cat owners should also discourage compulsive grooming and distract the cat`s attention with other enjoyable activities, new toys etc.
• There are also home remedies for hairballs, and they include:
- Pumpkin added to the cat`s regular food, a couple of times a week, as it is a great source of fibers necessary for a proper digestive transit.
- Smear your cat's paws with petroleum jelly, once a week, or add a teaspoon of olive oil to her food; they will act as lubricants and help in eliminating the hairballs.
Attention, none of these solution should be forced into your cat`s mouth. When hairballs become more than an annoyance and cannot go through the digestive system, they may cause blockages and more serious problems. Symptoms like a hardened belly, constipation, gagging without actually vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy and couching must not be ignored, but immediately addressed to your vet. Intestinal blockages are emergencies and may threaten your cat`s life.
It is also possible that these symptoms have nothing to do with hairballs, but with other digestive issue, however emergency treatment may still be necessary and the diagnostic must be based on a careful examination made by your vet, including X-rays, ultrasound and blood work. If there is an intestinal blockage, your cat may go through a surgery or, if she is lucky, through a clinical therapy during several days, to protect the intestines.
