Cats are fastidious animals. They prefer clean things and apparently the one thing they like really clean is themselves. Because of this, they spend an excessive amount of time grooming themselves. The act of licking themselves helps to untangle and remove loose hair. Their tongue is specifically made for the task. It is covered with little bumps and toward the center of the tongue are tiny barb-like bumps that act to snag the hair. Unfortunately, this habit of grooming can lead to the formation of hairballs in your cat’s stomach.
Cats cannot digest the hair they swallow. However, they are able to pass the hair through their digestive system in small amounts. A problem occurs when the cat does not get enough fiber in its diet to push the hair through its system and out with its stool. When this occurs, the hair builds up and forms a hairball.
The distressed cat begins to cough and attempts to vomit the hairball up. For the loving cat owner, the gagging and retching is worrisome not to mention the annoying cleanup afterward. While the occasional hairball is probably nothing to be too alarmed about, frequent hairballs could be a cause for concern because they can result in digestive track troubles such as loss of appetite, constipation and in rare instances complete blockage of the intestinal tract.
You cannot prevent your cat from swallowing its loose hair. However, there are things that you can do to lessen the likelihood of hairballs forming. There are also natural remedies and commercial products that you can use to help the cat pass the hair through its digestive tract before hairballs form or break them up before they become too tightly packed. The best way to prevent your cat from swallowing large amounts of hair is to comb or brush your cat regularly. If the cat is well groomed, there won’t be very much loose hair for the cat to swallow. Long-haired cats should be combed or brushed daily and shorthaired cats once or twice a week.
If your cat needs assistance with its hairballs, there are commercial products that can be applied to the top of its front paws. These products are available from your veterinarian or better quality pet stores. The cat will lick these products off their feet and when swallowed these products will assist the hair to pass through the digestive system. Some people have reported that they have used lubricants such as Crisco All Vegetable Shortening, mayonnaise or butter as substitutes for these commercial products. Before you consider using these home made remedies, check with your veterinarian because the use of these products could cause other digestive problems. A few people have even used Vaseline, but it is not something that I would recommend. As previously stated, if you feel that your cat needs assistance eliminating hairballs from his system, check with your veterinarian as he or she is in a better position to determine the severity of the problem and what product would work best for your particular cat.
You may also feed your cat specially made cat food diets and treats that are intended to prevent the development of hairballs. Another interesting solution that I have heard about, but cannot vouch for its effectiveness, is to mix in about a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to your cat's normal food. Another suggested preventive method is to feed your cat grass a couple of times a week. I have no idea if this works or not, but I do know that dogs frequently eat grass when they have digestive problems. Again, check with your veterinarian. If he says it is acceptable, then you can consider growing the grass indoors. Rye, wheat or oat grasses are the best types to use and can be purchased at pet stores or on the Internet. Do not feed your cat grass from a chemically treated lawn it could be fatal to your cat.
It must be noted that cats will vomit for various reasons other than hairballs. Some of these may be from serious underlying conditions. Therefore, before attempting any of these remedies, it is advised that you consult with your veterinarian to rule out any other illness and to see which, if any, of these solutions should be tried. Along with your vet's help and one or more of these suggestions, it is possible that your cat will be able to live virtually hairball free. And remember, regular grooming of your cat will do much more than cut down the chances of him getting a hairball. It will allow you to remove dead hair, keep him clean, check for fleas or hidden injuries and allow you to bond more closely with your beloved pet.
Until next time,
Teia
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