Hacking up Hairballs
Cats can be very precocious! They will love to leave you a little prsent of their latest kill if your cat is suited to the outdoors. You may also be treated to a display of retching and hacking from your feline leaving you the end result of a hairball. Hairballs, or trichobezoars, are literally little balls of hair from your cat. Since hair is not digestible material, it will either be passed through your cat’s digestive system or he will hack it up as a hairball!
Why do cats ingest so much hair? Just think about how they groom themselves. They lick themselves with their serrated like tongue which effortlessly captures any dead or loose fur. Because of the rough tongue that a cat has, they cannot simply spit out the offending fur. The only thing the cat can do is to swallow it. Mostly, the hair just passes right through their bodies. Yet, if too much hair builds up and becomes a matted wad inside of their tummy, then it is not possible to pass through their digestive system. Therefore, they hack and retch and try to vomit the offensive hairball out.
Long haired cats are more likely to have hairballs. When the hair is longer, there is more of it to ingest. If your cat cannot get rid of the hairball through the digestive system or by vomiting it out, it could suffer from a blockage in the stomach or the intestine. It can easily become a life-threatening situation. Without having a necessary surgical procedure, your kitty could die!
Here are some warning signs that could indicate a possible harball blockage: 1. loss of appetite, 2. vomiting that does not produce anything, and 3. lack of defecation. Constipation in your cat could be the result of having a hairball. There are some steps that can be taken to lessen the chances of your cat getting a hairball or preventing them altogether.
1. Brush your cat - You lessen the chance of your cat ingesting too much hair if you make sure to brush your cat. This will help get rid of any dead hair. Be sure to wipe your cat with a damp towel. This captures any stray dead hairs.
2. Hairball treats - There are many edible treats on the market today which help break up hairballs. Many of these treats contain mineral oil. Some companies which make cat food make special lines of food specifically designed to help get rid of hairballs.
3. Facilitate a hairball - If a hairball is a continuous problem to your cat, then you will need to use a lubricant in order to help your cat digest the hairball so it can pass through the stomach and the intestines. The best products for this are the petroleum based ones. They are readily available in various flavors that cats love.
As you can see, there is no cure for the hairball. However, there are certain steps that can be taken before surgery is taken into consideration. Remember that the cat who is a compulsive groomer is more likely to develop a hairball.
