Hairballs
The most common health problem for cats are hairballs.All cats normally swallow the loose hair that comes from their coats as they groom themselves every day. This loose hair will gather into a ball in their stomach. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up this hairball. It can be rather disgusting and you have to clean up after it, most cats can cough up hairballs without any health problems.
In some cases, it can become stuck in the digestive tract instead of passing through, creating a blockage in the cat’s intestine. Intestinal blockages are very serious problems. They can be life threatening if they aren’t treated.
What to watch for
If your cat has a very dull coat, isn’t eating properly, or becomes constipated, he could have a blockage. If your cat has any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet immediately.
What to Do
The only thing you need to do when your cat coughs up a hairball is to clean it up. Everything’s usually fine, once the hairball is out. There are some tried-and-true tricks to help if your cat is bringing up hairballs regularly or to prevent future hairballs.
Brushing your cat two or three times a week to remove loose hair can help prevent hairballs and blockages. There is food specifically designed to control hairball. Supplement are available to reduce hairballs as well.
Brush your cat regularly. Regular grooming, even just a little grooming once a week, will remove those loose hairs that cause hairballs. Each loose hair you brush off your cat is one less to be swallowed.
Ease the passing
Lubricating the intestinal track will help hairballs move through the digestive system instead of coming back up. Commercial hairball remedies are available that help, or you can use a little bit of melted butter. If you want, you can try to give your cat a small dose of petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is the most difficult to convince the cat to swallow, but it is the cheapest and most effective method. Butter is easier to give, since most cats love the taste. The proper dose of butter is about a half-teaspoon of melted butter once a day for a few days. Don’t do it for any longer time. Always read and follow label directions carefully on commercial remedies. They taste good and are very effective but do cost more. Unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian, don’t give any remedy as part of the cat’s dailey diet or for more than four or five days at a time.
Add fiber to your cat’s diet. Too little fiber, too many snacks, and not enough exercise is a problem for both you and your cat. A hairball is a problem because it doens’t move through the cat’s system. Unless you get your cat’s body exercising a little more vigorously, hair will continue to collect, forming more and larger hairballs, possibly leading to a blockage. A higher fiber diet, fewer snacks, and a little more exercise may be all it takes to help your cat deal with a hairball problem.
When to Call the Vet
Once in a while, a hairball is normal. Coughing up a hairball several times a week or even daily is a problem. A hairball will usually come up in one or two tries. If your cat has diarrhea that won’t stop, continues trying to bring something up, or or loses their appetite along with hairballs, call your vet immediately.
