Showing posts with label Cat Hairballs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cat Hairballs. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2020

CAT HAIRBALLS - Tips For Dealing With Them

A cm ( in) cat hairball.
A cm ( in) cat hairball. 
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If your cat has been coughing and retching, he may well have one or more hairballs. If you find a small sausage-shaped object which looks like compacted fur, it's probably a hairball that your cat has managed to displace on his own.

What exactly is a hairball? It is a compacted accumulation of fur and undigested food forms inside a cat's stomach. When a cat grooms himself, loose fur gathers on his tongue and while in the digestive system forms a ball with other stomach contents.

Why do cats cough up hairballs? Occasionally, hairballs can pass right through a cat's body in the normal way of food, but because the fur cannot be digested, cats often rid themselves of hairballs by coughing them up. If they are unable to cough up the hairball and it doesn't pass normally, it can get stuck in the cat's intestines, which in turn causes severe constipation.

Hairball symptoms. If your cat coughs a lot but seems otherwise well, it is probably a hairball but you need to look out for it being coughed up as the cough could be a respiratory problem. If your cat seems lethargic and off his food and his coat is dull, he may have a blockage caused by a hairball. Alternatively, as these are common symptoms for many cat ailments, it could be another problem but in either event, you should see your vet without delay.

How do you prevent your cat from getting a hairball? As with any ailment, it is better to prevent hairballs to try and cure them. If your cat is long-haired, frequent grooming will help to prevent a hairball and in addition, will be a good way of bonding with your cat. If your cat doesn't care for brushes and combs, try a grooming glove, instead. In addition, there are several varieties of dry cat food which are specially formulated to prevent hairballs. Choose one that is high in nutrients and protein. Kitty malt can be given either on food or just let the cat lick it from your finger; most cats think that this is a treat.

Hairball remedy. It is impossible to completely prevent hairballs in cats but there are various remedies, one of which is a lubricant get which can be added to food and which helps the hairball pass through the digestive tract. In severe cases, you may have to take your cat to the vet, who will probably administer liquid paraffin. Your cat won't like this and will end up looking like a drowned rat with the oily paraffin all over his facial fur.

Home remedy for hairballs. Some people treat their cats with oil, butter or mashed pumpkin, but there is no real proof that these are effective. Anything which isn't naturally a part of a cat's diet can cause harm, so I would encourage you to take your cat to the vet, rather than trying to treat him yourself.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Tips For Preventing CAT HAIRBALLS

A cm ( in) cat hairball.
Cat Hairball. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In real life, you certainly cannot laugh out loud if you see your kitty obviously choking on something. Oftentimes, you will battle between immediately wanting to do a Heimlich maneuver and just thwacking the cat on the back. Ideally, this is a bad idea and might also be counter-productive due to the fact that the back of cats will not resist pressure like human backs do.

Well, experts say that your cat regurgitating hairballs must not concern your too much; unless, the balls will continue to become bigger and bigger, if they will be stained with blood, or if your cat will suffer from hairballs a couple of times in a week. You must be aware that it is very important for cats to take such indigestible elements out of their system. But in case the hairballs are stained with blood and the gaggling became somewhat a frequent occurrence for them, it is a smart idea for you to take your cat to your vet. Have your pet be checked by the expert since such situation might actually be more complicated than it may appear.

The Danger Of Cat Hairballs
When cat hairballs will become bigger and bigger, the danger in here is that getting them out can be very painful and hard for the feline. It is actually like constipation in the throat. When not addressed early, you might not be able to remove it; thus, it will result in a very serious health issue. If this will happen, your feline will lose its appetite and will certainly become very weak. To address such concern, your vet might prescribe laxatives or perhaps even a surgical procedure to be carried out in order to relieve the cat from the hairball stuck in its system.

Preventing The Occurrence Of Hairballs
You have to become more proactive when it comes to grooming your cat in order to prevent this hairy condition from happening. For you to reduce the risk of fur that is being licked off by the tongue of your cat, you have to comb the cat's fur on a regular basis. Apart from that, you have to use a fine steel-toothed brushed as this will comb loose hairs. You must know that this can be very relaxing not just for your cat but also for you.

Other preventive methods that you have to implement will include feeding your cat high-fiber treats, hair-ball preventive, as well as using hairball relief gels that is capable of lubricating the intestinal tract of your cat so the hairball will be eliminated. Indeed, these methods will keep the hairy situation under control. More information mentioned here.

    By Cristina Gandia
    There are many ways on how to prevent cat hairballs. Knowing such preventive methods will certainly help you in making your cat healthy and happy at all times. For more info, visit this site.
    Article Source: EzineArticles