Hairballs are a common occurrence in cats, especially in long-haired breeds and during shedding seasons. They form when the cat grooms itself and swallows hair, which accumulates in the stomach.
- Hairballs are a common occurrence in cats, especially in long-haired breeds and during shedding seasons. They form when the cat grooms itself and swallows hair, which accumulates in the stomach.
- What Are Hairballs?
- How to Prevent Hairballs:
- Special Diet for Hairballs:
- How to Treat Hairballs
- Veterinary Intervention:
- Key Points:
All cats groom themselves—it’s a normal, instinctive, and even characteristic behavior of domestic felines. They do this to clean their fur, remove dust, and other types of debris, as they are generally very clean animals.
However, this can lead to complications. Due to the shape of their tongue and their fur, cats remove dead hair, which passes through the digestive tract and forms the well-known hairballs, but…
What Are Hairballs?
These are accumulations of hair in the digestive system of domestic felines. They occur when the animal swallows too much dead hair and expels it surrounded by mucus through vomiting, regurgitation, or even in their stool.
While these are common occurrences in cats, they can lead to problems in your pet’s body.
How to Prevent Hairballs:
Prevention is key to minimizing the appearance of hairballs and their potential complications.
Regular Brushing:
Frequency: Brush your cat daily or at least several times a week, especially during shedding seasons (spring and fall).
Benefits: Removes loose hair before the cat can swallow it during grooming. Use a brush suitable for your cat’s fur type (fine-toothed comb, bristle brush, slicker brush).
Special Diet for Hairballs:
Commercial Foods: There are specially formulated foods to help prevent hairballs. These usually contain more fiber, which facilitates the passage of hair through the digestive tract.
Key Ingredients: Look for foods containing ingredients like cellulose, beet pulp, psyllium, or oils that lubricate the digestive tract.
Consult Your Veterinarian: Before changing your cat’s diet, consult your veterinarian to ensure it’s appropriate for their specific needs.
Oil Supplements:
Malt Extract: This is a mild laxative that helps lubricate the digestive tract and facilitates the expulsion of hair through stool. It’s usually administered in paste form.
Other Oils: Some veterinarians may recommend other oils like mineral oil or fish oil (rich in omega-3), but always under professional supervision.
Administration: Follow the product’s instructions or your veterinarian’s guidance for dosage and frequency.
Encourage Hydration:
Make sure your cat always has access to fresh, clean water. Proper hydration helps maintain healthy intestinal transit.
Consider offering wet food (cans or pouches) as part of their diet, as it has a higher water content.
Interactive Toys:
Provide your cat with toys to keep them entertained and reduce the time they spend over-grooming due to boredom or stress.
How to Treat Hairballs
When They Already Have Them:
If your cat already has a hairball, the goal is to help them expel it safely and relieve any discomfort.
Observation:
Watch for signs that your cat is trying to expel a hairball: gagging, nausea, dry cough, or unsuccessful attempts to vomit.
If the attempts to expel it are frequent, prolonged, or accompanied by other symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, constipation), consult your veterinarian immediately, as there could be an obstruction.
Malt Paste:
If the symptoms are mild and your cat seems about to expel the hairball, you can offer a small amount of malt paste to help lubricate the digestive tract.
Special Foods:
If you’re already using a hairball-control food, continue offering it.
Increasing Fiber (with caution and veterinary supervision):
In some cases, the veterinarian may recommend temporarily increasing the amount of fiber in the diet to help move the hairball through the digestive system. Never do this without consulting your veterinarian, as excess fiber can cause other problems.
Mild Laxatives (only under veterinary supervision):
In more persistent cases, the veterinarian may prescribe mild laxatives to facilitate the passage of the hairball. Never administer laxatives to your cat without a professional’s guidance.
Veterinary Intervention:
Warning Signs: If your cat shows any of the following symptoms, it’s crucial to seek veterinary attention immediately:
Frequent and unproductive vomiting.
Lethargy or weakness.
Loss of appetite.
Constipation or difficulty defecating.
Abdominal pain (sensitivity to touch).
Diagnosis: The veterinarian may perform a physical exam, X-rays, or even an endoscopy to determine the location and size of the hairball.
Treatment: Treatment may range from administering stronger laxatives or fluids to, in rare and severe cases, the need for surgery to remove the obstruction.
Key Points:
Occasional hairballs are normal, but if they occur frequently, it’s important to take preventive measures.
Never try to force your cat to vomit a hairball.
Do not administer home remedies or medications without your veterinarian’s approval.
Keep a record of how often your cat expels hairballs and any associated symptoms to inform your veterinarian.
By being proactive with prevention and attentive to signs of problems, you can help keep your cat comfortable and healthy, minimizing issues related to hairballs.
, so here are some tips to prevent this from causing serious harm to your pet:
Brush your pet frequently with a comb that removes dead hair.
Choose a food that helps prevent these hairballs.
Add fiber to their food.
If necessary, take them to a professional for grooming.
If you notice this problem is quite regular and causes frequent gagging and vomiting, don’t hesitate to visit your veterinarian.
If you have questions related to your pets’ well-being, please write to the email:
DrBorrego@petsvet.com
Dr. Enrique Borrego is the medical director of Animal General Hospital, located at 501 SW Port Saint Lucie Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, FL 34953 • Phone 772-344-8835 • www.petsvet.com • Serving our Treasure Coast community since 1990
