Hairballs

A problem that we frequently encounter in cats is hairballs.  You may find these where you least expect them, like in your shoe, on your couch, or anywhere else your cat decides to deposit them.  When you come across them, it isn't pleasant! 

A hairball, or trichobezoar, is a compacted mass of hair in the digestive tract.  When a cat cleans itself, it usually ingests the loose hair.  Hair is not digestible, so it passes unchanged through the digestive tract and comes out in the faeces.  However, in some cats, the hair collects in the stomach or small intestine, causing irritation of the stomach lining.  Sometimes, the hair can even cause an intestinal blockage.  Hairballs can occur in both long and short-haired cats.

 When your cat is trying to vomit up a hairball, it will make an awful hacking noise similar to a cough.  The hairball may or may not come up with the vomit. Your cat may do this regularly until the hairball is expelled.  If your cat is coughing and does not bring anything up, it may have another problem, such as feline asthma. That calls for a visit to your vet, as does hairball expulsion that occurs more than once or twice a month.

You can help your cat reduce the amount of hair it ingests with daily brushing.  It is important to use the correct type of brush.  Many brushes will just glide over the surface of the coat and do not remove the loose, dead hair.  A good brush to use is a Furminator, which removes a lot of the undercoat.  A fine-toothed comb or rubber glove are also good for grooming.  Some cats will also eat plants and grasses to make themselves vomit up a hairball.

You will be glad to know that you can treat your cat for hairballs by either increasing the fiber in the diet, or feeding your cat a lubricant.  Nowadays, there are many commercial diets that contain 'hairball control,' which is powdered cellulose or beet pulp to increase the fiber content.  When the fiber content is higher, the transit through the stomach and intestines is improved, causing the hair to be passed out in the faeces.  If you put your cat on a hairball diet, do it gradually, over 5 to 7 days, so as not to upset the stomach further.

Lubricants such as petroleum jelly and mineral oil can also help your cat eliminate hairballs.  Petroleum jelly is not absorbed by the intestine and passes through unchanged.   To use it, smear a glob of it onto the paws so that your cat will lick it off.  Do this daily for 1 to 2 weeks, then decrease to once or twice a week for maintenance.  You can also get hairball treats or paste.  These contain mineral oil, which acts like petroleum jelly.  But it also has a laxative effect, so don't go overboard with the treats!

Hydration also helps to keep hairballs to a minimum.  Make sure that your cat always has access to fresh water.  You can get a pet water fountain that not only filters the water, but also recirculates it.  Encouraging your cat to drink water will help to prevent urinary tract problems.

If you follow the simple steps as outlined above, you and your cat will benefit!