Hairballs and Prevention

As a pet friend probably you probably are knowledgable of a every day issue that targets cats:  cat hairballs.  But what are you aware of a hairball's symptoms, root causes, and reliefs?

What Causes Cat Hairballs?

A hairball is caused by the tough exterior of a feline's tongue yanking out free hairs during the process of cleaning themselves.  The hair is then ingested and drawn into the digestive tract.  Typically, this hair would not get digested, but would get pooped out when the kitty uses the litter box or goes outside.  After all, cats are killers, and are evolved to be able to accept ingesting fur, like from any poor rat it catches.   When hair congeals into a ball, the kitty will certainly end up with the messy experience of vomiting it back up.  In some situations however, this might not happen and it might become stuck inside your cat, potentially causing serious health concerns.

Hairball Health Concerns

Cat hairballs are a hassle all by themselves, but can also induce many related problems, quickly growing dangerous if not expelled or cured promptly.  Aside from the open and unpleasant puking, of course, the unexpelled hair can precipitate digestion problems and constipation.  Your cat well could cease eating and become lethargic as the hairball multiplies in size, while they are still unable to expell it.  Their guts can bloat and this can certainly create many kinds of harmful problems that you'd not like to be stuck with.  This condition could even end up requiring surgery to remove the hairball, which is a dreadfully large financial impact and imperilment to your pet, certainly considering the simplicity of preventing it in the first place.  Left untreated, it could end up in a fatal illness.

Curing Hairballs

Cats instinctively try to self treat by throwing up.  They can do this by consuming grass, which often makes cats to vomit due to the irritating fiber content.  Other ways to treat cat hairballs use petroleum or mineral oil based products intended to lubricate the intestinal tract so as to ease the natural elimination of the hairball.  Products such as cat Laxatone or Petromalt have been created to eliminate hairballs in cats.  They are a semi-solid crème that you give your kitties before meals.  This moves the impediment through the system and would also be helpful to ease non-hairball induced constipation in addition.  They tend to be available in a cornucopia of flavors like tuna or catnip flavoring.  One dose each day for two to three days, and your issue should be solved.

Prevention of Hairballs

Hairball prevention is achieved by certain different means, some of them complementary.  One is a half dose of Laxatone or Petromalt two to three times per week.  Cat Laxatone comes highly approved by vets and pet owners alike. There are specific "hairball prevention" diets available.  A large degree of hairball prevention is to be sure correct grooming.  Always brush your short-haired cats but comb your long-haired felines regularly.  They adore it and it's a super means to spend time being sure your feline stays happy and healthy.