Every Cat

Hairballs can be a nightmare, not least for the pet owner, but also for the pet. An accumulation of fur occurs when the owner does not brush the cat frequently enough, and this is what causes the hairballs. Since cat fur is thick, a hairball can be problematic if the cat ends up swallowing it. Once these lodge in the cat’s throat, choking can ensue. This is not a nice thing to witness and it can end up being quite risky.

If you want to know how to minimise the risk of hairballs, you need to make sure you know your cat health care. Look out for a build up of fur. Great advice is to make sure grooming your cat forms a part of your daily routine. This is a great activity as you are helping the cat’s health and also your pet will love being stroked. Just be sure to be gentle to make the cat as relaxed as possible.

Some cats with longer fur (and more of it) are prone to hairballs, and this is something that the vet should remind you of when you take it for check-ups. Persian cats, for example, have very long fur and when hairballs form, they easily end up in the cat’s throat and this causes problems. No-one can stop a cat from licking, which is why hairballs are a problem. People often ask how come dogs don’t have the same problem, but you may notice that dogs don’t lick their fur, thus hairballs aren’t an issue. As cat owners know, cats keep clean by licking their fur and thus hairballs occur.

Once the hairball gets into the digestive system, the cat will start trying to cough it up. Choking sounds are made and owners sometimes panic because they don’t know what to do about it. There’s not much you can do at this stage, and it’s a case of letting the cat cough the hairball up, but be sure to keep an eye on the cat. Check your cat is feeling okay after getting rid of the big clump of fur. There are also plenty of treatments out there for help with preventing hairballs, so speak with a vet to get the best advice.

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