Hairballs can be a nightmare, not least for the pet owner, but also for the pet. They are caused by a build up of fur and lack of brushing. Since cat fur is thick, a hairball can be problematic if the cat ends up swallowing it. Hairballs can easily get stuck in the cat’s throat and this can cause choking. Its not a pleasant thing to watch and it can be very dangerous.
Cat health care is all about looking after all aspects of your cat. Look out for a build up of fur. The best thing to do is to schedule in regular grooming sessions each day to keep the fur smooth and hairball free. This is a great activity as you are helping the cat’s health and also your pet will love being stroked. Make sure you do it gently so the animal becomes more relaxed and it will sit in your lap all day as you groom it!
Since some cats out there have very long and thick fur, it is important that you check with the vet if anything specific needs to be done to look after it. Take Persian cats as an example – they have beautiful long fur but if it ends up forming hairballs, this could be very risky for them. Since a cat’s licking can’t be stopped, it is important that you take extra care to prevent hairballs forming. In contrast, dogs don’t get hairballs but this is because they have finer and shorter hair, and they don’t like their fur like cats do. Cats have to lick their fur to keep clean which is why they end up with copious amounts of hair in their throats!
The process is simple – as soon as the hairball gets into the stomach, the cat tries to cough it up. Choking sounds are made and owners sometimes panic because they don’t know what to do about it. The best cat health care advice is to just let the cat cough it up, but keep a watchful eye. Check the cat is okay after getting rid of the offending hairball. Luckily, there are some things available to help treat hairballs, so speak to the vet for more information.