Hairballs and Your Cat's Health

When it comes to cat health, hairballs are an unpleasant fact. Every cat gets hairballs from time to time, but longhaired cats are especially prone. Though hairballs are completely preventable, they are a normal occurrence with cats. They also can be extremely dangerous.

What Are Hairballs
Hairballs are compiled of cat hair and undigested food. As a cat grooms, the barbed tongue catches and holds on to loose hairs. The hairs are then ingested. Because the hair is harder to digest than food, it remains in the digestive tract longer and can become tangled with undigested food. Eventually, the hair will form into a cigar-shaped hairball that must be coughed up. This is a painful process, and it can take days before the cat actually gets the hairball up and out.

Other times, the hairball slowly moves through the digestive tract, causing pain along the way. During this time, your cat may become very constipated.

Does Your Cat Have Hairballs?
If your cat vomits a lot or coughs and hacks a great deal, it may have hairballs caught in its intestines. Likewise, if your cat is constipated, it may have hairballs. Cats that vomit hairballs up more than once or twice a month should have a visit to the vet to make sure there is nothing else wrong.

Keeping Your Cat Healthy
Hairballs are a source of great discomfort for your cat. Because hairballs become lodged in the digestive tract, they pose a potential threat to your cat. Should a hairball become impacted in the digestive tract, it would need to be surgically removed.

Preventing Hairballs
The best thing you can do for your cat is to brush it. Every day would be spectacular, but a couple times a week will also work. While your cat may not like being brushed at first, it will come around if you take your time and are patient. Let the cat smell the comb or brush or bite it, if necessary. After the cat has become used to the comb in your hand, pet the cat, then comb it. Repeat this process a little more each day. Soon your cat will be begging to be combed.

There are also many good over-the-counter hairball treatments that will prevent hairballs from forming. Read the label on each before treating your cat, as some may have limits, and always ask your vet for advice.

Homemade Hairball Remedies
Before using any homemade hairball remedies, always ask your vet for advice. Some products may not be good for a cat.

• Smear a dab of butter on your cat's paws or face
• Feed your cat the oil anytime you open a can of tuna fish
• Daily brushing followed by wiping down with a damp cloth will collect loose hair

Dangers Involved in Using Homemade Remedies
You may see a lot of conflicting advice regarding remedies that you can use at home to treat hairballs. Many of these home remedies do not help and may even be dangerous to your cat. Never try any remedy without first consulting your vet.

• Petroleum jelly is not recommended, as any petroleum-based product can be harmful to your cat's health. Petroleum jelly will also bind certain vitamins to it, thereby causing a deficiency if used long enough.
• Cod liver oil contains large amounts of vitamins A and D and therefore is not recommended.
• Adding more fiber to your cat's diet, such as canned pumpkin, is not recommended. Additional fiber in the digestive tract will absorb water and enlarge, perhaps causing even more problems.
• Mineral oil is not recommended. Because mineral oil is a liquid, your cat may ingest it. Ingested oil can cause pneumonia and result in death.

Vomiting
Excessive vomiting may be a sign of health problems, but don't be alarmed if your cat vomits occasionally. Cats are able to vomit at will. If your cat has eaten too much or eaten something disagreeable, it may vomit to get rid of it.