Hairballs are relatively common in all cats, not just those with long hair but how do you know if yours has one?
Does your cat sometimes make retching, coughing sounds as though its trying to dislodge something in its throat?
This may be a hairball. Hairballs form in your cat’s stomach from hair they’ve swallowed while grooming. Once vomited out, they look like hair sausages – compacted hair in a cylindrical shape.
Cats are unable to spit the hair out because their tongues are covered with hundreds of small backward pointing barbs. These barbs don’t allow hair to move forward out of your cat’s mouth. Another reason why they occur is because cats are unable to excrete hair.
If your cat gets the occasional hairball you needn’t worry but if she is getting them regularly or seems to be having serious problems with one, you should talk to your vet.
Signs that your cat may be having trouble with a hairball include:
- constipation
- hard stool with signs of hair
- coughing or heaving particularly after eating
- lack of interest in food
Hairball prevention
- Grooming: the best way to stop hairballs forming is to groom your cat regularly, and especially if the cat is a long-haired breed. Brushing your cat will remove dead hair from her coat making it much less likely for her to swallow loose hair. Most cats love being brushed, so this is an excellent opportunity to bond with your cat. Be extra diligent with brushing in the springtime when your cat is shedding its winter coat.
- Food: there are a variety of hairball control foods or supplements that can help. These work by making it easier for your cat to simply pass hair through their body as part of digestion. For eg: Hill’s™ Science Plan™ Feline Adult Hairball Control Chicken helps avoid the formation of hairballs. A gentle formula for everyday feeding with clinically proven antioxidants and tailored phosphorus levels. Talk to your vet or Vetshop and they will help you to choose the best remedy for your cat.
