Cats engage in routine grooming. While grooming, the cat's tongue removes dead hair and he swallows it. Most of the ingested fur passes through the digestive system, but hairballs are formed when the hair mixes with undigested food in the gastrointestinal tract and isn't eliminated by the body. Hairballs can sometimes cause intestinal blockage. Such cases require surgical removal. Constipation and discomfort while defecating are more common symptoms in pets.
Symptoms of Cat Hairball
- Coughing or attempting to remove hairballs
- Cat ejects long or cylindrical masses, orally
- Constipation
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
Cat hairball formation can be easily prevented with several gels or products that work as a digestion aid. Most products contain natural oils and are flavored to taste better.
Commercial Cat Hairball Gels
- Nutri-Vet Hairball Paw-Gel for cats
- NaturVet Natural Hairball Aid Gel
- Cat Grass Gel
- Pet AG Hairball Solution Gel For Cats
- Vetbasis Hairball Gel
Several cat gels for hairballs contain vitamins and minerals beneficial to your pet. Read and carefully follow package instructions before administering a dose. Most brands recommend a weekly dose. If your pet doesn't ingest the gel easily, you may try spreading it on her paw.
Remedies and Preventive Measures
Pets that frequently suffer from hairballs can be given commercial diets, more commonly known as cat hairball food. It's best to introduce a little food at a time, until the cat has completely adjusted to the new diet. Pet owners often give their pets a teaspoon of butter periodically, to lubricate the gastrointestinal tract. This helps in the movement of ingested hair, which is then digested and passed through the feces.
Commercial hairball remedies are a better option, because they don't contain toxins that can go unnoticed in home remedies. An overdose of petroleum based products may also disrupt the cat's absorption of vitamin A. It's essential to adhere to the instructions listed on the product.
Along with hairball medication, certain preventive measures reduce cat hairball formation. Consider brushing your pet's hair every few days to remove loose or dead hair. This will prevent your cat from swallowing loose hair when she grooms herself. Include fiber in your pet's diet. It helps to bind and eliminate food from the intestinal tract.
Although fatalities caused by hairballs are rare, seek prompt vet help if your pet has diarrhea or prolonged lack of appetite, along with the symptoms of hairballs.