For countless cat owners around the world, the topic of hairballs is something they would rather not discuss, let alone deal with. However, deal with it they must, as cat hairballs are a fact of life for most cats and their owners. Everything about hairballs is gross, there is no doubt about that from the hacking, coughing and vomiting that a cat goes through to produce one, to the wet, sticky, smelling mess that is often stepped on by the unsuspecting owner in the middle of the night. So what is one to do about this unfortunate part of cat ownership? Prevention.
Prevention of cat hairballs is the key to eliminating it from your life, if not forever, at least for the majority of the time. Before you can prevent a hairball, you need to understand how they come into being. As everyone knows, cats are fastidious about grooming. This is their downfall when it comes to hairballs. Hairballs are made up of all of the tiny hairs that the cat swallows while grooming. Since hair is very hard to digest, it sits in the intestines and causes a blockage. Soon it will be hard for food and water to get through the mass of hair, this will in turn cause the cat to have constipation, coughing spells after meals and eventually to produce the ever dreaded hairball.
Given the fact that cats are so particular about grooming, many of them take kindly to being brushed. Brushing your cat on a regular basis, at least once a week will greatly reduce the amount of fur that is ingested. It also has the added benefit of less hair on your furniture. While a good grooming regimen is a good place to start, it is not the only option that you have to prevent the appearance of hairballs.
Another avenue that should be explored when attempting to prevent cat hairballs is the food that the cat eats. A number of cat food manufacturers are targeting this issue. They recognize that pet owners are looking for a way to help that fits into the daily schedule. These foods have additives, extra oils and lubricants that help the body to naturally pass the hair through the intestines. While this method does work, it takes time for the body to process the extra ingredients properly.
A quicker method on the same premise is a lubricant that is fed to the cat as a treat or that is sprinkled onto the food. These will work quickly to help the intestines move the hair through the body, thereby preventing the dreaded hairball. One note of caution, always follow the recommended dosage and usage on the label. Many of these treatments will contain some form of mineral oil, when used too frequently, can cause a depletion in vitamin A. As always, if you have any questions, please consult your veterinarian.
Another, less expensive alternative is to give your cat a touch of butter, baby squash or canned pumpkin, generally, a ½ teaspoon every other day will be enough. This will act as a natural lubricant for the digestive tract.
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