/ Natural Stool Softeners
If your cats stool has hardened within the body, it wont be able to poop out its furballs. Vomiting may not produce the desired result, either. Instead, the waste will be released in small quantities, which increases the risk of the hair building up. Its also likely to be painful.
Thankfully, you can use several natural remedies to soften your cats stools and encourage the hairballs to pass. These include:
- Leafy greens: Leafy greens contain lots of fiber. When mixed with cat food, it will stimulate your cats digestion.
- Olive oil: Mix two teaspoons with your cats food to create a mild laxative.
- Oily fish: Canned fish is a natural source of healthy oils. Treat your cat to the occasional sardine or tuna fish to keep its bowel movements regular.
- Tinned pumpkin: Tinned pumpkin acts as a natural laxative. Ensure its plain and not spiced, and offer it straight from the tin.
- Cows milk: Most cats are lactose intolerant, so their bodies will reject the milk and remove it as waste. This is a little bit risky, though, as it could cause diarrhea.
Look Into Hairball Formula Cat Food
Many cat foods provide “hairball formula” variations of their products. These tend to be high in fiber to help maximize the strength of your cat’s coat. It’s supposed to reduce shedding and build the ability to pass through its system so your cat can go about prancing and purring through life.
How Is The Cause Of A Cat’s Cough Diagnosed
Because coughing is often associated with other signs of respiratory infection, an extensive initial work up may not be required. However, if the cough is severe, or if it has been present for some time, then further investigation may be needed. A thorough medical history documenting the onset of the problem and its progression, any changes in the cat’s home environment, or any other signs of illness in the cat, will be important.
The diagnostic work-up may include several types of blood tests, including heartworm antigen tests, laboratory cultures of a wash sample from the lower respiratory tract, endoscopic examination and radiography . Ultrasound evaluation of the heart may be necessary in some cases. Your cat may require a sedative for some of these procedures. Many of these tests will also help distinguish coughing from feline asthma.
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Why Does My Cat Swallows So Much Hair
Cats spend a lot of time grooming in order to keep their fur clean and in good condition, a task that can be achieved easily thanks to their special tongue that has small spines that allow them to drag all the fur that they shed effectively. The problem is that the animal is not capable of spitting that hair once they drag it with their tongue, which is why they don’t have another alternative rather that swallowing it.
When fur accumulates in excessively in the animal’s stomach, they will make the effort by vomiting, thus discarding the hairball. It is a serious problem that has its causes in lack of brushing and even diseases associated with the skin and fur.
However sometimes they will not be able to successfully vomit the hair ball as it remains locked in the intestine causing severe constipation and precluding their elimination. It is here when it is important to opt for home remedies to help them get rid of the hairball, however if the animal fails we will have to go to an emergency vet.
Remedy #: Keep Your Cat Hydrated
If a cats diet isnt providing enough moisture, her digestive tract is working harder than it should, which may make her hairball problem worse.
Most cats actually prefer to drink moving, running water. That means that, even if your cat has constant access to a nice clean bowl of water, she may not be drinking enough. A water fountain is a perfect way to entice kitty to drink more.
My cat Olivia and I love our Catit Flower Fountain! I used to leave the faucet in my bathroom dripping just a bit so Olivia could go in and get a drink. But now my faucet is off, and she can drink clean, running water to her little hearts content!
Drinking water is important, but your cat can also get hydration from her food. A cat who eats a diet composed of mainly dry kibble may not be getting the moisture that she needs.
Gradually introducing canned food will increase her water intake. Thus, it will help her digestive tract to move all that hair and debris through instead of sending it back up where it came from.
While most hairballs are harmless, there are a few danger signs that we want to be on the lookout for. A kitty who is dry heaving or vomiting undigested food, stops passing stool, has abdominal swelling, or loss of appetite needs to see a veterinarian right away.
In most situations, however, trying these natural remedies can make a big difference. Our cats will thank us for making hairballs a thing of the past!
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How Do Cats Get Hairballs
In the process of grooming themselves, a cats tongue which contains barbs combs through their fur to get rid of loose fur, debris, and dirt that may be present. During the process, fur that is ingested goes through your cats digestive system and is normally expelled through feces.
According to research, there are times when a cat’s stomach cannot digest the hair, especially if theres a lot, so instead of expelling it through their feces, the hair buildup can go up from the stomach to the esophagus and throat.
In this scenario, clumps of hairballs are formed and so your cat would want to expel it through their mouths.
Hairballs are more common in breeds that have long hair such as Main Coons and Persian cats. Those who shed a lot or those who have a compulsion to groom themselves all the time are also prone to having hairballs.
If you notice your cat getting hairballs even if they didnt when they were just kittens, this is normal because as cats become older, they become more fastidious in grooming themselves. In this process, they tend to swallow more fur.
Diagnosis Of Hairballs In Cats
You may notice your cat is coughing up hairballs when you find vomit with pieces of hair, food, and fluid in it. Loss of appetite, lethargy, and frequent vomiting are signs of a potential intestinal blockage and must be treated immediately.
The symptoms could be signs of another condition, so your veterinarian will perform a physical exam to confirm the hairball. Expect to answer questions about the cats medical history and how often they cough up hairballs. Your veterinarian may also order blood tests and radiographs to check for an intestinal blockage in your cat.
It is vital to take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as you notice the symptoms. Your veterinarian needs to check for a blockage or an obstruction of the intestinal tract. The intestinal blockage needs to be treated immediately, or this condition could be fatal for your cat.
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Q My Cat Repeatedly Hacks Up Hairballs Is This Cause For Concern
A. For most cats, especially the longhaired variety, a hairball every now and then is normal, and there’s no need for alarm.
When your cat grooms himself and sometimes other pets in the household his barbed tongue pulls out loose hair, which is eventually swallowed. The fur can then collect in the stomach or intestine, forming a hairball. It will typically pass through the digestive tract without incident, but your cat may periodically hack up the telltale hair cigar.
You should be concerned, however, if your cat goes through the motions of hacking up a hairball, without anything to show for it. Repeated, unproductive gagging and retching may be a sign that a hairball is too large to pass into the intestines, cant be spit up or has formed an obstruction in the digestive tract.
Cats with obstructions may vomit clear or yellowish stomach fluids or bring up undigested food several hours after eating. They can also have diarrhea, refuse to eat and become lethargic. If your cat shows any of these signs, have your veterinarian examine him. Diagnostic testing may be recommended, and if an obstruction is confirmed, the hairball may need to be removed surgically.
If youre finding more hairballs than usual more than two to three a week it may be a sign that your cat is grooming excessively, which can result from underlying skin conditions, parasites or behavioral conditions. You should consult with your veterinarian if you notice an uptick in hairballs.
Top 5 Best Hairball Remedies Reviewed
The following hairball remedies are popular, top-rated products that have a reputation for safety and effectiveness. Most are lubricating products, but youll also find a few that take a different approach to hairball control, addressing it as a component of digestive health.
- Contains fiber to help move hair through the GI tract
- Features prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health
- Free of potentially harmful ingredients
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How Can You Manage & Prevent Hairballs
There are three ways you can help minimize hairballs in your cat. First, you should groom your cat to reduce shedding. Regular brushing sessions will keep your cat from ingesting loose hair through self-grooming. Your brushing won’t keep your cat from self-grooming, but will reduce the amount of hair she ingests. Grooming sessions with you also have the added benefit of being a bonding activity with your furry friend!
Second, there are products on the market such as shampoo and wet wipes that claim to prevent hairballs by controlling shedding. As with any product, however, check with your vet before you begin a regular regime to make sure it’s well-suited for your kitty.
Lastbut certainly not least!know that food choice is very important in reducing hairballs. A hairball control cat food includes added natural fiber amongst its balanced nutrition to help move hair naturally through your cat’s digestive system while also nourishing your cat’s skin and coat to reduce shedding. Hill’s® Science Diet® includes the following choices for cats with hairball issues:
Why Is My Cat Eating Hair
Don’t worry, your kitty doesn’t see her coat as a midday snack. Cats ingest hair as they are self-groomers, which means they keep themselves clean by licking themselves. You may already know if you’ve been the recipient of a cat’s fond kisses, their tongues are quite rough. That roughness gives your fastidious pet a way to remove the dirt, debris, and loose hair from her coat, allowing her to remain sleek and clean without human help . Unfortunately, however, cats are unable to digest their hair. That is why hairballs have to be excreted one way or the other.
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Preventing Hairballs In Cats
The best way to prevent hairballs in your cat is through regular grooming. Long-haired cats require daily brushing to help remove loose hair and prevent hairballs, while short haired cats may only need to be brushed weekly or every other week depending on the cats grooming behavior.
If you cant groom your cat at home, regular visits to a professional groomer or your veterinary clinic can help keep your feline friend looking sleek and shiny.The same petroleum-based medication used to treat hairballs in cats can also be given regularly as a preventive to help hair pass through the digestive tract without forming hairballs.
There are also many hairball prevention treats, chews, and diets on the market which use similar formulations to help hairballs move along your cats digestive tract. Your veterinarian is a great resource to recommend a product that can keep your cat hairball free.
Q How Do Hairballs Form
AY Grooming with our cats tongue is a breeze, thanks to its small backward-facing barbs, which assist to pick up stray hairs and remove them from her coat. This is excellent for avoiding matting, but because those barbs also prevent your cat from spitting the hair back out, she will wind up ingesting it with every lick. When this happens, the hair accumulates into a little ball in your cats stomach, where it normally passes out securely and gently with her feces. Occasionally, a hairball will not pass normally and your cat will vomit up a little sausage-shaped ball of fur in addition to the usual hairball.
When this occurs, she will attempt to regurgitate it, and you will hear the characteristic retching noises that accompany it.
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Hairballs And Older Cats
As cats get older, their bodies become less effective at a number of critical functions, including digesting. The digestion of older cats is frequently slower, which can result in constipation, which allows hairballs to build along with the rest of their faeces. Elder cats also groom more frequently than their younger feline counterparts, who are too preoccupied chasing butterflies and climbing the drapes to think about grooming themselves. Mature cats put in the effort to keep their coats in good shape, but they also ingest more hair as a result of doing so.
If your senior cat is not using the litter pan in the manner in which it is accustomed and appears to be sluggish, it is a good idea to get it examined by a veterinarian. Its possible that making a few changes to your cats food or using an anti-furball laxative would solve the problem.
Q Is That Retching Noise Always Due To A Furball
A It is difficult to distinguish hairballs from other dangerous health issues, such as feline asthma, because they are so similar in appearance. If your cat is suffering from both a dry cough and a painful throat at the same time, she may make a retching sound that sounds like she is coughing up a hairball, which may indicate that she is suffering from both conditions at the same time. For this reason, if youre in any question about which ailment your cat may be suffering from, consult your veterinarian for guidance.
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Cats Cant Cough Up Hairball What Should You Do
Have you ever heard the situation that cats cant cough up hairballs? You may witness for more than one times. Normally, this is a common condition, and most cats experience this at least one time in their life. However, if the condition becomes worse, you should know how to deal with it because its quite dangerous to your cats. In this article, I will give you all information about this condition and show you how to prevent and cure it.
When Can Cat Hairballs Become Dangerous
Hairballs are quite innocuous in and of themselves. To the contrary, if your cat is walking about the house and frequently retching without showing any signs of having a hairball , you should take them to the veterinarian right away. Its possible that the hairball has traveled from their stomach to their gut. This is a dangerous ailment that should be treated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. If your cat exhibits any of the following cat hairball symptoms, you should take them to the veterinarian:
- Gagging, vomiting, and retching over an extended period of time without generating a hairball
- A decrease in appetite
- Constipation or diarrhoea in the cat
- An excessive amount of grass nibbling
- Stomach that is bloated or sensitive
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What Does It Mean When My Cat Is Getting Hairballs
When you notice that your cat is getting hairballs, you might be concerned that they have a problem, this is always the case, but it is good to be informed about hairballs.
The first place to start is, what is a hairball? A hairball, otherwise known as a furball, is a ball of hair that collects in a cats stomach after they groom themselves. Hair cannot be easily digested, so it can accumulate into a ball and be brought up if there is any difficulty in having it pass through the digestive tract. The hairball often comes out as a long tube of matted fur. This would have been sitting in the stomach, unable to continue to the intestines.
Hairballs are very common but can be a sign of a problem with your cat, and some things can be done to prevent them. Today we are going to answer all your questions and concerns regarding hairballs.
Treating Cat Asthmarespiratory Infections
In most cases, feline asthma and respiratory infections may be managed successfully. For cats with asthma, there are two types of drugs that are commonly prescribed: corticosteroids to treat inflammation and bronchodilators, which open up the airways to allow more air to pass through. These drugs are available in three different forms: inhaled, oral, and injectable. Inhaled medication is the favored way. In contrast to systemic steroids, inhaled steroids do not require the body to undergo any metabolization.
It is straightforward and successful to administer inhaled drugs to your cat with an inhaler, especially when used in conjunction with an aerosol chamber , and it helps to ensure that your cat gets the entire amount of medication inhale.
Anti-histamines are not recommended for the treatment of asthma or bronchitis since there is no evidence to support this practice. Learn More About the Treatment Options for Feline Asthma.
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Groom Your Cat On A Regular Basis
Grooming your cat lessens the fur that they end up ingesting when they groom themselves. When you brush or comb your cats fur regularly, it helps to significantly reduce hairballs while bonding with your cat at the same time.
If your cat gets used to being groomed, you may also bring them to a professional groomer on occasion.