Euphemistically a furball may be a major disagreement within corporate management or the name of a Film company, but in the world of cats, a fur or hair ball is a yucky glob of fur that is regurgitated by your cat because it cannot pass through his digestive system. Why does this happen? Can you help?

Cats groom themselves by licking their fur. The barbs on the cat’s tongue catch hair and the hair is swallowed. If enough cat hair collects in the stomach without passing into the intestinal tract, the cat will vomit in an effort to rid itself of it. It is normal for your cat to have hairballs occasionally. But you can help.

Hairballs can be controlled by brushing your cat frequently. If your cat’s fur has mats of hair, gently clip those away during regular brushing. Although many cats enjoy being brushed, some do not. If daily brushings aren’t working for you then other options you can try include: cat food with a hairball control component (usually extra fiber), adding some fish oil to your cat’s food, and some owners have also had success using a small amount of petroleum jelly placed on the cat’s paws to be licked off during routine kitty bathing.

A serious problem called impaction can develop if your cat is unable to eliminate a hairball naturally. Hairballs can block the intestinal tract, making it impossible to either vomit or eliminate. Twenty-five percent of all impaction cases that veterinarians see are due to hairballs. Signs of a major hairball problem, and possible impaction are:

    vomiting of undigested food
    dry retching
    inability to defecate
    diarrhea
    swollen abdomen

If you suspect your cat is impacted, see your veterinarian immediately. Your veterinarian has several options to resolve impactions, but serious blockages may require surgical removal. It is far better that you use preventive practices before such problems occur.

Posted by Julie.