One way to keep your cat healthy is controlling cat hairballs. Cats routinely swallow hair while fastidiously cleaning themselves. This swallowed hair is not digested, and the majority of the ingested hair will pass through and leave the body in the stool. Hair that does not pass through the digestive system will mat and ball up and usually remain in the stomach. The cat must then vomit to dislodge the hairball from the stomach. It is normal for cats to cough up hairballs from time to time as nature’s way of controlling cat hairballs.
Controlling cat hairballs can be as easy as frequent grooming. Cats can learn to accept brushing to remove loose hair. Grooming tools should be used based upon your cat’s length of fur. Short-haired cats can be brushed with a bristle or rubber brush. Long-haired cats that tend to mat should be brushed with a wide toothed comb or slicker brush. If the cat shies from brushes and combs, try using a grooming glove. Grooming has a variety of beneficial effects besides preventing hairballs. Grooming allows direct tactile contact between you and your cat(s), increasing your bond. Grooming also accustoms your cat to being handled which is especially useful when your cat needs to be examined by the veterinary staff. Grooming also lessens the amount of hair shed on your furniture and carpets.
One of the most important parts of your cat's nutrition is providing an adequate amount of water. Keeping your cat well hydrated will help to keep the stool soft and aid in controlling cat hairballs.
You may want to discuss with your veterinarian the use of additional dietary fiber and laxatives even though these can be purchased over the counter. There are cat foods on the market that indicate that the ingredients help to naturally pass hairballs. Dietary fiber acts to gently move the stool through the system, whereas laxatives coat the hairballs making them softer while passing through the intestines. Dietary fiber can also be offered naturally as grasses (wheat, rye, or oats) grown in pots for cats to nibble on.
Hairballs can be a serious health problem in cats. You and your veterinarian need to act as a team to decide the best course of action in controlling cat hairballs.
