Great Balls of Hair!

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Being a cat afficionado probably you probably are aware of a typical problem that troubles felines:  the hairball.  But how much are you aware of a hairball’s signs, causes, and reliefs?

What Makes A Hairball?

Hairballs are caused by the course top of a cat’s tongue removing loose hair while they are cleaning themselves.  The hair is then swallowed and moved into the digestive tract.  Usually, this hair would not be digested, but would get elminated when the cat uses the litter pan or goes outside.  Naturally, cats are killers, and are evolved to be capable to accept swallowing fur, like from some poor rat it catches.   As the hair hardens into a plug, the feline will certainly suffer the unpleasant experience of puking it back up.  In certain situations however, this might not work and the hairball may become stuck inside your kitty, unfortunately bringing about unfortunate cat health issues.

Health Problems Brought On By Hairballs

Hairballs are a hassle in their own right, but can also induce several related problems, speedily becoming unsafe if not got rid of or treated in a prompt manner.  Aside from the unsightly and irritating vomiting, of course, the lodged-in hair can induce digestive difficulties and constipation.  Your kitty might cease eating and act lethargic as the hairball multiplies in size, while your pet are still unable to pass it.  Their insides can swell and this can undoubtedly create several harmful problems that you’d rather not have to deal with.  This danger could even end up necessitating surgery to remove the hairball, which is a pretty big cost and danger to your feline, especially given the trivial nature of preventing the problem in the first place.  Left untreated, it could result in a mortal affliction.

Treatment of Hairballs

Felines naturally attempt to treat themselves by vomiting.  They can accomplish this by swallowing grass, which usually causes kitties to vomit due to the grass fibers irritating their stomaches.  Other possibilities to treat hairballs involve petroleum or mineral oil based materials designed to coat the intestinal tract in order to ease the natural passage of the hairball.  Products such as Laxatone for cats or Petromalt have been made to treat hairballs.  They are a semi-solid crème that you feed your kitties before meals.  This encourages the hairball through the digestive process and is helpful to relieve non-hairball induced constipation as well.  They have been made obtainable in a cornucopia of flavors like tuna or catnip flavoring.  One serving daily for two to three days, and your concern should be resolved.

No More Hairballs!

Hairball prevention is realized by several varying ways, some of them complementary.  One is a half dose of Laxatone or Petromalt 2-3 times a week.  Laxatone is highly recommended by vets and pet owners alike. There exist also certain “hairball prevention” diets available.  A huge part of hairball prevention is always correct grooming.  Definitely brush your short-haired felines but comb the long-haired felines regularly.  They love it and it’s a fantastic method to spend time being sure your feline continues to be happy and healthy.

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