Hairballs. Those gross, wet, hairy, cigar-shaped wads that get left around the house by our lovable feline companions. These are things which every cat owner is unfortunately familiar with. Though hairballs are normal and are usually not cause for concern, they can indeed be dangerous, and it is important to know when you should seek veterinary advice and help concerning your cat’s hairballs.
Facts About Hairballs
- Did you know there is a scientific name for a hairball? Trichobezoar. Doesn’t make it sound any more appealing, does it?
- Once regurgitated, hairballs are not usually round, as their name suggests. They are cylindrical in shape and often resemble hairy cigars or sausages.
- Hairballs can vary in size, ranging anywhere from 1-5 inches long and up to 1 inch thick. 5 inches long?! Pretty impressive. Maybe we should hold a contest for longest hairball produced! Would your cat win?
- Hairballs are normally the color of your cat’s coat, sometimes darkened a bit by food and other secretions, such as bile.
Why does my cat produce hairballs?
Photo credit: Flickr
|
Hairballs are unfortunately a normal side effect of cat grooming. A cat’s tongue is covered in little papillae (you know, those bumpy things that make your cat’s tongue so rough?), which are slanted backwards. These papillae help cats remove the meat from bones, and they help to collect dirt and debris from their coat. But they also make it difficult for cats to spit things back out, which is why they end up ingesting so much hair while grooming. Thus resulting in…. hairballs!
|
When do hairballs become dangerous?
As we said, hairballs are completely normal. However, they can pose a serious health risk when they become too large to be passed, or if they become lodged in the intestines.
Signs to look out for:
- lethargy
- loss of appetite
- repeated dry heaving
- inability to pass stool
- abdominal swelling
If your cat exhibits any or all of these symptoms, veterinary care needs to be sought immediately, as a blockage can be life-threatening. A veterinarian can run blood work and take X-rays or ultrasounds to determine if your cat has a blockage. If your cat does indeed have a blockage, surgery may need to be performed to remove it, or at the very least, your cat may require hydration therapy, laxatives, and close monitoring by a veterinarian.
Ways You Can Prevent Hairballs
Know that long-haired breeds are more prone to hairballs, and that hairballs are most likely to be produced during the seasons that your cat sheds its coat. While preventing hairballs altogether may not be possible, there are several ways you can reduce the amount of hairballs your cat produces.
|
Photo credit: Furminator (I was not compensated in any way for sharing this photo)
|
Please remember to consult with your veterinarian if you think that your cat may have an issue with hairballs. It is better to be proactive when dealing with this type of issue, so as to avoid trouble for both you and your cat.
Have any questions? Please comment below!
Even though I get groomed regularly, I have been known to toss a hairball or two!
Pawesome post! You must have tons of fur with all of the cats that you have!
We have been big fans of FURminator since 2012, so we know that it works!
Your tips were just great and here’s to NO HAIRBALLS!
Love, Cody
grate post guys, manee thanx for postin & sharin….we loves R brushinz round heer N boomer even getz a wipe down with warm cloth afturr hiz…..heerz ta a trichobezoar kinda day !
heerz two a frogmouth catfish kinda week oh end ♥♥♥
Hairballs…fun to step in like at night when you need to make a trip to the ‘throne’ during the dark of night…..
If you have kitties…hairballs will show up along with them, MOL!
Yep weez pposted ’bout these slimy fings earlier this mumff and determined among da kitty owners of da blogosphere dat as mommy has always suspected; short hair cats get mowe hairballs than da long furred ones MOL Gweat posty.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
Oh my Sister Zoe can tell you all about those evil hairballs!
Wally is the yakker around here. The mom needs to get the furminator out more often.
While I miss Emily and Gryphon’s beautiful long coats I don’t miss their (yes, sometimes 5″!) hairballs. Since Amelia has such short fur and isn’t real into grooming herself, the hairball troubles of life with two very long coated cats are behind me for now. Am I crazy for sighing whimsically when you mentioned brushing a long haired cat sometimes twice a day though?
I leave a hairball regularly for Granny, but since I’ve changed my food, I only have them once in a while. The furminator would scare me even if I like the colour 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend 🙂 <3
Since Mum got a Furminator and uses it three or four times a month, we never toss one anymore. Purrs
Hairballs…fun to step in like at night when you need to make a trip to the ‘throne’ during the dark of night…..
If you have kitties…hairballs will show up along with them, MOL!
Hairballs…fun to step in like at night when you need to make a trip to the ‘throne’ during the dark of night…..
If you have kitties…hairballs will show up along with them, MOL!