5 Tips to avoid hairballs in cats
by Lenda | May 7, 2020 |
When a cat licks itself for grooming, dead hair is accidentally ingested, and if it has long hair, it can swallow large amounts of hair that remain in the digestive system into balls (or whipworms). To those balls that initially are only hair, mucus and food remains are added, and they are increasingly compacted and become larger.
Usually, when these fur balls start to bother the animal when they digest, they vomit or eliminate them with the feces. But if they are not removed periodically they can increase in size and become an intestinal obstruction that in the worst case can lead to death .
To avoid major ills, prevention is best . Although the vet is the best to advise you, we give you five practical tips to guide you:
- Brush it frequently to remove excess hair, especially during times of molting. If you do it daily, you will avoid knots and tangles and your cat will be delighted.
- If he has a tendency to make balls, ask your vet about the possibility of cutting his hair.
- Avoid stress . With a pleasant environment you will make your cat more relaxed and do not feel the need to continuously groom.
- Give him a full meal , with a source of fiber to help him get rid of hairballs reaching the intestinal tract, and if he has a tendency to accumulate hairballs, some vets recommend mixing a teaspoon of olive oil or laxative with his food once a week.
- At the slightest suspicion of intestinal obstruction , visit the vet. He will give you the appropriate treatment and can also advise you on a specific product such as malt to help undo the compacted balls.
Although this problem is more common in long-haired cats, it also occurs in short-haired cats. Only hairless cats are spared!
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