Cat Q&A

Hairballs can be a nightmare, not least for the pet owner, but also for the pet. They are caused by a build up of fur and lack of brushing. As we all know, cat fur is very thick and if it doesn’t get groomed regularly then furballs accumulate which the cat can then end up swallowing. Hairballs can easily get stuck in the cat’s throat and this can cause choking. This is an unpleasant thing to have to stand by and watch.

Basic cat health care knowledge can help to prevent problems. Look out for a build up of fur. Great advice is to make sure grooming your cat forms a part of your daily routine. This is a great activity as you are helping the cat’s health and also your pet will love being stroked. Make sure you do it gently so the animal becomes more relaxed and it will sit in your lap all day as you groom it!

Some cats with longer fur (and more of it) are prone to hairballs, and this is something that the vet should remind you of when you take it for check-ups. Persian cats, for example, have very long fur and when hairballs form, they easily end up in the cat’s throat and this causes problems. Since a cat’s licking can’t be stopped, it is important that you take extra care to prevent hairballs forming. Luckily, dogs don’t suffer with this hairball problem, as they don’t clean themselves by licking the fur. As cat owners know, cats keep clean by licking their fur and thus hairballs occur.

The process is simple – as soon as the hairball gets into the stomach, the cat tries to cough it up. This is when you will hear choking sounds and it can make pet owners quite nervous when they hear this, as they don’t know how to deal with it. There’s not much you can do at this stage, and it’s a case of letting the cat cough the hairball up, but be sure to keep an eye on the cat. Look out for any worrying signs and just make sure the cat is okay after coughing the fur up. Luckily, there are some things available to help treat hairballs, so speak to the vet for more information.

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