Remedies for Cats with Hairball

Hairballs or trichobezoar is quite common in many cats as they are sticklers when it comes to cleanliness hence all the licking. However, when they lick themselves clean, hairs get stuck in their tongue which they can swallow. The accumulation of hair is called hairball which they can cough up from time to time. Hairballs become a problem when it happens on a regular basis. What’s worse is when your cat coughs up but doesn’t expel anything. If this is the case, you should bring your cat to your veterinarian immediately.

Among the bad effects of hairballs in cats are bloated stomach, lethargy, diarrhea, bowel problems, and even lack of appetite. Worse, your cat can die from hairballs getting lodged in its throat or intestines. The veterinarian will have to perform surgery to get rid of the hairball if it gets lodged to avoid death. Fortunately, you can avoid all these problems if you know how to prevent it in the first place.

• Groom Your Pet – If you are planning on owning a cat, you should ready yourself for a lot of grooming. Combing your pet’s hair can help reduce the amount of hair that it can swallow when it grooms itself. Start training your cat for grooming as soon as you get it or bring it to the pet salon.
• Use Lubrication – One of the remedies for hairball is intestinal lubrication. This will help loosen up the hairball and bring it to the surface. There are commercial intestinal lubrications that have different flavors for your cat, these can be found in any good pet shop. Lubrication should be given every few weeks to loosen up any hairball accumulating and always follow the instructions on the pack.
• Change Diet – There are times when a change in your cat’s diet can make the difference when it comes to hairballs. Most veterinarians will say that the cat needs to have exercise and ease up on the snacks. This is probably true so best heed your vet’s advice. Increase your cat’s intake of fiber then make sure that it gets proper exercise as this will help loosen hairball.

Preventing hairballs is much better than having to go through the agony of seeing your cat suffering from too much hairball. Understand that felines are very clean and will go to great lengths just to keep them that way. If you don’t want your cat to suffer from hairballs, you should consider the tips mentioned above.