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Hairballs are very
common and usually are not a serious problem. Cats groom to remove the
hair that falls out at the end of each hair growth cycle. As a result
of this natural grooming behavior, cats ingest hair and other particles
from the hair coat. Most of this hair passes through the
gastrointestinal tract and out through the feces, but occasionally,
ingested fur does not pass smoothly from the stomach to the intestinal
tract. This is common in cats, especially those who have gastric
mobility problems. The ball of fur can irritate the stomach and block
ingested food from exiting the stomach. When this happens, the cat is
likely to vomit or regurgitate food and sometimes hair.
Hairballs are more frequent in longhaired breeds, but may occur in cats
with any hair type. The problem can worsen during warmer seasons and
stressful times which lead to increased shedding. Conditions such as
allergies or external parasites (fleas) can cause excessive grooming
which will increase the incidence of hairballs.
The following steps may be taken at home to decrease the production of
hairballs:
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Comb your cat daily
to remove excess hair before he can ingest it.
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Give ½ to 1
teaspoon of Laxatone, an over-the-counter hairball remedy, 2-3 times a
week.
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Bathe your cat to
remove excess hair.
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Apply Advantage,
Frontline, or Revolution monthly to eliminate external parasites and
prevent excessive grooming.
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Feed a fiber rich
diet to improve gastric function and reduce the formation of
hairballs.
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Give famotidine
(2.5mg) at bedtime. Antacid therapy may be useful for cats with
pre-existing gastritis.
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Signs of hairballs
vary. Some cats appear to be coughing when they are in fact attempting
to regurgitate a hairball. Some may regurgitate food immediately after
eating, while others have trouble defecating due to the large amounts
of hair in the feces. When the cat appears to feel well and is still
eating and well hydrated, the recommendations above may be followed to
help the cat eliminate excessive hair and reduce the formation of
additional hairballs.
Sometimes coughing and vomiting are the result of much more serious
problems. If your cat is coughing for several days, has frequent bouts
of violent coughing, or has a cough accompanied by wheezing or labored
breathing, he should be examined. If vomiting is frequent (several
times in one hour) or is accompanied by a fever or decreased activity
you should consult a veterinarian. The frequency and duration of
vomiting are also important. Your cat may try to vomit several times
before expelling a hairball, but if he’s been doing it for a week,
there is a larger problem.
Hairballs are one more thing that results from the unique physiology
and behavior of the cat. With careful management, the appearance of
hairballs can be reduced.
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