It happens that cats are extremely clean animals and differently from dogs, they were born knowing how to clean themselves. Their tongue is like a brush and as they lick their hair, many particles of dirt can be removed. Meanwhile, during the process, a lot of loose hair ends up being ingested by the cat which later will be gathered with more hair and finally expelled as they regurgitate.
When should I worry about it?
The biggest risk when talking about hairballs is when they end up getting stuck in the cat's intestine. Here are some tips which will help you identify if this is happening to your cat:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Vomiting
- Dry feces or diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
If you notice any of these symptoms, bring immediately your friend to a vet. Other than orientating you, they are the only ones capable of managing procedures for proper hairball removal.
Preventing hairballs
As previously said hairballs are an expected event. However, you can help your cat out by avoiding that these hairballs start coming up. All you have to do is:- Always have the habit of brushing your pet's hair to remove dead hair, the more often you do it less are the chances of your cat swallowing all this hair
- Bring your friend to a vet for a check-up regularly.
- Keep your cat well hydrated and always offer high-quality food with essential nutrients for their body.
- Keep your cat active and on the move. Playing is an excellent way to keep their body working well.
If you find that your cat is struggling with hairballs too frequently, visit a vet and he will be able to suggest the best products to help your cat go through it.
