Is it normal for a cat to throw up hairballs? If you think your cat’s hairball ejection is a normal aspect of her life, think again. It may be common amongst felines, but it is not part of their usual digestive functions.
A cat’s digestive tract can take in a certain amount of fur and pass it through faeces without a problem. But if too much hair is ingested, the other alternative, regurgitating, will be used.
1. What Is Cat Hairball?
As mentioned, some of the fur may be expelled through bowel movement. But some of it stays in the digestive tract, accumulating over time until it becomes a bigger mass of knotted fur due to its indigestibility.
Cat hairballs tend to have a hard texture and are usually tubular rather than round. It also has a darker hue and may also be part of a cat’s vomit.
2. Is Cat Hairball Normal?
Most felines cough out occasional hairballs as a result of frequent grooming, and this is quite normal.
According to feline veterinarian Dr. Jane Brunt, cats have developed a digestive system that can handle a normal amount of fur.
However, she also points out that frequent hairballs in cats are a cause for concern. “Even long-haired cats should not develop more than one or two hairballs a year,” she explained.
3. Are Hairballs Fatal to Cats?
Generally, the accumulated fur in a kitty’s stomach is not life-threatening. But it can compromise her health and survival when the hairball becomes very compact and big enough to block intestinal passages. There have been cases of cats feeling very weak and unable to eat because of this.
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4. What Are the Cat Hairball Symptoms?
- Lack of appetite
- Weakness or hiding in one place without moving much
- Constant coughing or vomiting without anything coming out
- Stomach upset or discomfort in the cat’s belly
- Constipation
- Unusual changes in habits
If your cat expels hairballs more than average or has an unusually hairy poop, she may have an underlying health issue. As such, she should be checked by a veterinarian.
The vet may take X-rays, ultrasounds, or blood tests to confirm whether a hairy blockage is the culprit or some other condition. If the hairballs forming are considerably large, a surgical procedure may be conducted to remove it.
5. How Can I Help My Cat Pass a Hairball?
When your furry friend does attempt to cough up a mass, the effort should normally take 2–3 attempts. If your pet keeps retching without successfully ejecting the furry ball, give her some lubrication.
A teaspoon of olive oil mixed with a bit of cat food, for example, may help. You may hold it up to her mouth and wait for her to lick it. Do not force your cat to ingest the food as it could stress her out.
Another alternative is a feline laxative. If choose to administer this medication, be sure to consult with the vet first to ensure you are giving your pet the right dosage.
6. What Do I Do If the Hairball Is Stuck in My Pet’s Digestive Tract?
If all or most of the symptoms of cat hairballs are present and your pet is still unable to expel the mass after numerous tries, bring her to the animal clinic.
Stomach obstruction in cats is fatal as it disrupts their digestive process and prevents them from eliminating. Depending on the severity of the condition, the vet may administer laxatives to your pet to help get rid of the hairball or remove the mass using an endoscope.
However, the most common form of treatment is surgery, which allows the removal of all hairballs. Take note that these masses can form in multiple sites of your pet’s digestive tract.
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7. What Are the Natural Hairball Remedies for Cats?
There are natural home remedies that you can use to help a cat expel hairballs without much trouble. These natural remedies are as follows:
Pumpkin Puree
Pumpkin puree is a natural laxative that will help boost the fibre content in your feline friend’s diet. This helps sweep away hairballs from her system more easily.
Never use pumpkin pie filling as this may contain other ingredients that are harmful to cats. Instead, go for a whole, organic pumpkin.
Safflower Oil
Adding a teaspoon of safflower oil to your pet’s food once in a while helps make passing the trapped furball easier. Due to its high-fat content, avoid giving safflower oil to your cat if she is overweight.
Butter
Butter will also help lubricate your cat’s digestive tract and loosen hairballs. Mix a small amount in your feline companion’s food. Do not go overboard since butter is quite fatty much like safflower oil.
Psyllium Husk
Add half a teaspoon of psillum husk to water and pour it on your pet’s food twice a day. It will help push furballs through the intestines.
8. How to Prevent Hairballs in Cats?
To keep the cat hairball phenomenon to a minimum, do the following:
- Regularly brushing your cat’s coat to take out loose hair. This will help reduce the amount of fur ingested when your cat grooms himself. Do this daily if your feline is long-haired or when the seasons are changing.
- Feed your pet a high-fibre diet to promote healthy digestive function and help expel the extra fur with it. Avoid feeding grain-based food though.
- Ensure that your kitty’s diet is moisture-rich to help lubricate the digestive process and prevent congestion or accumulation of fur.
- Observe whether your pet is overgrooming. Some signs involve a patchy coat and a change in daily habits due to the abnormal fixation on grooming. Distract your furry pal with toys or playtime to help correct the overlicking.
FAQs About Cat Hairball
1. Is It Bad for a Cat to Eat Her Own Hairball?
It can be bad for a cat to eat her own hairball, especially if it’s large in size. Ingesting the mass can result in choking and GI blockage.
So if you catch your pet in the act of coughing up a hairball, remove and discard it properly once she expels it.
2. Do Furballs in a Cat’s Intestine Show Up on an Ultrasound?
Furballs in a cat’s intestine do show up on an ultrasound. For this reason, the machine is commonly used as a diagnostic tool along with the X-ray to detect cat hairballs in a feline’s digestive tract.
3. How Does Hairball Control Cat Food Work?
Hairball control cat food work by using high-fibre ingredients such as chicory, beet pulp, and psyllium to improve overall digestion.
As a result, fur swallowed by your pet whilst grooming can easily pass through the digestive system, instead of ending up getting lodged in it.
4. Does Wet Food Help Cats With Hairballs?
Wet food can help cats with hairballs. Its high moisture content and easy digestibility aid in allowing the fur in their digestive tract to smoothly travel through the stomach, reducing the likelihood of hairball formation.
Conclusion
A feline vomiting cat hairballs may seem like an emergency. If this only happens occasionally, take it as a normal aftereffect of your cat’s meticulous grooming habits.
However, when this behaviour occurs more frequently than it used to be, get her checked by the vet. You might also want to try using the home remedies we have shared above to minimise cat hairball problems.
Another puzzling behaviour in cats is overgrooming. Much like cat hairball, it can become a problem if not addressed. Here is how you can help stop your furry pal from exhibiting this behaviour.
