Furr-balls develop when a cat grooms herself with her tongue
and and swallows the hair.
Furr-balls are not among the many great qualities of long-
haired cats, but they are part of the beauty. How should
you deal with them? Here are some answers.
Furr-balls, or Hair-balls, can form into a mat or a ball
within the digestive system. The presence of this foreign
material can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, especially
if it obstructs the pathway of food from the stomach. As
it makes its way further into your cat’s system, it can
cause constipation. This is why they have the instinct to
cough up a furr-ball but if they have trouble here is what
you should look for:
Common symptoms include vomiting or regurgitation. Often
the hairball is brought up, but it may be preceded by fluid
or food. Occasionally, you may hear a dry cough or it may
sound like your cat has something stuck in the back of the
throat. Your cat may also experience constipation.
Treatment:
There are several things you can do to treat furrballs.
These include:
Frequent brushing. Brushing your cat frequently can reduce
the amount of hair your kitty swallows.
Furrball products. You can also use petroleum-based products
(such as Laxatone) that act as a laxative and lubricant to
help your cat pass a hairball. These products, which are
pleasant tasting to cats, can be fed in paste form or
applied to your cat’s paws to allow your pet to lick it off.
Furrball remedy treats. You can also give your cat treats
that contain mineral oil, such as Pounce Furrball treatment,
to break up the balls. Also out there are some pet food
companies that manufacture food for cats with recurrent fur
ball problems. Ask your veterinarian about these.
