Prevent Cats Hairballs
There is no total cure for the common cat hairball, but as you can see from the preventatives listed below, there are specific measures to try before surgery is considered. If your cat is a compulsive groomer, they are more likely to develop hairballs.
Hairball preventative #1
If you brush your cat and help with its grooming, there is less chance of it swallowing a lot of hair. Brush strokes help get rid of a lot of that dead, loose hair. By brushing your cat, you are also forgoing a shedding problem. The diet of your cat could be helpful in eliminating hairballs from its system.
Some cats will also love vacuuming. Once they realize that it will not harm them, cats will love the feel of having their hair pulled on.
Hairball preventative #2
Special hairball treats. On the market today are selections of edible treats with special ingredients that help break up hairballs. Many of them contain mineral oil. Some cat food companies make special lines of food specifically for these hairball-prone kitties.Some cat food lines that manufacturers produce have special oils in the food, like mineral oil. These oils help break up the hairballs, allowing for easier digestion. Another benefit to these specially formulated foods is the improved condition of your kittys skin and the healthy coat of hair. This means that shedding is minimized meaning less ingestion of hair.
Hairball preventative #3
Facilitate a hairball. If a hairball is a continuous presence in your cats life, a lubricant is needed to help your cat digest and pass the offending hairball through the stomach and intestines. Products with petroleum are the best a facilitating this process and are available in a variety of flavors that cats love.
These petroleum-based treats help coat the tummy and digestive system for easy passage through the body. There are several ways to administer these petroleum-based treats. You can try and spoon feed your cat see if they will eat it that way; put some on their snout so they can lick it off; or, put some on the paws of your cat and watch them lick the treats off that way.
If you can determine the cause of the excessive grooming, take steps to eradicate the problem. Other times, cats could be just bored or nervous and the process of grooming not only gives them something to do, but it also soothes their nerves. You, as the cats owner, can create a game to play with your cat. In other words, redirect the cats energies into an activity to avoid the excessive licking that causes hairballs.
Just remember, if your cat displays any unusual behaviors like retching or lack of body elimination, get them into the veterinarian as soon as possible. The vet can do a thorough exam and provide with the best course of treatment for the dreaded hairball.
These petroleum-based treats help coat the tummy and digestive system for easy passage through the body. There are several ways to administer these petroleum-based treats. You can try and spoon feed your cat see if they will eat it that way; put some on their snout so they can lick it off; or, put some on the paws of your cat and watch them lick the treats off that way.
If you can determine the cause of the excessive grooming, take steps to eradicate the problem. Other times, cats could be just bored or nervous and the process of grooming not only gives them something to do, but it also soothes their nerves. You, as the cats owner, can create a game to play with your cat. In other words, redirect the cats energies into an activity to avoid the excessive licking that causes hairballs.
Just remember, if your cat displays any unusual behaviors like retching or lack of body elimination, get them into the veterinarian as soon as possible. The vet can do a thorough exam and provide with the best course of treatment for the dreaded hairball.