Why Cats Hacks Up Hairballs

When you say hairballs, pet owners who do not know better will probably think of fluffy balls that cats love to play with; or if ever they have an idea that it is a condition, they would not really think that it is something serious.

Since hair is not a digestible piece of matter, the rule of most living bodies is what goes in, must come out. So, cats will either pass hair through their digestive system or the hair will build up in their bodies causing the retching and heaving required to get rid of it. If you are not familiar with cats, the first time you witness this upchucked hairball could be a bit  disconcerting.

You may ask why cats ingest so much hair in the first place. Just think about their grooming practices. They lick and lick with that serrated like tongue that easily captures any loose, dead fur. It is because of that rough tongue cat possess that they cannot spit out any offending fur. So, the only thing a cat can do is swallow the offending fur. For the most part, the hair just passes right on through their bodies, being digested then excreted through normal elimination. However, if too much hair accumulates and builds up into a matted wad inside their tummy, it is almost impossible to pass through the digestive system, hence the hacking and retching to try and vomit the offending hairball out.

Cats with long fur are more likely to develop hairballs. Not that those cats with short hair dont also get hairballs, but when you have longer hair, you have more of it to ingest. If your cat cannot rid itself of a hairball through vomiting or through the digestive system, they could suffer from a blockage in the intestine or stomach. Left untreated for too long can be life-threatening. Without surgery, that blockage caused by a hairball could kill your kitty.

Some warning signs of a possible hairball blockage could be continued heaving or retching that does not produce anything; there is also loss of appetite or lack of defecation. If your cat is constipated, a hairball could be the cause. To avoid the loss of a beloved cat, there are some steps you can take to prevent or lessen the chance of hairballs.