As cat owners, we all know that apart from cats loving to sleep, another thing they love to do is lick their fur, which is a behavior of cats that love cleanliness very much. They often use their tongue, which is like a personal comb, to lick their bodies and groom their fur to look beautiful all the time. But the problem that makes cat owners hold their heads is that when cats lick their fur, they swallow the fur into their stomachs. If the fur accumulates until it becomes a large lump, it can cause a blockage in the digestive tract and interfere with the functioning of the cat's various organs.
What causes cat hairballs?
Cats generally have a clean nature. They will try to clean themselves regularly. The way cats clean themselves is by licking themselves to clean themselves of dirt and dust. They also lick off loose hair that is stuck on their bodies. But the problem is that when cats lick their fur, it sticks to their tongues and makes them swallow it. However, their digestive tract cannot digest the fur, so it accumulates in their stomachs and intestines.
As more hair is swallowed, it can clump together into “hairballs” and the cat will occasionally try to vomit these hairballs out. Hairballs are more common in long-haired breeds such as Persians and Himalayans, but can also occur in short-haired cats.
Are these hairballs dangerous for your cat?
When a cat has a hairball in its stomach, it may occasionally retch or vomit to get rid of the hairball. If the cat retches on its own without other symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, or weight loss, no special treatment is required.
But if your cat keeps vomiting without any hairballs coming out, or if there are other foreign objects mixed in with the hairballs, the owner will have to take the cat to the vet to find the cause of the vomiting or to check for other underlying diseases in addition to the hairball problem.
Treatment
In case the cat vomits or regurgitates hairballs, if the cat can regurgitate all of them, there is no need for treatment. However, if the cat cannot regurgitate the hairball, the veterinarian will prescribe a mild laxative or gel food that helps lubricate the digestive tract to easily expel the hairball with the feces. However, the use of this type of gel food has a disadvantage in that it may reduce the absorption of certain nutrients and vitamins. Therefore, if gel food must be used, the veterinarian will recommend using only as necessary and should not be given immediately before or after meals.
But in the case thatUnable to remove hairballIt really works and causes a problem of hairballs blocking the digestive tract. Surgery may be necessaryTo remove the hairball
Protection
Preventing hairballs is not difficult. First, owners must brush their cats' fur regularly every day. Brushing removes dead hair from the brush. Therefore, when cats lick themselves, they will lick and swallow less hair. The problem of hairballs will also be reduced.
In addition, there are currently many brands of ready-made cat food that sell formulas that help prevent hairballs. These formulas are supplemented with certain types of fiber that help bind the hair, preventing it from sticking together, thus preventing hairballs from forming. Using this type of food has the advantage of not having to waste time feeding the cat additional medicine or gel food, and there is also no need to worry about problems with the absorption of nutrients or vitamins. However, it is slightly more expensive than general formula food.
Taking care of your cat's hairball problem is not difficult. Since we can't stop our cats from licking their fur, owners must pay attention and brush their fur often so that they don't eat too much fur and block their digestive tract. If you notice any abnormalities, you should take them to see a veterinarian immediately.
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References
Dr. Oraya Prapanphot (Dr. Nun), veterinarian at Talingchan Animal Hospital
PetMD. How To Treat Cat Hairballs. https://www.petmd.com/cat/grooming/evr_ct_cat_hairballs
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