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PetTalk: What to do about kitty's hairballs?
This column is written by Dr. Paula Tyler, DVM, of Benson Animal Hospital. If you have a question about a pet, send it to PetTalk, San Pedro Valley News- Sun, 200 S. Ocotillo Ave., Benson, 85602.
Q: My cat keeps hacking up gross hairballs. Help!
A: Cats are fastidious groomers so hairballs can be a normal part of owning a cat. There is not a way to completely prevent hairballs but there are things you can do which help a great deal. I have had a lot of success with hairball diets, which help cats pass hairballs through the gastrointestinal tract. Hills Science Diet, in particular, has some effective hairball diets for all different life stages. They even make a light formula for overweight kitties. There are also daily supplements such as Cat Lax (r) which can also be helpful. Brushing your cat helps reduce the amount of hair they ingest and is a very effective way to reduce hairballs. Matted fur is a factor that drives cats to over groom because the mats are uncomfortable. Sometimes it is helpful to have long-haired kitties shaved to prevent these mats which can be problematic, especially if the cat eats a whole mat. Even with these preventative measures, your cat may still vomit the occasional hairball. If your cat is vomiting hairballs more than once a week, this could present a problem and you should seek advice from your veterinarian regarding additional measures to prevent this.
Q: My cat keeps hacking up gross hairballs. Help!
A: Cats are fastidious groomers so hairballs can be a normal part of owning a cat. There is not a way to completely prevent hairballs but there are things you can do which help a great deal. I have had a lot of success with hairball diets, which help cats pass hairballs through the gastrointestinal tract. Hills Science Diet, in particular, has some effective hairball diets for all different life stages. They even make a light formula for overweight kitties. There are also daily supplements such as Cat Lax (r) which can also be helpful. Brushing your cat helps reduce the amount of hair they ingest and is a very effective way to reduce hairballs. Matted fur is a factor that drives cats to over groom because the mats are uncomfortable. Sometimes it is helpful to have long-haired kitties shaved to prevent these mats which can be problematic, especially if the cat eats a whole mat. Even with these preventative measures, your cat may still vomit the occasional hairball. If your cat is vomiting hairballs more than once a week, this could present a problem and you should seek advice from your veterinarian regarding additional measures to prevent this.
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