Hairballs can be a nightmare, not least for the pet owner, but also for the pet. Hairballs are due to the owner not brushing the pet’s fur enough. Cats end up swallowing furballs and this is where the problem starts. Once these lodge in the cat’s throat, choking can ensue. This is an unpleasant thing to have to stand by and watch.
Basic cat health care knowledge can help to prevent problems. That means watching out for hairballs and matted fur accumulating. Groom your cat daily to make sure there is no loose fur that can get stuck in its throat. Owners and pets get pleasure from grooming, so persevere with it. Just be sure to be gentle to make the cat as relaxed as possible.
Some cats with longer fur (and more of it) are prone to hairballs, and this is something that the vet should remind you of when you take it for check-ups. Take Persian cats as an example – they have beautiful long fur but if it ends up forming hairballs, this could be very risky for them. No-one can stop a cat from licking, which is why hairballs are a problem. In contrast, dogs don’t get hairballs but this is because they have finer and shorter hair, and they don’t like their fur like cats do. As cat owners know, cats keep clean by licking their fur and thus hairballs occur.
Once the hairball gets into the digestive system, the cat will start trying to cough it up. Choking sounds are made and owners sometimes panic because they don’t know what to do about it. The cat must finish coughing up the hairball, so keep an eye on it. Check your cat is feeling okay after getting rid of the big clump of fur. If you like to stay prepared, there are some hairball treatments out there which a vet can advise on.
