by Betty Carew

Created on: November 06, 2009   Last Updated: November 07, 2009

If you have a cat you have probably already have been introduced to hairballs. Cats are fastidious in cleaning themselves and for this reason they ingest the fur that comes off while they groom themselves. Cats are made to digest most of the hair they ingest by normal elimination but sometimes they hair may catch in the digestive system and become too large to pass through the intestines by normal means. This is when you usually hear the hacking cough before you're presented with a hair ball. Here are a few tips to prevent hairballs in cats

Prevention

Prevention is perhaps is one of the best ways to deal with hairballs. Regardless of how much hair your cat has he needs grooming unless you have a hairless cat. But the average cat that you have is covered in soft hair. Why else would they be so cuddly? Grooming your cat on a daily bases is one way to help your cat from forming hairballs. Cats that have long hair are the ones that end up having the biggest problems with hairballs. Comb the hair by lifting the top coat and combing the under coat. Here is where you will find loose hair and debris. Comb this well to remove all you can with the comb. After this is done let the top coat fall in place and comb it well. This should take care of any loose hair from finding its way to your cat's intestines.

Diet

Diet can have a large influence on the hairballs your cat will ingest when cleaning. Some of the cat food that you can find on the market has oil added to it. This helps eliminate the hairballs from your cats system by helping them pass through his digestive system easily. This will prevent any chance of the hairball getting caught and your cat adding to it. These foods are designed to give your cat a healthier coat which in turn cuts down on hairballs. There are options in treats for your cat that can help with shedding and hairballs. These treats contain some form of oil which is usually petroleum based and makes it easy for hair to pass through the digestive system.

You can also treat your cat yourself. Just take a little petroleum jelly and smooth it on your cat's paw. The best place is usually where the foreleg bends. When your cat cleans himself he will lick the jelly from their legs and this will help them digest any hair that they may swallow. You can also purchase gel that is designed especially for this problem and made in delicious flavors that your cat can't resist. These can be rubbed on the paws or the legs and watch as kitty licks it off and goes looking for more.

Hairballs are usually harmless but very rarely they can cause bigger problems. If your cat is coughing and can't release the hairball it is best you take him to a vet. Sometimes hairballs can get so big that your cat can't get rid of them either way and they just end up getting larger. This can lead to your cat having an obstruction in the intestines which needs the expert advice of your veterinarian. For your everyday run of the mill hairballs you should find these tips for preventing hairballs in cats very useful.

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