Home » Plants & Animals » Cats » Hairy Situations

Hairy Situations

© Caroline Anderson

    Let's face it. Hairballs seem to be a fact of life for most cat owners. The first time you see it happen (or accidentally step in one first thing in the morning) your thoughts are shocked by the bizzare sight (and sound/feeling). One of the more wonderful things about cats is their cleanliness and ability to clean nearly every part of themselves so well. But unfortunately, the normal result of regular licking and grooming are hairballs.

    What a nasty little subject - but it is one we must deal with! What is normal for cats? How often or how much should they have them? Once or a few times per month is fairly normal for most cats. More than once a week, you may need to consider a change in your cat's diet or see your vet. Cats can get blockages in their bowels which can lead to death. If your cat usually has a hairball and has a loss of appetite, fever, or any noticable change in behavior, go to your vet. They can help with blockages if it's not too late.

    Why do they have them? There are a few myths out there. Are long-haired cats more prone to them? Not necessarily. Some cats can deal with it just fine. Short-haired cats actually shed more often than long-haired cats. We notice it less because the longer hairs are easier to see. And short hair itself grows, replaces and dies faster than long hairs. Another common myth is that all cats need grass or greens to help deal with digestion problems like hairballs. Hardly. Whenever Belle gets any kind of greens (I always make sure no pesticides or other chemicals have treated the greens), she vomits immediately. It just doesn't agree with her. Other cats can go their whole lives without any greens and often have no digestive problems. If your cat enjoys a few blades of grass now & then, that is fine, as long as it doesn't upset their system. Some grass or other high-fiber greens (oat grass, even catnip) may help your cat, but don't presume it will be a cure-all for digestion problems.

    So how can we deal with the occasional hairball? The best preventative measure is regular grooming. Once your cat has consistent hairballs, grooming should help, but you can also treat with some of the many over-the-counter medications. Some cats will refuse to take these. Now there are flavored "treats" with mineral oil or other laxative-type ingredients on the market. Just be careful not to over-indulge in either the treats or the medications - both can cause diarrhea or vitamin/mineral deficiency. Some even recommend flaxseed or fish oils. These may not have the stronger laxative qualities of other products but may help in a pinch.

The copyright of the article Hairy Situations in Cats is owned by . Permission to republish Hairy Situations in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.