Preventing Hairballs in Cats
Any cat owner recognizes the sounds and behaviors associated with hairballs. These are the natural result of the cat’s regular grooming sessions, but they can lead to wheezing, can cause vomiting, and will bring about serious digestive upset if the cat is unable to pass the accumulated hair through their digestive system. There are many ways to try to prevent hairballs from becoming a serious issue, and it will all begin with the creation of a good plan for regular grooming of the cat.
For one thing, a cat with either long or short hair is going to benefit greatly from frequent brushing. If this is done during periods of shedding such as when weather patterns shift from cooler to warmer weather, the likelihood of hairballs is greatly reduced. Choosing the right sort of brush is also going to help with any hairball situations. Long-haired cats might resent the tugging that occurs from the use of a regular cat brush, and this means it is a good idea to visit a pet supplies store to buy the appropriate combs and brushes designed to keep long-haired cats looking and feeling their best.
The next thing to consider is the use of some dietary options that will help with the accumulation of hair in the digestive system. There are specially designed dry foods that contain ingredients meant to help the hair to pass through the digestive tract without hardening or clumping. Someone hoping to help their cat through dietary methods, might also consider stirring a spoonful of canned pumpkin (not pie filling) into the wet food once or twice a week, since this acts as an all-natural lubricant. Alternately a spoonful of melted butter stirred into the food every few weeks can work wonders on hairballs as well.
It is at this point that we need to consider one cure that is open to a lot of debate, and this is the use of substances such as mineral oil or Vaseline to treat hairballs. Mineral oil is a very risky substance to add to a cat’s diet because it can be easily inhaled and lead to rapid death. Vaseline or petroleum jellies can also coat the stomach and prevent nutrients from being absorbed as well. Rather than risking such problems, it is best to purchase a specialized gel or treatment that contains a safe lubricant and which is usually applied to the pet’s paw where they lick the meat-flavored paste away.
A final method for dealing with the development of hairballs is to provide extra supplies of water. Encouraging the cat to drink a bit more fluid than normal is a great way to flush their system and take away hair that might present a challenge if left in place.
