Tag Archives: brushing your cat

Cat Care, General Care

Tips for Reducing Hairballs

April 26th is Hairball Awareness Day! We know, hairballs aren’t exactly something to celebrate. It would be much more fun to talk about Cat World Domination Day or Hug Your Cat Day. While hairballs are more or less ‘purr’ for the course with kitties, they are definitely no fun for either you or Fluffy. However, sometimes they are more than an unsightly nuisance. They can occasionally cause dangerous intestinal blockages. Fortunately, there are some ways you can reduce the amount of hairballs your pet gets. Here, a Roanoke, VA vet lists a few things that can help reduce the amount of hairballs your cat gets.

Brush Fluffy

As you may know, hairballs form when kitties swallow their own hair during grooming sessions. If you brush your feline friend regularly, you can grab that fur with a brush before Fluffy swallows it. Less fur on your cat means less fur in your cat. This is especially important during shedding season.

Keep Kitty In

We recommend keeping cats indoors for several reasons. Our feline pals are just better off as indoor pets, as they will be protected from dangers like cars, weather, traffic, and other kitties. Keeping Fluffy inside will also help with hairballs, if in a roundabout way. Indoor cats often shed less than kitties that go outdoors, because they aren’t as exposed to the seasonal weather changes that trigger shedding cycles.

Offer Good Food

Make sure Fluffy is eating nutritious, high-quality kitty food! A proper diet will help keep your furry pal’s coat soft and shiny, which will reduce the amount of fur she sheds. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Parasite Control

Fleas can make pets miserably itchy. Cats with fleas often continuously lick or groom themselves. This inevitably results in them swallowing more fur, which in turn leads to more hairballs. Keep up with your kitty’s parasite control!

Hairball Prevention

As the name suggests, hairball prevention products can help reduce the amount of hairballs your furry buddy gets. These are particularly helpful for longhaired kitties. Ask your vet for more information.

Bonus: Catnip

Catnip won’t actually do anything as far as preventing hairballs. However, if your feline overlord is feeling content, she may at least decide against leaving one where you’ll step on it!

Please contact us, your Roanoke, VA vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!

Cat Care, General Care

Understanding Your Feline Friend’s Hairball Production

Do you own a cat? If so, hairballs are a part of life for you and your feline friend. They’re certainly not pleasant to look at, and it doesn’t seem very pleasant for Fluffy when she coughs one up, but are they dangerous? Learn more here from a Roanoke, VA vet.

Why Do Hairballs Occur?

Your cat grooms herself often, as you know. When she does, tiny barbs lining the tongue pick up much of the loose hair from your cat’s coat. She swallows that hair, and most of it gets moved through the digestive tract normally and is ultimately expelled in the feces. Some of the swallowed hair, however, remains in the gut, clumping together over time to form a hairball. That gets regurgitated eventually, likely accompanied by a small bit of stomach fluid.

Do Hairballs Hurt My Cat in Any Way?

No, the occasional hairball doesn’t hurt your cat. It’s a natural part of life! There’s absolutely nothing to worry about if you see your cat cough up a hairball every now and then.

If your cat coughs up hairballs frequently, something could be causing her to shed more than normal. You’ll want to have your pet checked out at the vet’s office to be safe. Additionally, if your cat is gagging and retching but not producing anything, rush her to the vet’s office—your pet could be choking, or the hairball itself could be lodged in the esophageal tract.

Last but not least: vomiting and coughing up hairballs is not the same thing. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it’s time to see the vet.

How Can I Help My Cat Experience Fewer Hairballs?

You’ll be happy to learn that there are a few simple steps you can take to have your cat cough up fewer hairballs. That’s more pleasant for her, and it leaves less of a mess for you! First, brush your cat regularly; this removes a lot of the loose hair from Fluffy’s coat, preventing her from swallowing it in the first place. Secondly, make sure that your cat is receiving a high quality diet that contains all of the proper nutrients. When your cat’s nutrition is in tip-top shape, her coat of fur stays healthy with minimal shedding.

Does your cat need a veterinary exam? Schedule your four-legged friend’s next appointment right here at your Roanoke, VA animal hospital. We’re here for you!