No cat owner wants to have to deal with hairballs, but they are a common problem with cats. They are caused by a build up of fur and lack of brushing. Since cat fur is thick, a hairball can be problematic if the cat ends up swallowing it. These tend to get stuck in the cat’s throat and they start choking. Its not a pleasant thing to watch and it can be very dangerous.
Basic cat health care knowledge can help to prevent problems. Keep your eyes peeled for hairballs and matted fur. Groom your cat daily to make sure there is no loose fur that can get stuck in its throat. This is a great activity as you are helping the cat’s health and also your pet will love being stroked. Make sure you do it gently so the animal becomes more relaxed and it will sit in your lap all day as you groom it!
There are some cats with quite long fur and a vet might have some extra cat health care tips for you. Persian cats, for example, have very long fur and when hairballs form, they easily end up in the cat’s throat and this causes problems. Since a cat’s licking can’t be stopped, it is important that you take extra care to prevent hairballs forming. 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. When the choking starts, the cat’s owner will get a bit nervous about how they are supposed to handle the situation. The best cat health care advice is to just let the cat cough it up, but keep a watchful eye. Check the cat is okay after getting rid of the offending hairball. Luckily, there are some things available to help treat hairballs, so speak to the vet for more information.
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