Nobody likes to vomit and the same goes for your cat.
Little surprises that sometimes happen and leave you on your light colored carpet, of course, are a difficult task to clean.
Cats are known to groom themselves a lot. It is roughly estimated that a cat will spend up to a third of its waking life washing. When your cat is washed, miniature hooks pull loose hair into the digestive system. The occasional hairball is usually not a cause for concern, it is when it becomes more prevalent that you should be concerned.
Nature has engineered the stomach of a carnivore to digest skin and hair. Any wildlife show you watch will show carnivores removing hair and meat and consuming them all together. The problem is the breeding of long-haired animals, Persians, Burmese, Maine Coons, and other medium- to long-haired cats. This does not mean that a shorthair cat does not have problems as well.
When a cat is grooming, the hair settles in the intestine and usually passes through it. However, if there is a stomach problem, the hair will pile up, get thicker, and go back up the wrong way.
As a kitten, you probably never saw your pet’s hairballs, however, as your cat grows, so does his ability to groom himself better.
Frequent brushing with a good quality cat brush should be a daily procedure for any responsible pet owner. If you’re going to keep a long-haired cat as a pet, be sure to take the time to properly groom it. Your pet store should have a mix of good quality cat brushes and combs. Brushing alone is not enough, combing is also necessary. A brush tends to pick up the top coat, while a long, wide tooth comb cuts through long, thick hair and removes dead hair from the roots. Thickness is as much an issue as length.
Also, the problem of flea treatment will be easier to address if you can reduce the amount of dead hair your pet has to carry.
Hydrating your pet is a must to help with hairball problems. Cats are known for their liking to drink in different places. Therefore, having fresh water available in all of your cat’s favorite places, as well as in the feeding area, will get your cat used to drinking more. This will begin to lubricate the digestive system and help rinse the hair instead of clumping in the stomach. It is a well known fact that cats love to drink from plain water. Have you ever seen them sit in the bathroom and drink the dripping tap water? If you have a difficult cat, you are more likely to encourage him to drink by purchasing a fountain-type water bowl.
Some brands now sell hairball control foods. When this is good in terms of high fiber content, it can cause problems if your cat doesn’t drink enough water.
Always check with your vet first and ask for his or her opinion on dietary changes and supplements.
