Hairballs are not only unpleasant, they can be a dangerous and even life-threatening health problem as they can cause intestinal blockages. Consequently, they are something that every pet parent should be aware of and take the necessary steps to manage the issue in the best way possible.
Your cat ingesting hair whilst grooming is perfectly common. This hair most often travels through the entire digestive system and is expelled into the litter box, or out in the garden if your cat is an outdoor pooper. However, if the hair remains in the stomach then it stays there getting bigger and bigger, forming a hairball. And if this wad of hair is stuck in the stomach, it will eventually trigger regurgitation.
The amount of hair a typical cat swallows while grooming tends to vary, but cats with some skin conditions, flea allergies or food allergies might feel the need to groom themselves more often and may ingest more of their own hair. Similarly, cats who are older and long-haired might be more prone to hairballs.
As cats age they tend to groom themselves more, which means that the incidents of furballs are going to increase. Similarly, older cats are more susceptible to stress – another trigger for licking – thereby further increasing the threat of furballs for your older feline and with that the risks to your cat’s health.
What can be done to help manage it? Groom to shed hair with a soft brush or grooming mit. And take Furball to help with the digestive process and relieve symptoms.
Ingredients of note: Alpha alpha, Marshmellow, pumpkin seed, flax oil, olive oil, nux vomica.