Symptoms To Identify Hairballs In Your Cat

Do you have a cat who loves and enjoys grooming sessions? Cats are pretty creatures with deep eyes and self-grooming habits. Indeed they love to be neat and hygienic. They do so by licking their body. No doubt, it is a good habit but it can cause an unwanted problem- Hairballs. You might doubt if this is normal or not. Well, this is nothing unusual. When your little furry friend indulges in self-grooming, they tend to swallow loose hair that might accumulate in their stomach and result in hairballs. Although this is not an alarming concern unless it is too frequent in your pet. Many pet parents assume that hairballs are normal for cats and that they cause no harm to them. While it is partially true, one needs to be careful. Hairballs aren’t an alarming concern, but if they are too frequent in your pet, you must not overlook them. Following best practices, it is always a good idea to be aware of its causes and treatment options. Therefore, if you are wondering about the reason behind hairballs, their symptoms, and remedies, read on. This blog includes everything you need to know to help your cat suffering from hairballs.

What are hairballs in cats?

As mentioned above, hairballs are caused due to the self-grooming process that your kitty follows. When cats lick their fur, their tongue catches dead hair. In some cases, the hair passes through the digestive tract to the cat litter box without causing any problem. But, sometimes they stay in the stomach or are vomited out as hairballs. Dealing with hairballs is an unpleasant experience for your pet. In the worst-case scenario, it can lead to severe health issues. Undoubtedly, no pet parent wants their cat to suffer from such health concerns. But how to know whether your feline is dealing with hairballs or not? To help you out, below listed are the symptoms that you should pay attention to identify hairballs in your cat:

Continuous vomiting with pieces of hair in it

Prolonged gagging or retching

Lacking appetite

Suffering from constipation or diarrhoea

Lethargy

Defecating a small ball of hair

If you notice these symptoms in your cat, it is possible that your friend is dealing with hairballs. However, some of the above-mentioned symptoms can help identify the same and begin the treatment process. Note: For proper diagnosis, you can always consult a vet online from trusted platforms like Supertails and be sure of the actual cause.

Remedies for Hairballs

It can be difficult for you to see your cat suffering from all the discomfort and uneasiness caused due to hairballs. Fortunately, being a pet parent you can do a few things to reduce the chances of hairballs in your cat.

Maintaining a regular grooming routine

The basic reason behind hairballs in your cat is the fur that they swallow in the self-grooming process. Thus, if you groom your pet regularly (combing or brushing your cat), there will be less dead hair for them to swallow. Moreover, this is also a good way to spend more time and bond with your furry companion.

Make use of Laxatives

Many veterinary consultants suggest giving your cat laxatives to treat constipation. There are some mild laxatives that make it easy for hairballs to pass through the digestive tract. Similarly, there are plenty of other hairball products you can choose to help your cat with hairballs.

Modify your cat’s diet

A fibre-rich diet can help to keep hairballs at bay. This is because fibre helps to maintain the proper functioning of the intestinal tract. There are different types of cat food available in the market that contain more fibre and can help to prevent such undesirable conditions. Pet parents get distressed when they see their little furry friend gagging and retching. However, as said before, this is not always something to worry about. Your cat might have hairballs occasionally. But, if it is too frequent in your pet, it might be time to seek online vet consultation. Besides, you can follow the aforementioned measures to reduce hairballs in your cat.