Are hairballs as innocent as they seem? Here’s what could really be going on in your cat’s tummy.
You may remember when we talked about avoiding hairballs with proper grooming in one of our previous blog posts. Today, we’re going to delve a little bit deeper into the situation.
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Is It Normal For Cats To Have Hairballs?
“Normal” is relative. Even so, people think it’s completely normal for cats to have hairballs. It’s almost like a cliche or a joke. The truth, however, is that hairballs are common, not normal. There’s a big difference!
Most cats will have problems with hairballs at some point in their lives, especially cats with longer coats. Your best bet is to prevent hairballs before they start by grooming your cat often and feeding them a proper diet. The sad truth is that, even with our best efforts, some cats will still have to go to the vet for hairballs or blockages.
How Do Hairballs Form?
Hairballs typically happen due to self-grooming. The tiny little hooks on your cat’s tongue can pull loose debris and hair up, and some of it gets swallowed. Some cats tend to over-groom due to illness or stress (this is called psychogenic alopecia).
Grooming helps to soothe your cat’s nerves because licking releases endorphins. Unfortunately for kitty, hairballs and blockages can cause stress, and they don’t know they’re making it worse by grooming even more. It’s a vicious cycle that just keeps on repeating itself.
Hairballs vs. Blockages
Hairballs are innocent enough; your cat pukes them up, making a nice little mess on your carpet, and that’s the end of it. Blockages, on the other hand, are much more serious.
Blockages can occur when your cat is unable to eliminate their hairballs properly. They can happen in your cat’s stomach, colon or intestines. Depending on where the blockage is located, your cat may need to have surgery to remove it. If it is not removed, it can become a life-threatening situation.
Symptoms of a blockage include:
- Persistent hacking, coughing, gagging or wheezing
- Weight loss and lack of appetite (anorexia)
- Distended (swollen or hard) abdomen
- Diarrhea/constipation
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
If your cat has any of these symptoms, get to a vet ASAP.
At-Home Treatments For Hairballs
There are no replacements for surgery, but a simple hairball can be treated at home quite effectively.
A little bit of lubrication goes a long way. Hairball remedy products will usually contain ingredients that are harmful to your cat or are, at the very least, less than desirable (e.g. petroleum). Rather than use these products, you can turn to your kitchen cupboard for cat-safe foods.
Coconut/Olive Oil
Coconut oil and olive oil are great lubricants. You can administer it two different ways: mixing it in with their food or applying it directly to their fur. We prefer the second method for our cats because they can tell when it’s mixed in with their food, but the first method is ideal for less picky cats. Use a maximum of one tablespoon per day, as too much of either oil can cause diarrhea and other abdominal issues.
(Pro tip: Use a small, clean paintbrush to apply the oil to your cat’s paws. Even if they don’t like the taste of the oil, they’ll still lick it off.)
Squash/Pumpkin
Canned pumpkin or squash can loosen up hair and allow it to pass easily through the digestive system. These two foods can be mixed in with your cat’s regular diet. You can also use baby food squash and pumpkin (they’re more pureed) as long as they don’t contain additives. Never feed your cat spiced pumpkin or squash.
Fiber
Your cat may be experiencing problems with hairballs because they aren’t getting enough fiber. While adding more fiber to your cat’s diet can help, don’t overdo it. Too much fiber can result in constipation, preventing your cat from passing the hair (along with their feces).
For this reason, we recommend choosing canned pumpkin over powder supplements. However, if you or your cat prefer the powder, Firm Up! is a fantastic product that uses both pumpkin and apple fiber. It’s super easy to mix in with your cat’s diet; all you have to do is rehydrate it. They also have pumpkin + cranberry for urinary support.
Visit Your Vet
If you see your cat experiencing symptoms of a hairball blockage, visit your vet immediately. Your cat may seem fine, but their condition can deteriorate very quickly. By the time they’re showing definite signs of illness, it could be too late. Talk to your vet if you suspect your cat is having trouble with hairballs or blockages.
