While cat hairball prevention sounds like something you should do, it really is a natural part of your kitten's life. All cats will produce hairballs and there is very little you can do about it. Frankly, there is very little to worry about. Cats produce hairballs in nature and that is to be expected just like you would expect them to produce urine and stool.
However, if your cat is having trouble passing a particular hairball and it is becoming a problem for your kitty then that is a different story. Sometimes, hairballs collect in the stomach and the intestines and form a blockage. This blockage can become painful and requires medical attention. It is in these cases, or smaller versions, that your will want to do something for your furry feline to help them pass the pesky hairball.
How hairs are formed
When your cat grooms, the rough exterior of the tongue pulls on loose fur. This loose fur is then taken into the digestive system. The fur should go through the system and to be released on the next evacuation into the litter box. However, in some cases the fur gathers together to form a hairball. If the hairball cannot be passed into the litter box, the cat will induce vomiting. This produces the familiar cylindrical hairball you are used to seeing.
Treatments for hairballs
In most cases, the prescribed treatment for hairball removal comes in the form of a laxative. It is usually some type of petroleum-based laxative. You want to be careful with these as it does interfere with your cat's ability to absorb nutrition and giving these too often can result in malnutrition. However, it does work great in passing the hairball right through the system.
Other hairball treatments vary and can be found over-the-counter. Special hairball prevention cat food, treats, and snacks work well for minor hairball prevention. Of course, you always want to follow the directions on the label according to the size and weight of your cat. It is also a good idea to talk to your vet about these foods since many may contain petroleum products that could limit nutrition absorption.
Combining hairball prevention products that contain petroleum-based ingredients should always be discussed with a vet. However, there are non-petroleum based products available both online and in pet stores but you have to check the labels.
I much prefer the prevention types of treatment. Brushing your cat prevents hairballs by taking the loose fur off the cat. Instead of the cat ingesting the fur while grooming, you will remove the fur during brushing. Of course, you will not be able to remove all the hair but you will get quite a bit. Any hair you get during a good brushing is hair your cat did not ingest. That means less hair your cat has to form a hairball.
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Sneed
However, if your cat is having trouble passing a particular hairball and it is becoming a problem for your kitty then that is a different story. Sometimes, hairballs collect in the stomach and the intestines and form a blockage. This blockage can become painful and requires medical attention. It is in these cases, or smaller versions, that your will want to do something for your furry feline to help them pass the pesky hairball.
How hairs are formed
When your cat grooms, the rough exterior of the tongue pulls on loose fur. This loose fur is then taken into the digestive system. The fur should go through the system and to be released on the next evacuation into the litter box. However, in some cases the fur gathers together to form a hairball. If the hairball cannot be passed into the litter box, the cat will induce vomiting. This produces the familiar cylindrical hairball you are used to seeing.
Treatments for hairballs
In most cases, the prescribed treatment for hairball removal comes in the form of a laxative. It is usually some type of petroleum-based laxative. You want to be careful with these as it does interfere with your cat's ability to absorb nutrition and giving these too often can result in malnutrition. However, it does work great in passing the hairball right through the system.
Other hairball treatments vary and can be found over-the-counter. Special hairball prevention cat food, treats, and snacks work well for minor hairball prevention. Of course, you always want to follow the directions on the label according to the size and weight of your cat. It is also a good idea to talk to your vet about these foods since many may contain petroleum products that could limit nutrition absorption.
Combining hairball prevention products that contain petroleum-based ingredients should always be discussed with a vet. However, there are non-petroleum based products available both online and in pet stores but you have to check the labels.
I much prefer the prevention types of treatment. Brushing your cat prevents hairballs by taking the loose fur off the cat. Instead of the cat ingesting the fur while grooming, you will remove the fur during brushing. Of course, you will not be able to remove all the hair but you will get quite a bit. Any hair you get during a good brushing is hair your cat did not ingest. That means less hair your cat has to form a hairball.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Sneed