Hairballs can be a nightmare, not least for the pet owner, but also for the pet. They are caused by a build up of fur and lack of brushing. As we all know, cat fur is very thick and if it doesn’t get groomed regularly then furballs accumulate which the cat can then end up swallowing. Once these lodge in the cat’s throat, choking can ensue. Its not a pleasant thing to watch and it can be very dangerous.

Cat health care is all about looking after all aspects of your cat. Keep your eyes peeled for hairballs and matted fur. Groom your cat daily to make sure there is no loose fur that can get stuck in its throat. This is a great activity as you are helping the cat’s health and also your pet will love being stroked. Just be sure to be gentle to make the cat as relaxed as possible.

There are some cats with quite long fur and a vet might have some extra cat health care tips for you. Take Persian cats as an example – they have beautiful long fur but if it ends up forming hairballs, this could be very risky for them. You can’t stop the cat from licking itself, as they all do it, which is why hairballs are such a problem. Luckily, dogs don’t suffer with this hairball problem, as they don’t clean themselves by licking the fur. Cats have to lick their fur to keep clean which is why they end up with copious amounts of hair in their throats!

The process is simple – as soon as the hairball gets into the stomach, the cat tries to cough it up. This is when you will hear choking sounds and it can make pet owners quite nervous when they hear this, as they don’t know how to deal with it. The cat must finish coughing up the hairball, so keep an eye on it. Look out for any worrying signs and just make sure the cat is okay after coughing the fur up. There are also plenty of treatments out there for help with preventing hairballs, so speak with a vet to get the best advice.

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