March 28, 2012
Posted in Common Pet Conditions, Flea & Tick Preventatives, Pet Supplies

Anyone who has owned a cat has probably seen a hairball. Because cats groom themselves with their course tongues, they end up swallowing a lot of their own fur. This later comes up in a furry, slimy mass called a hairball that your feline essentially throws, or "coughs" up. Although this behavior is normal in cats, hairballs can be dangerous. They can become lodged in your cat's throat, or cause a blockage in its digestive tract. There are several ways you can help a kitty to prevent these issues.

If your cat is currently coughing up a lot of hair balls, try giving it pet drugs like Lax'aire, a gentle laxative and intestinal lubricant that can help hairballs move through your cat's body more smoothly. Give this palatable paste to your feline orally or put some on its pet food. Other products like Petromalt Hairball Remedy can also work to lubricate the intestines to prevent hairballs from blocking. Using this product regularly can relieve constipation, dry cough and occasional vomiting.

Another way to prevent hairballs from forming is to make sure your cat's coat is as healthy as it can be. You can achieve this by adding a supplement of pet drugs like Super Pure Omega-3 to its diet. Omega-3 fatty acids support healthy skin and fur, meaning your cat will shed less. You can also reduce shedding by grooming your cat regularly with pet products like the FURminator deSehdding Tool for Cats. This tool reduces shedding by up to 90 percent, removing the fuzzy fur from the cat's undercoat. The less your cat sheds, the less hair it will swallow during self-grooming, meaning fewer (or smaller) hairballs.

If your cat will tolerate it, regular baths with pet shampoo like Oatmeal & Aloe Vera Shampoo can moisturize the skin and promote healthy fur growth to reduce shedding.

Your cat may also be grooming or scratching more if it has a flea infestation. Constant scratching may cause more hair to become loose, and thus more hair to be swallowed. Make sure your cat is on a flea and tick preventative medication like Revolution to prevent fleas from biting. It will even kill fleas and flea eggs that are already living on your feline. 

Related posts:

1. Helping your cat cope with hairballs
2. Helping your shy pet enjoy the holidays
3. How to reduce your dog’s shedding
4. Why you should pay attention to your cat’s teeth
5. How to remove fleas on kittens