February 16, 2012
Posted in Common Pet Conditions, How to, Pet Health, Pet Supplies

One of the best parts about cats is that they groom themselves. Their tongues are designed to work out matted fur, and their limbs are designed to be flexible enough that they can reach everywhere they need to. However, anyone who has owned a cat knows the one downside of these grooming rituals – hairballs.

Hairballs are generally harmless, albeit kind of disgusting, chunks of fur that your cat will cough up if it has swallowed a lot of fur while grooming itself. You may wish that your cat's hairballs did not appear on your carpets or furniture,  but there are medical reasons to reduce hairballs as well. These masses can get stuck in your cat's throat and cause choking, and can become stuck in the small intestine and cause blockage to the digestive tract. In some cases, these hairball woes require surgery to remove and fix the issue.

You can reduce your cat's risk of suffering one of these hairball complications with several measures. If your cat has existing hairballs, you may choose pet drugs like Lax'aire or Petromalt Hairball Remedy. These products lubricate the intestines to help hairballs move through without any clogging. This can redude vomiting and the coughing up of hairballs.

To prevent hairballs in the future, it is important to supplement your cat's grooming routine. Healthy cats will make sure their coat is well-maintained, but they are not all that concerned with preventing shedding or hairballs. Brushing your cat regularly with pet products like a Resco Pro-Series Combo Brush can help remove loose, dead hair, but something like the FURminator deShedding Tool for Cats can go even further. This tool reduces shedding by up to 90 percent, keeping hair off your furniture and clothes but also reducing the amount your cat can lick and swallow.

You can also prevent hairballs from forming by ensuring your cat maintains super healthy skin and fur. A supplement like Super Pure Omega-3 will nourish your cat's skin and fur, meaning that more strong, healthy hair will grow and less of the coat will fall out. Another supplement to try is Shed Terminator for Cats. This tuna-flavored supplement can be sprinkled on pet food and will prevent shedding because of the blend of oils, herbs, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins it contains. 

Related posts:

1. Helping your cat with hairballs
2. How to reduce your dog’s shedding
3. How to handle your dog’s coat
4. How to reduce your dog’s shedding
5. Understanding your dog’s coat