When cats groom themselves, they swallow a hairball that can prove troublesome for their wellbeing. Let's learn together the secrets to keeping the problem at bay.
Everyone who has a cat knows it. Often – perhaps too often – you find yourself watching it compulsively lick its entire body, an innate habit in felines that allows them to remove dead fur and maintain perfect hygiene (the whole process is known as grooming). Yes… but what becomes of the fur that the cat so carefully licks away? It is inevitably swallowed, forming a compact hairball that can have negative repercussions on health, precisely because of the large quantities of fur our four-legged friend ingests along with dust, plant debris and whatever else. So what can be done? Let's find out together with Msd animal health, a world-leading company in animal health, and its digital ecosystem We are family.
Although the rough projections on their tongue help them capture the dirt and parasites that work their way between the hairs, grooming means cats also ingest large quantities of fur which, accumulating in the stomach, can form hairballs that the cat generally expels through vomiting. Frequently, however, excessive quantities and difficulty in eliminating the troublesome hairballs manifest in felines as symptoms such as vomiting, dry coughing and digestive problems.
At certain times, breathing difficulties, constipation and loss of appetite can also occur, with a resulting general malaise. Cat fur can, in fact, become a problem for household hygiene too. And, for some people, it is a source of allergies and respiratory problems. Often, even short-haired cats produce large quantities of excess fur during moulting periods – which, with heating and climate change, are becoming ever more frequent and closely spaced. The most obvious solution might be to brush our four-legged friend regularly, although sometimes brushing and combing are not enough and extra help becomes necessary.
For hairball problems, it may be helpful, on the advice of your trusted vet, to turn to specific products, such as complementary paste feeds, which encourage the breakdown of fur tangles and their elimination through the faeces. This also helps tackle the root cause of the problem from both a gastric and an intestinal perspective.
With this in mind, it is also advisable to pay attention to your cat's diet and ensure it includes foods rich in vitamins and Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. These nutrients will help felines maintain a healthy, full coat, and therefore shed less fur. An appropriate diet, a good supplement and a little time devoted to brush and comb can therefore be fundamental in avoiding discomfort and distress for our domestic cat, and in giving us peace of mind about its health and wellbeing.