Pet Care
Furballs and cats
Many cat owners get very upset when they see their cat going through the process of producing a furball. It is a natural process for a significant number of cats, and nothing to get alarmed about.
What is a furball?
A furball (or trichobezoar) is usually a clump of soggy fur. The clump is usually a sausage shape, rather than a round ball shape. Sometimes the clump can be mixed with remains of food. They tend to be dark in colour.
Why do they form?
With many cats living indoors and enjoying home comforts, such as central heating, cats tend to respond by molting throughout the year. The cat will groom itself, and by doing so, will injest cat hairs. Most of the time, cat hairs will pass through the gullet and through the disgestive tract and not cause a problem.
Sometimes, the hairs will start to form a furball in the stomach. The cat may pass the furball with faeces, but quite often it is vomited up.
Preventing furballs
Grooming your cat will help reduce the amount of hair they injest by grooming themselves. Long hair cats tend to need more grooming. It is a good idea to introduce combing and brushing to your cat's daily routine from an early age. Many groomers now offer grooming for cats.
Shake out cat bedding daily and wash regularly. This will keep hairs to a minimum.
Dry food is good for your cat's digestive system. Dry food consists of fibre, which pushes hairs through the digestive system.
Laxatives are also available to lubricate furballs, making them pass along the digestive tract easier. It is a good idea to consult your veterinary surgery for advice on the various products that may be suitable for your cat.