Metro Cat Clinic Inc

Beautiful Winston belongs to one of our employees.

 

 

In recognition of National Hairball Day, we've reprinted below the questions that Dr. Arnold Plotnick, of the veterinary hospital Manhattan Cat Specialists, recently answered.  Dr. Plotnick is the editor of Catnip, The Newsletter for Caring Cat Owners, and is a writer for Cat Fancy Magazine.

Question:  Are hairballs more common in certain kinds of cats?

Answer:    Long-haired cats are more susceptible (Persians, Maine Coons), but any cat can get them.

Question:  How can they harm cats?

Answer:    They have the potential to be dangerous, causing an intestinal obstruction.  Swallowing a lot of hair can also cause constipation problems.

Question:  How does an owner detect them?

Answer:    Most cat owners have had the experience of stepping on a hairball, which is one way to know cats have a problem.  Also, if a cat does exceptional amounts of grooming, that is a sign that they could have problems.

Question: What can an owner do to prevent them from forming?

Answer:   The best approach is to groom cats regularly with a tool like the Furminator.  For short hairs, groom them two to three times a week   For the long hairs, it's best to do it every day.

Question:  What else can help the cat if hairballs have already become an issue?

Answer:     Diets higher in fiber can remove any clumps of hairballs, helping to pull them through the intestines.  A little bit of canned pumpkin, once or twice a  week, added to their food, adds fiber, and cats to many people's surprise like pumpkin.  There are also commercial foods that are higher in fiber.  Also, keep your cat well hydrated.  Help encourage cats to drink water by putting water in places the cat will least suspect.  Your cat might stumble upon the water and think, "Ah, a place to drink!'  But ultimately, the best thing to do is groom your cat.  That is also a wonderful bonding time with the cat that is very a special time for both of you.

 

As a first step in dealing with a hairball issue, Metro Cat Clinic recommends loading doses of a cat laxative like Laxaire and Laxatone to assist the cats in processing hairballs.  Give 3cc by mouth once a day for three days, then twice a week for two weeks.  Use a 3cc syringe for easy dosing.  2.5cc equals 1/2 a teaspoon, so the dose is not as much as you might think.  If this approach doesn't take care of the problem, make an appointment with your vet; your cat might have a more serious gastrointestinal issue.

Metro Cat Clinic also sells a variety of high fiber food, both wet and dry, and food made specifically for cats with hairball issues.