How To Prevent Hairballs

Cats often swallow large quantities of hairs while cleaning that gets into their stomach and have to regurgitate. Hairballs can lead to vomiting, constipation and loss of appetite in your cat.

The removal of hairballs may need surgery in rare cases. By following some of these guidelines, you can prevent swallowing of hairballs of you cats.

Steps:

1. Brushing your cat daily, particularly while shedding is important for preventing hairballs from being swallowed.

2. You can use a bristle or rubber brush for cats with shorthair.

3. Wide-toothed comb or wire slicker brush would be best for longhaired felines.

4. You can avail of "hairball control" cat food enriched with vegetable fiber or can administer a commercial hairball prevention preparation provided by your veterinarian.

5. You can prepare a mixture for home remedy with 1 tsp. of mineral oil or petroleum jelly per 10 lb into your cat's food.

6. Dont forget that feeding other oils including vegetable oils is ineffective to your cat as they gets digested and absorbed.

7. Use the body weight of your cat in your calculations.

8. The method of feeding your cat is highly important. To prevent the formation of hair balls and to enhance better digestion, you should feed your cat with specially designed food as per the advice of your veterinarian. Feeding you cat with fish cooked in oil is also good. If you cat is found to make obtrusive hair balls, you should get him proper medication by taking him to the veterinarian.

Be careful if a cat licks excessively when not moulding as it may have fleas. Treat the hair of your cat from parasites. If you feel like you cat is not well, doesnt eat as usual, pass no faeces and vomits, you should take your cat to your veterinarian right away. You should also deworm your cat twice a year, or even more if it has fleas. The presence of fleas in the digestive tract augmentd the risk of intestinal occlusion associated with the formation of hair balls.