Do long-haired cats have more hairballs?
Do long-haired cats have more hairballs?
Long-haired cats, such as Persians and Maine Coons, are more susceptible to hairballs simply because they have more hair than their short-haired friends. Hairballs may be more common when the weather warms, too, as all cats tend to shed their heavier winter coats.
Do cats act sick when they have a hairball?
When a cat is trying to bring up a hairball, they may start retching, gagging or acting like they are dry heaving and trying to vomit. Sometimes the sound they make is called a ‘cough-gag-retch’. This is because your cat can appear to be coughing from the lungs, gagging with their throat and retching from the stomach.
How often do long-haired cats throw up hairballs?
Most cats vomit 1-2 hairballs each month, with long-haired cats or those that groom excessively having hairballs more often.
How do I know if my cat has a hairball problem?
Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats The most visible hairball symptom you’ve probably noticed is the retching and gagging that usually precedes the actual vomiting of the hairball. In addition to retching/gagging, your cat may exhibit: Lack of appetite. Litter box troubles such as constipation or diarrhea.
How can I help my long haired cat with hairballs?
4 Hairball Remedies
- Groom your cat regularly. The more fur you remove from your cat, the less fur that will end up as hairballs in their stomach.
- Give your cat a specialized “hairball formula” cat food.
- Use a hairball product or laxative.
- Discourage excessive grooming.
What can I give my cat for a stuck hairball?
To help your cat cough up a hairball, give it 1/2 teaspoon of petroleum jelly, since the jelly will act as a laxative to help your cat pass the hairball naturally. Alternatively, smear its paw with some hairball paste, which you can buy from a pet store.
When should I be concerned about hairballs?
If a hairball gets stuck somewhere in the digestive tract, the resulting blockage can be life-threatening. Gastrointestinal blockages require prompt surgical intervention, so if your cat has any of these symptoms of a possible blockage, see your veterinarian immediately: repeated unproductive retching. lethargy.
Can hairballs make cats lethargic?
Weakness or lethargy If you notice your cat seeming lethargic or weak along with any of the other symptoms listed here, they may have a blockage from their hairballs and might need vet care.
How do you keep hairballs out of long hair cats?
What do you give a cat for hairballs?
A teaspoon of fish, safflower, or flax oil added to your cat’s food can coat a hairball, allowing it to pass through your kitty’s system. Another option is a hairball prevention jelly containing slippery elm, marshmallow, or papaya. These are usually given once or twice a week.
