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Furballs in the cats causes and treatment |
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Furballs in the cats causes and treatment |
| Why furballs: |
In the wild, cats will have different coat densities according to the seasons of the year. In the summer they need a light coat while in the colder months it needs to be thicker and more insulating. The change of coat is brought about by periodic shedding or moulting. Nowadays, more and more pet cats are being exposed to the luxuries of central heating and constant all year round temperatures. You might hope this means less moulting, but nature is not kind to us; cat owners are subjected to almost continuous moulting.
The cat's instinct is to care for its coat by grooming. Cats have a tongue like a rasp; a number of tiny barbs all point in the one direction and when they groom, the barbs dislodge the loose hair. It's very difficult for a cat to spit the hair out so it has to be swallowed, slipping down the gullet into the stomach. In most individuals the hair passes through the digestive tract in such small amounts that it never causes any problems. In others, the hair remains in the stomach and gradually accumulates to form a furball. This occurs more frequently in long-haired, young to middle-aged cats. .
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| Does my cat have furballs: |
The furball (or trichobezoar as it is officially called) rarely causes any problems at first but when it reaches a certain size, the body attempts to eliminate it from the digestive tract. Sometimes this will mean it travels down the gut to be expelled with the faeces but the easiest and quickest means of ejection is to vomit the hair back up the gullet (oesophagus). The furball may be mixed with food or stomach contents but, in many cases, it appears as a clump of soggy hair. This is classically linear in shape rather than rounded (see picture at bottom of page).
I've never been quite sure why they are called fur 'balls'. A more accurate description is a hair 'sausage' or, as one of my clients calls them, 'black puddings'.
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| Do furballs cause illness: |
Attempts to vomit or regurgitate furballs are occasionally unsuccessful, producing only gastric secretions. Affected cats tend to have repeated bouts of vomiting which ultimately result in the production of a furball. The cat usually immediately bounces back to normal but, in some, an irritation is triggered in the stomach and these individuals need a few days of light feeding and symptomatic treatment.
The most dramatic problem that can occur is when a cat is unable to pass the furball naturally and it causes an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. In this situation, the furball has to be surgically removed. Fortunately this complication is very rare. A common misconception is that furballs cause coughing. The occasional hair may stray into the airways and cause a transient tickle but normally the hair enters the digestive tract where there is no physical link with the respiratory system. Some confusion may be derived from the fact that a coughing cat looks very similar to a retching cat.
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| Are furballs a sign of other problems in my cat: |
Although furballs are frequently observed in normal cats, they can be associated with ill health. Irritable skin or psychological disorders can cause a cat to overgroom and ingest larger than usual quantities of hair. In others the grooming behaviour is unaltered but there may be a disease of the gastrointestinal tract which causes an obstruction or a motility problem.
Owners usually get a feel for what is normal in their own cat and if there is any change in the pattern of furball production, or it is associated with weight loss, diarrhoea or a picky appetite, they should consult their vet.
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| Prevention of fur balls: |
A number of steps can be taken to help prevent furballs. One of the most important is frequent grooming which significantly decreases the amount of loose hair the cat will ingest. If you introduce grooming as part of a kitten's daily routine it tends to accept the process. Many older cats love being groomed but others will put you in your place if you dare to impose this strange ritual on them.
The type of grooming brush you use can be important. One of my favourite grooming tools, particularly for shorthaired cats, is a rubber brush. It is soft enough not to cause any discomfort (in fact, it's a bit like using a massage mitt) but it can shift almost frightening amounts of loose hair. It's not only great for the cat but it works wonders for removing cat hair from carpets and furniture as well.
Long-haired cats can be problem. They are much more prone to developing tangles and knots in their fur which tend to tug and put the cat off being groomed. I always advise owners to think carefully before they consider buying a long-haired kitten. It may look very cute but the coat will need a lot of time and attention.
Dry foods now exist which are designed to help reduce the formation of furballs in the gut. These foods contain a high level of a particular type of vegetable fibre which helps to "sweep" the fur along the intestines in the right direction.
Laxatives lubricate furballs and allow them to progress along the digestive tract. Liquid paraffin (NB- medicinal paraffin) can be used but requires care as cats may accidentally inhale the substance into the airways where it could cause a pneumonia. Flavoured petroleum-based laxative gels are favoured for furball treatment and prevention and they tend to be easier to administer. The required dosage will vary according to the individual cat. Some need treatment every few days while others need help only at times of heavy moulting. If your cat still appears to have a problem eliminating a furball, your vet may prescribe drugs which enhance gut motility. Persistent or frequently recurring furballs are likely to need further investigation.
It can be upsetting for owners to see their pet going through the process of producing a furball but it is reassuring to realise that this is a normal phenomenon for a significant number of cats so it's nothing to get unduly concerned about.
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page was last Updated: 04/05/2010 12:05:21 |
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