UrbanAnimal

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Dear UrbanAnimal,

My five-year old cat, Muffin, began having problems with hairballs last summer and although I've changed her food to one that claims to help with this problem, she's still vomiting masses of fur and I often find bits of fur stuck in her feces in the litter box. I tried a malt-based hairball eliminator product but she doesn't like the taste. Any other suggestions?

Margie

Dear Margie,

A hairball is basically a mass of fur that forms in the cat's stomach. Cats are generally fastidious groomers and since their tongues are covered with tiny barbs, a remarkable amount of fur will be ingested, especially if the cat is a particularly compulsive groomer or her coat is extra long or thick. This hair should be eliminated through stool but sometimes the mass becomes too large and can only be passed via regurgitation.

The problem with hairballs (outside of the social issues involved when Muffin hacks up a good one when your dinner party is in full swing), is they can be extremely dangerous.

If it's not eliminated through vomiting or defecation, the mass may cause an intestinal blockage leading to constipation which, if not treated, may result in surgery for removal.

A cat with recurring hairballs should be monitored carefully and symptoms such as constipation, depression or lack of appetite should be reported to your veterinarian immediately.

A hairball is usually dark in colour and shaped like a sausage or cigar and can be mistaken for, well, something that should be found in a litter box as opposed to on your Persian carpet.

The mass consists of hair bound together with undigested fat picked up in Muffin's stomach. When veterinary scientists discovered that fat was the binding agent, they worked to find a food-grade fat emulsifier to break down the fat making it less able to trap hair travelling through the stomach.

Their efforts resulted in the proliferation of current cat foods and other products available to aid in the prevention and elimination of hairballs.

While some people believe that a high-fibre diet can also help, others worry that additional fibre may create other health issues. While the jury is out, your veterinarian is your best source to discuss various remedies and preventive measures that may be available through a palatable diet and supplements.

In the meantime, you can help Muffin lose some of that excess hair at the source by brushing and combing her regularly with special attention during the shedding months from early spring to late summer.

Many cats also shed profusely when they're stressed (changes to environment such as moving, travel, veterinary visits, a new family member or pet, or illness) or are fed a low-quality diet.

UrbanAnimal isn't in the business of promoting any particular product but I can't miss this opportunity to recommend a grooming tool called The Furminator. After hearing glowing testimonials from professional groomers and owners of both dogs and cats, I purchased a Furminator for my own hairy menagerie last week and I'm absolutely delighted with the results.

This is a hand-held de-shedding tool that looks like a fine-toothed comb with a fancy handle and when I purchased it, I couldn't see how it could possibly be more effective than all the other grooming tools currently available.

After seeing the amount of hair easily removed from both my cats and dog and their "Do it more!" response, I'm a believer. Available in a variety of sizes (starting at around $30) plus a super-sized version for horses, you can purchase The Furminator at most pet supply stores or obtain more information at www.furminator.com.

 

E-mail jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.