To minimize hairballs, long-haired cats usually need to be brushed often, daily if possible.Ĭats of all hair lengths who are prone to hairballs may benefit from a special diet (hairball control diets or a cat food with the right fiber balance) or from supplements that are designed to help hair move along through the digestive tract (Laxatone is a popular choice). How many hairballs are too many? There’s no exact rule, but many vets agree that a hairball more often than once per month is cause for investigation into a cat’s digestive health. So, too many hairballs can be a symptom of an underlying health or digestive problem. However, with the exception of long-haired breeds, cats evolved to ingest some hair during grooming, then pass it out harmlessly in their stool. Hairballs are vomited from the stomach rather than coughed up, so you may also hear retching or heaving. It might sound like coughing or wheezing initially, but the term “coughing up a hairball” is technically incorrect. You’ll probably also recognize the characteristic sounds of a cat bringing up a hairball. Food and digestive fluids are commonly vomited up alongside the hairball, too. You can recognize hairballs as vomit that contains significant amounts of hair, usually formed into tube or cylinder-like shapes. Here, we’ll cover some of the most common causes. There are dozens (maybe even hundreds) of causes of stomach/intestinal upset in cats. So, even just one or two of these signs can be a cause for concern. A change in behavior, such as lethargy/listlessness, grumpiness, playing less often, or hiding.Ĭats usually won’t have all these symptoms at once.Abdominal pain (you may notice a hunched posture, overgrooming of the abdomen, or your kitty getting upset when you try to pick them up).Or, they could be subtle and develop gradually over time.īelow are some of the most common clinical signs you may see: Symptoms of Cat Digestive Issuesĭigestive issues (also known as gastrointestinal or GI issues) may be obvious and sudden. Here are some important things to know about cat digestive system problems. So, at what point do vomiting, diarrhea, or other digestive issues become a concern? And, how many hairballs are too many? And most cat owners know what it’s like to wake up to the sound of a hairball in the middle of the night. It’s one of the most common conditions that veterinarians treat. ApCat Digestive Problems: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and TreatmentĪn occasional episode of upset stomach isn’t all that unusual in felines.
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