Call Us! Button

Request an Appointment Button

Hairball Awareness Day
April 15, 2020

April 26 th is Hairball Awareness Day! We know, hairballs aren’t really something to celebrate. Hug Your Cat Day and Cuddly Kitten Day are much more fun to talk about. However, hairballs are a fairly common issue in our feline pals. Therefore, it is important for people owned by cats to know why hairballs form, and when they are more than a nuisance. A Norwalk, CA vet discusses hairballs below.

Hairball Basics

Our feline friends are very clean, which is one reason they make such great pets. Fluffy will carefully groom herself, keeping that pretty fur soft and shiny. You also don’t have to bathe your cat, though you can if you want to, assuming your vet doesn’t object. On the downside, we have hairballs. Hairballs form when cats swallow too much of their own fur while cleaning themselves. Kitties can’t digest their own fur. We probably don’t have to tell you what happens next. Suffice it to say, it’s not the best part of having a cat.

Preventing Hairballs

There are some things you can do to reduce the amount of hairballs your furry buddy gets. Brushing your kitty every day will help. This will remove dead fur and dander from her coat before she swallows it. (Less dead fur on your cat means less dead fur in your cat.) Keeping your kitty inside can also help. Indoor cats aren’t as exposed to the seasonal changes that trigger shedding cycles as outdoor felines. You may also need to put your pet on a hairball preventative. Another thing that is important is keeping up with Fluffy’s parasite control. Last but not least, a good diet is also crucial. Proper nutrition will help keep your cat’s coat shiny and healthy, and will reduce the amount of hair she sheds.

Complications

Hairballs are often ‘purr for the course’ with our feline companions. However, they aren’t always harmless. If Fluffy can’t throw up her hairball, it could become lodged in her intestines. This can cause painful and potentially life-threatening blockages. Excessive vomiting, reduced appetite, dry heaving, and/or a sudden increase in hairballs are all red flags. Call your vet right away if you notice any of these warning signs, or anything else out of the ordinary.

Please feel free to contact us, your local Norwalk, CA vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!

  • All
  • Cat Care
  • Dog Care
  • General Care
  • Uncategorized

5 Easy Ways To Support Good Animal Actor Welfare

Pets In Film Day is June 19th! Animal movies can do a lot of good…
Read More

Tips For Fostering Pets

Did you know that June is Foster A Pet Month? If you love animals, fostering…
Read More

Fun Facts About Fluffy

Kitties certainly are very fun and mysterious little pets. As it turns out, these little…
Read More

Wildfire Preparation

Saturday, May 7th, is Wildfire Preparation Day. That’s definitely a topic that’s relevant to those…
Read More

Lost Dog Awareness

April 23rd is National Lost Dog Awareness Day. We know, it’s probably more fun to…
Read More

Heartworm Awareness Month

April is Heartworm Awareness Month. We know, heartworms aren’t the most enjoyable topic to read…
Read More

5 Ways To Keep Your Puppy Safe

March 23rd is National Puppy Day! Puppies are definitely something to celebrate! There are few…
Read More

Senior Cat Safety

Is your feline friend aged ten or older? If so, you have a furry little…
Read More

Conserving Water With Fido

Here in California, droughts and water conservation have been hot topics over the past few…
Read More
1 2 3 4 5 13

Request an Appointment