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Q: What causes hairballs in cats and can I feed a diet that helps reduce hairball formation?
A: Hairballs are an accumulation of loose hair that is swallowed by a cat during the process of grooming. Cats with longer hair or cats that groom excessively are most prone to this condition. In most cases, hair that is ingested simply passes out in the stool with no problem. Sometimes, however, the swallowed hair will accumulate in the digestive system. Typical signs of a hairball include coughing, gagging, and occasional vomiting. The cat will most often vomit the hairball up. However, occasionally, the mass of hair that builds up can become large and firm and create a blockage in the digestive tract. This obstruction in the cats’ digestive tract may cause fever, a dry coat, constipation, reduced appetite, and weight loss. In this case, the blockage can become a serious medical problem and a veterinarian should be consulted. Cats with chronic hairball problems may benefit from a diet such as the new Exclusive™ Lite Hairball Formula designed to reduce the incidence of hairball formation.
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