Hairballs can cause health issues for your cat, and at the very least they make for a nasty mess. But it is not as if you can, or would want to keep your cat from self-grooming. It is not possible to eliminate hairballs entirely. So how can you help your cat suffer as few hairballs as possible? Read on to learn about how hairballs form, how you can tell if your cat has one that requires medical attention, and what you can do to help your cat out.

There is no need to be worried or baffled if your kitten never coughed up a hairball, and then your full grown cat is now producing hairballs with a sudden regularity. As your cat matures, hairballs are simply the result of their becoming better groomers. This, of course, means their tongues are getting better at collecting fur.

Grooming is something that helps your cat stay healthy. Hairballs are simply an unfortunate but unavoidable side effect. His or her tongue will pick up stray hairs, and then they will swallow these. A hairball will start to take shape from the small percentage of hair that does not get passed through the digestive tract. How can you tell if a cat is coughing up a hairball? This may be simple enough to detect as your cat violently coughs or gags, and then vomits. But there are cases where a hairball can seriously threaten your cat's health, even their life. This can occur when a hairball creates a blockage in the intestines. These are the signs that indicate it is time to make an immediate phone call to a veterinarian:

• Your cat continues to gag, hack, even vomit, and still no hairball comes out
• They lose their appetite
• They are listless and fatigued
• They are constipated or have diarrhea

So you want to monitor your cat's health in this way, knowing that hairballs are a natural part of a cat's life. Still, you can take action to help your cat (and your floor) suffer through fewer hairballs:

You can groom your cat yourself, and on a frequent basis. Every bit of fur you comb away from your cat is that much less that they can swallow. And brush or comb every day can also give you quality time with your pet. Now this may not be feasible for every cat. If your cat is fussy and will not let you comb them, then you could always take your cat to a professional groomer twice a year. A routine hair cut from a professional can be particularly beneficial in the case of cats with long hair.

Feed your cat "hairball formula". Now, as always, you should consult a veterinarian before you make any serious changes to your cat's diet. But you can ask about feeding your cat specially made cat food that is meant to keep hairballs to a minimum through a diet that is rich in fiber, helping hairballs to go through your cat's digestive tract. These formulas can also produce healthier fur and less shedding. Other supplements that could help cats pass hairballs through their digestive tracts include mild laxatives.

While you do not want to stop your cat from grooming entirely, you should stop your cat if you notice that they are grooming themselves an inordinate amount. If you get your cat a new toy, you can turn their attention to a new way to entertain themselves, or to spend some fun bonding time with you.

If you ever have concerns about the health or behavior of your cat, be sure to find the answers you need from a health expert. You can find the vet you need on our directory today!