The Gag is up! Taming your cat's hairballs

Long- or short-haired, large or small, we know cats are fastidious groomers. But there's a hairy side to being a clean feline-the cylindrical matted clump of cat fur known as a hairball.

These aren't just unsavoury nuisances; hairballs can lead to discomfort in cats. In severe cases, they may cause serious problems such as blockage of the digestive system.

How do hairballs form?

When cats lick themselves clean, they inevitably get loose hairs in their mouth which they swallow. Usually hairs will pass through the stomach and intestinal tract, but sometimes a large amount of hair will bunch together inside the stomach, forming a mass that can't pass through the digestive system. Unlike other species such as dogs, cats have a relatively smaller outflow opening from their stomach down to the intestine. And when the hairball doesn't go down, the cat will hack or retch to bring it up.

While it's normal for cats to bring up a hairball a few times a month, some cats may have trouble ridding themselves of them. This can lead to frequent hacking, constipation, and occasionally more serious blockage that may require surgery to remove. It's evident that prevention of hairballs is important for the health and well being of cats.

What can you do about hairballs?

While you may never be able to completely eliminate hairball occurrences, you can reduce their frequency. The most immediate and effective way is to brush your cat daily using a pet brush. Brushing helps remove loose hairs from their coat before they get to their mouth. Fortunately, many cats delight in being brushed, especially if it's introduced to them from early on.

You can also help your cat through what you feed them. TEMPTATIONS® Hairball Control formula is comprised of a special blend of fibres that make it easier to bind ingested hair. It is also formulated with special oil (food-grade petrolatum) that aids in the passage of hair in the stomach, and helps to pass it in the stool. This is a patented multi-faceted method, unique to TEMPTATIONS® Hairball Control treats, that helps to reduce the formation of hairballs inside the cat.

TEMPTATIONS® Hairball Control treats are also supplemented with zinc and linoleic acid for healthy skin and coat, and thereby helps manage shedding.

If problems persist, consult with your veterinarian to ensure your cat gets appropriate care for any health issues.