There are many delights to owning a fluffy furball and it is quite impossible to list them all. However, we are pretty sure hairballs don’t make it to the list. If you are a cat owner, you know the discomfort of walking in bare feet over cat hair scattered indoors and the time and effort needed to clean up the mess.
Finding hair clumps is expected in a cat household. However, prolonged fur loss isn’t a sign of best health. You should meet your vet if you notice unusual shedding in your feline pet. Excessive fur loss indicates potential skin conditions, allergies, or other health issues that might require testing, treatments, and medications.
While shedding hair is a problem in itself, swallowing hairballs can be another problem cat owners must deal with. You can expect gastrointestinal issues if your cat is prone to swallowing hairballs. You should consider being armed with cat insurance for these and many other health emergencies. Assess your cat’s health needs, inquire about pet insurance cost, request and compare quotes to buy a cat policy quickly online.
In the meantime, read this article to learn some ways to prevent hairballs in your pet cat.
1.Regular grooming
Grooming is an essential part of a cat’s routine. So, include regular grooming sessions into your daily/weekly schedule to get rid of dead hair that would have otherwise entered your furball’s tummy. Brushing is crucial for cats with long hair and during the shedding season. A brief grooming session daily helps you bond with your cat and minimize the quantity of hair it swallows on a typical day.
2.Ensuring hydration
Provide your fur baby access to fresh drinking water to ensure hydration. Your fur baby needs fluids to digest its stomach contents and help eliminate fur from the system. This way, hairballs don’t accumulate in the tummy, obstruct the intestines, and conveniently pass out of the body.
3.Offering fiber-rich food
Include a significant portion of the fiber in your cat’s diet to promote bowel movement and digestive health. Also, talk to your vet to learn about specifically formulated pet food that helps prevent hairballs in the stomach. It is one workable solution to help a fur baby repeatedly suffering from gulping hairballs.
4.Using a lubricant
Despite all your efforts, if your cat still has trouble eliminating hairballs stuck in the stomach, consider using a flavored lubricant paste or gel that helps with the easy passage of the hairballs. These lubricants contain probiotics that enhance digestive health and make tasty treats for your cat.
With a bit of supervision, you can work towards minimizing hairball troubles for your cat. However, if any amount of effort is not fetching results and your fur baby constantly suffers from pain and discomfort due to hairball ingestion, it could be time for a vet trip.
Cat insurance helps support your cat with quality medical care during unplanned vet visits and health emergencies. Depending on the level of cover you choose, your fur baby can avail of various health benefits with little economic hassles. It is worth noting that pet insurance cost can be much lesser than the upfront vet bills you might need to pay during distressing health scenarios. So, why not consider buying a policy to protect your pet and your savings in the bank account?
