Hairball Symptoms Cat Lovers Must Know

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If you're a cat lover like me, there's little that's more important than the good health of your favorite feline. It goes without saying that part of being a cat lover is taking a proactive approach to your pet's health. That means finding and building a good relationship with a local veterinarian in the event of a medical emergency. It also means learning enough about common medical issues to be able to identify them and take the appropriate action to ensure your cat's good health.

One of the most common medical conditions in cats is the hairball. Hairballs are the unintended consequence of a cat's preoccupation with grooming. Because cats clean themselves quite frequently by licking their fur, they invariably ingest some of their own hair. While most of the hair a cat swallows passes through the digestive tract unimpeded, hair can collect in the stomach, where, much like a ball of string, it becomes entwined.

In most cases, cats are able to take care of a hairball on their own simply by vomiting. Hairballs, however, can grow to a size that your cat cannot pass or vomit. When this happens, a hairball can cause a serious and even life-threatening blockage of the digestive tract. Common symptoms include unproductive retching or heaving, a change in eating habits or digestion, or even a swollen abdomen. If you notice symptoms like these, take your cat to the vet right away.

A good ballpark estimate is that about 25 percent of all digestive blockages in cats are the result of unpassed hairballs. Fortunately, serious problems can often be avoided by taking a proactive approach that emphasizes prevention. If your cat seems to have an abnormally high incidence of hairballs, a prophylactic chat with your vet is in order. He or she may recommend a high fiber diet or prescribe medication that will lubricate your cat's digestive track. Cats like the taste of the flavored meds, which can prevent hairballs from forming at all.

A good relationship with a qualified veterinarian is important should your cat ever require professional care for hairballs or other ailments. Regular visits to the vet, even when there's no emergency, can add many years to the life of your favorite feline. Finding a good vet in your area is often as easy as asking a fellow cat owner for a recommendation. If you've recently moved or don't know another cat owner, check your online yellow pages for a list of qualified vets in your neighborhood.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

Matt Paolini is a cat lover and Managing Editor of Citybook.com, the Internet's leading family-safe yellow pages directory. Locate a veterinarian in your neighborhood using CityBook.com's online yellow pages.

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