Cat Hairballs: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Table Of Content What Causes Cat Hairballs? Senior Pet Care: How Financing Can Help You Prepare Strange Places That Cats Hide: Olga’s Preferred Spots Manage Medical Records Therefore, when used sparingly, a tiny amount of petroleum jelly or similar gel-based hairball treatment marketed for cats can reduce hairballs from being expelled the wrong way. Some pet owners may confuse a true cough with an attempt to throw up a hairball. If your cat is making a “hacking” noise, but no hairball is coming up, your cat may be coughing, which can be a sign of a respiratory issue and requires a vet exam. What Causes Cat Hairballs? Hazardous Potential Hairballs are the unsavory by-product of a normal habit. This happens because the tiny backward-slanted projections (papillae) that roughen the surface of her tongue propel the hair down her throat and into her stomach. Unfortunately, Dr. Goldstein explains, the main structural component of the hair — a tough, insoluble protein substance cal...