{"id":482,"date":"2020-07-10T18:15:43","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T18:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senhorgato.com\/?p=482"},"modified":"2021-09-23T17:10:23","modified_gmt":"2021-09-23T17:10:23","slug":"bola-de-pelo-se-lamber-e-ingerir-pelos-e-prejudicial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senhorgato.com\/en\/bola-de-pelo-se-lamber-e-ingerir-pelos-e-prejudicial\/","title":{"rendered":"Hairball: is licking and ingesting fur harmful?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Looking at a hairball can be agonizing, even cleaning it doesn't seem to be so pleasant after all. Just thinking about it coming out of your cat gives you chills. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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However, it's a common problem in cats, especially those very fluffy, full of hair.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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As common as it is, it's important to keep an eye out, as they can cause intestinal blockage, which can become a serious health issue for your little animal.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Gato
Cleaning time!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>
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What is a hairball?<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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When a cat grooms itself and starts grooming without licking it all over, it is removing all the loose hair on its body. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Its tongue is rough, it has tiny structures that catch the loose and dead hairs of its coat and, consequently, are swallowed. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Most of these hairs pass through the entire gastrointestinal tract without any problems. But, from time to time, they can accumulate in the stomach, forming a hairball.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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When this happens, the stomach outlet region is blocked. In this way, the food cannot be digested and is expelled through vomiting. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Your cat will vomit the hairball that has formed in the stomach, which could also be a mixture of hair and semi-digested food.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"bola
Cat with choking and vomiting signs<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>
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Long haired breeds are the most susceptible to hairballs. Also, cats that shed a lot of hair or compulsively groom themselves are more likely to suffer from hairballs, as they end up swallowing a lot of hair.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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When does hairball become a serious problem?<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Cats' intestines are primed to process hair, both their own and prey. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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Therefore, it is not common to observe a high frequency of hairballs in a healthy cat.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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In normal situations, all ingested hair should be eliminated in the stool. <\/p>\n<\/div>

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However, in coat shedding seasons (spring and autumn) and in the case of furrier cats, it is common to expect the feline to orally eliminate up to one hairball per week.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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If you notice an abnormal frequency of hairballs or the symptoms below, contact your trusted veterinarian, as these may indicate that your cat has a blockage that is threatening its health:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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