Help Your Cat Avoid a 'Hairy' Situation; and Let Hubbard Pet Resort & Spa Lend a Hand with Professional Grooming Services

For cats, ingesting large amounts of hair from self-grooming can create hairballs, and may cause complications with digestion.

Most hair swallowed is usually expelled in the stool. Problems develop when the hair does not pass through the system. A hairball forms in the stomach and that means the cat will likely vomit it up after coughing and choking.

The worst-case scenario is when hairballs block the intestinal tract. If this happens, they cannot be vomited, or excreted through the other end of the system.

Here are signs to watch for that may indicate a major hairball intestinal blockage:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting of food not fully digested
• Unable to defecate
• Dry retching
• Swollen abdomen

Visit your veterinarian immediately if you see your cat experiencing these symptoms. Remember, one way to minimize hairball problems is to brush your cat on a regular basis to remove loose hair. A little care can go a long way to keeping your cat happy and healthy!

At Hubbard Pet Resort & Spa, we not only board cats (and dogs), we groom them, too! Call us at 330-534-1200 for details.