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All cats do it\u2014they cough up hairballs\u2014also known as tridrobezoars or bezoars. What are they, where do they come from, and why are we celebrating them?<\/p>\nAll cats do it\u2014they cough up hairballs\u2014also known as tridrobezoars or bezoars. What are they, where do they come from, and why are we celebrating them?<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve had a cat for any length of time, you\u2019ve probably found gooey brown, tube-shaped blobs on your floor or furniture ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/oliviabed2-225x300.jpg\")
occasionally and wondered where that came from. Or you see your cat actually coughing one up and rush her to the vet\u2014or get on the computer to find out how long your cat has to live.<\/p>\n
You should know that this hacking up of what looks like a whole mouse is usually nothing to be concerned ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CatMollie-225x300.jpg\")
about. It\u2019s a normal function of a healthy cat\u2014although you could diminish the yakking and hacking process and the experience of stepping on one of those icky, squishy things in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s why that happens: the cat licks her fur, the fur ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Smokey2021-225x300.jpeg\")
collects in her digestive system, and she eventually vomits it up.<\/p>\n
If you have cats and you haven\u2019t seen one of these, you probably will at some point. Some cats will pass the fur into the litter box\u2014you know, it comes out the other end. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever found one from Olivia and ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/OliviaMouth-225x300.jpg\")
she\u2019s furry and a fastidious groomer, so she might be passing hers\u00a0 through her stool.<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t stomach those bezoars around your house, you can help mitigate the situation by simply brushing your cat more often. There are also special foods and remedies to help a cat pass the fur so it doesn\u2019t accumulate in their system. Check it out.<\/p>\n
By the way, National Hairball Awareness day was April 29, just in case you want to mark it on your calendar for next year.<\/p>\n
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All cats do it\u2014they cough up hairballs\u2014also known as tridrobezoars or bezoars. What are they, where do they come from, and why are we celebrating them? If you\u2019ve had a cat for any length of time, you\u2019ve probably found gooey … Continue reading