Cat Health Guide

Dealing with cat stomach pain might prove to be somewhat tricky. The first “obstacle” is determining if your cat is indeed feeling stomach ache. You can look for related symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Let’s take a look at these cases that can cause pain:

Diarrhea can be caused by many things, including diet changes, infections and even stress. When talking to your vet about this problem you should also recall what food has your cat eaten in the last few days.

Constipation, just like in us humans, can cause acute stomach pain in cats. To avoid cat constipation problems, a good idea is to always give your cat plenty of water and fiber in the diet.

Hairballs are also a quite common problem in cats that can cause stomach ache as they build up in the stomach. Hairball problems will also cause vomiting. There are products in the market that can minimize greatly the appearance of such hair balls.

Other conditions and problems that can bring cat stomach pain are:

• Bloating
• Arsenic Poisoning
• Lead Poisoning
• Salmonella
• Feline Panleukopenia
• Ascites

As you can see, stomach pain can be the symptoms of more serious conditions. In the common cases of diarrhea, constipations and hairballs, prevention is key on dealing with cat stomach pain. In the rest of cases and conditions listed. The best way to deal with the pain must be directed by the vet, who will take into account the underlying problem.

A common – and regular – cat health problem we must have to deal with as cat owners is the appearance of cat hairballs, also called furballs and hair-balls. Many people at first don’t know about this regular problem and they end up disgusted but what appears to be a ball of wet poop. The sole act of expulsing the cat hairball can bring concern as you see your cat hacking and vomiting.

What is a Hairball and Why do Cats Cough Hairballs?

Cat hairballs are big balls made of fur that are formed in the stomach of your cat or kitty. This is caused because cats are always grooming themselves, and well, this means a lot of licking, and although their tongues are their effective tools to groom, a lot of fur ends up getting stuck on them. If you have a cat with long hair, the chances of a hairball forming multiply by the way.

This is a cat hairball

Normally, when a cat swallows hair, it can go through the digestive system without noticing it, you’ll only know your cat has a hairball when it is expelled. A cat hairball looks like a wet sausage-like form on the floor.

Preventing Cat Hairballs

You can help your kitty or cat reduce hairball problems by brushing your cat regularly – thus helping to remove the excess fur he might swallow. In the case of a kitten, it is preferably to brush daily, so you’ll build the habit of brushing your cat, making things easier in the long run. You have to know also when it is shedding season in your zone, because it is critical to brush your cats at this stage t avoid furballs.

A good diet will also help preventing cat hairball problems, as it will help keeping the coat in good shape, preventing excessive shedding.  Keep also in mind that shedding increases when your cat feels stressed.

How Cats Deal With Hairballs?

When a cat licks off their hair, it goes through their digestive system to then be eliminated. There are times, though when the amount of fur in the cat’s belly becomes to big to be eliminated in their stool, so the cat vomits the hairball.

Cats also have an instinct to know what helps them, so in this case, they sometimes eat grass outdoors to help passing the hairball.

Complications of a Cat Hairball

Hairballs in cats - Prevention is key

There are cases where a cat or kitten is unable to eliminate the hairball through the stool or vomiting, in these cases a blockage in the intestine can form, producing constipation.  You should seek a veterinary immediately because sometimes the only way to get rid of the hairball is through surgery.