{"id":1931,"date":"2017-04-17T19:05:49","date_gmt":"2017-04-17T23:05:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=1931"},"modified":"2018-07-27T14:14:10","modified_gmt":"2018-07-27T18:14:10","slug":"hairballs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/hairballs\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wonderful World of Hairballs! Your Questions Answered"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It\u2019s a rare cat owner who gets away without cleaning up a hairball or two (or many, many more). Most feline fanciers are more than familiar with the telltale low hacking sound that accompanies a soggy, hairy, unidentifiable mess on their couch, bed, or new cashmere sweater.<\/p>\n

Have you ever wondered why cats produce hairballs? Is it normal? Is it healthy? Can anything be done to stop–or at least reduce–the amount of hairballs produced? Look no further; your friends at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services<\/a> have everything you\u2019ve ever wanted to know about hairballs right here!<\/p>\n

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What Is a Hairball?<\/h3>\n

Your cat swallows a good amount of fur as he or she carefully grooms that lush coat. Cat fur is not digestible, even by cats<\/a>, so the hair will eventually collect in the digestive tract, where it forms a hairball (also known by the scientific term \u201ctrichobezoars\u201d.<\/p>\n

Hairballs are not actually ball shaped; rather they are cylindrical, taking the shape of the cat\u2019s esophagus as they are regurgitated. Long-haired cats are more prone to hairballs, although no cat is immune.<\/p>\n

Can Hairballs Be Prevented?<\/h3>\n

You may not be able to completely prevent hairballs, but you can help to cut down on their occurrence in the following ways:<\/p>\n