URBANANIMAL: Long-haired cats need help with hairballs

Dear UrbanAnimal,

Do you remember me? I wrote to you a few years ago when I was planning to adopt a Persian kitten. I didn't get the kitten at that time but I've adopted a 12-year-old Persian cat named Lucy from a shelter. She looks absolutely huge but she weighs only 13 pounds under all that hair, which is why I'm writing to you again. Lucy vomits hairballs at least once every day and I'm worried she's going to choke on them. I've been told to brush her daily but she hates the brush. I've been advised to feed her pumpkin but she won't touch it. Any other ideas?

Caryn

Is there anything more disconcerting than watching a cat heave up a hairball? The hunched-up body posture and the wracking and retching can appear to be life-threatening. But in a strong and healthy cat, it's "just" a hairball and it's perfectly normal.

It's a naturally occurring function that's meant to rid the body of hair that has accumulated in the stomach and needs to be expelled. The resulting icky wad of hair is vomited and, normally, that's the end of the problem for that particular mass of hair. No run to the vet is required unless, as you're seeing with Lucy, it becomes a daily event or the cat is showing signs of accompanying symptoms that could include constipation, changes in coat condition, coughing (especially after meals), disinterest in eating, depression or lethargy. It's a smart cat owner who recognizes these troubling signs and takes preventive measures such as daily brushing and dietary supplements. Lucy, typical cat that she is, doesn't appreciate brushing (unless it's her idea), and a 12-year-old cat who has never seen pumpkin will probably reject it with one sniff.

Cats are usually fastidious groomers. Their rough tongues sweep up dirt and excess hair. Out of sight, out of mind...in a perfect world, it ends up in the stomach, travels along the digestive tract and vacates with fecal matter.

Long-haired cats like Lucy are most likely to suffer a larger number of hairballs simply because there's a lot more hair to digest. This hair can become an irritating mass in the stomach, too large to pass through normal channels, so kitty vomits to get it out of her system.

Daily brushing gets rid of excess hair before it gets the chance to be swallowed and dietary fibre or some type of lubricant is often used by owners to help digest the hair that is swallowed. Fibre is often suggested in the form of pumpkin (not the type sold as pie filling), along with baby food formulas made with squash, tiny amounts of psyllium fibre (marketed for human consumption) and home-grown "cat grass" if the cat isn't allowed outside to eat lawn grass and bits of foliage, which help to move the hair through the system. Lubricant is sometimes suggested in the form of small amounts of butter or edible oil but caution is required when using these home remedies. It's important to check with your veterinarian to make sure you're making the right choice.

There are commercial cat foods available that can help, plus conventional and holistic "hairball remedies" that your vet may recommend. If chronic hairballs aren't dealt with properly, they can progress to dangerous levels, which can include surgery to remove them from the gastrointestinal tract. Any concerns should be discussed with your veterinarian.

You wrote that Lucy doesn't like to be brushed but since this is such an important factor in hairball avoidance, I hope you'll continue trying to gain her acceptance. Some cats just don't appreciate being brushed and need to be approached slowly and with lots of empathy. A full-body, daily brushing should be your goal, but it won't work if she hides under your bed when she sees the object of her discomfort.

Concentrate on de-sensitizing by stroking her very lightly by hand, scratching under her chin and using a calm and soothing voice to help her relax, but stop immediately when she's had enough. Offer her treats or play her favourite games after she has accepted even the smallest amounts of touching and stroking.

You may have to forget the brush for a few days or even weeks as Lucy becomes de-sensitized then slowly re-introduce the idea. Stroke her by hand then use the brush very lightly. Again, if she resists, stop, and try again tomorrow.

If she refuses to eat dietary supplements or foods meant to control hairballs, ask your veterinarian for more suggestions. There is most likely a product on the market that will appeal to her.

Good luck! Please keep in touch to let me know how Lucy progresses.

Email jacque-newman@rogers.com with a question, comment or suggestion.