Gagging Fur Balls in Felines

Most of the hair collected on your feline's rough tongue passes through the digestive system without an issue. But the fur is sometimes collected in the cat's throat, which causes the animal to gag. Long-haired breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons are more susceptible to fur balls than other, shorter-haired cats.

 

Cause

Cats are victims of fur balls because they clean their coats with their tongue. Unlike a dog, which usually only cleans its bum with its tongue, a cat cleans its entire body of fur, which often causes it to gag. Cats are particularly susceptible to gagging when they shed during the summer months, and the hair is collected on their tongue before finding its way to the throat and stomach.

 

Deposit

Fur balls are often deposited around the house, and this can be unsightly. After the cat gags for a while, perhaps for days, the fur ball usually surfaces and falls out from the mouth. If the fur ball doesn't come out of the animal's mouth, it can cause intestinal blockages. The feline eventually vomits the hair ball and stops gagging. Other times, the fur can find its way to the stomach and cause complications.

 

Age

Chances are, the older your cat is, the more it gags. This is because the feline becomes more adept at grooming as it ages. When the animal is a kitten, it doesn't likely gag because the hair on the feline's body is more secure to the skin. Cats also tend to develop compulsive grooming habits as they age, which increases the amount of fur the animal consumes.

 

Events

Shortly after your cat gags, it likely vomits a fur ball. But sometimes it can take days before the animal stops gagging, and is finally relieved by placing a healthy amount of slimy hair on your floor or furniture. Other symptoms that indicate your cat has a fur ball include vomiting, retching and hacking. The animal may lose its appetite, be constipated, have diarrhea or lethargy.

 

Stomach Fur Balls

Cats spend approximately 10 percent of their waking hours cleaning themselves with their tongues. This lengthy period causes your cat to collect a lot of hair, some of which makes its way to the stomach. When the cat vomits the hair, you can see the fur in various areas of the vomit. Sometimes the hair only irritates the stomach and only food and liquid comes out of the animal's mouth.