Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog

We all know that doggos are the best, 12/10 paw-some. The dogtors at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital sez that cattos are pretty cool, too, though, and we are inclined to believe them. Did you know that even though dem purr-buckets say dem is okay, sometimes they need hoomans help, too? Lucky for you, we are gonna do you an educate and tell you all there is to know about cat wellness care. 

You can hear the cat retching and you race to grab the paper towels. You know what’s coming, the dreaded hairball extrusion. There it is, on your freshly washed comforter, a log of compacted hair wet with bile and kitty’s digestive juices. Disgusting? Yes. A health problem? Maybe. What you don’t know about hairballs could be dangerous for your cat.

Why Do Cats Get Hairballs?

Your cat will inevitably develop hairballs because their grooming practices cause them to swallow strands of fur. Usually, the hairs will pass through their digestive system and be eliminated in the litter box. But sometimes, the hairs don’t make it out of the cat’s stomach. When that happens, the hair strands collect in clumps and need to be ejected in some other way. Hack. Hack. Hack.

It’s not always the easiest thing to grasp what your cat is doing – or why. Sure, they can have some odd or questionable proclivities, but if you’re hip to feline behavior and good at reading their body language, you’ll have a better time understanding what drives them. 

The concept of whisker fatigue is on the periphery for most cat owners, yet it’s something that can cause intense distress for their furry friends.

Amazing Anatomy

Cat whiskers are absolutely incredible. Aside from sending messages to the brain about a cat’s surroundings, these powerful vibrissae detect air currents, allow cats to hunt accurately, help them jump and climb with precision, and inform them when it’s time to blink or retreat from a space. They also inform others of a cat’s mood. 

If you’ve had your cat since they were a kitten, you might look back at those early years with nostalgia. Yet, there’s really nothing like living in syncopation with an older cat. They might be set in their ways, sure, but they are also carefully attuned with the rhythms and patterns of the household. 

However familiar they may be, senior cat care isn’t anything to take for granted. Your aging or senior cat’s ongoing good health stems from your continual assessment and staying in front of any age-related issues.

Very few of us feline fanciers get away with not cleaning up a hairball or two (or two hundred) in our lifetime. You can hear it a mile away, that low hack that comes from the living room or on our bed with that fancy new quilt we just purchased… While it is easy to assume the common hairball is the cause of a kitty cough, it may instead be a persistent cough or frequent vomiting that can indicate underlying health issues.

There are numerous reasons for our cat to cough, sneeze, or vomit. Certainly, determining factors such as frequency, duration, recent exposure to boarding facilities or other animals, and overall health need to be considered before assuming it is a simple matter. Continue…