Today, we honor hairballs everywhere!

There is a certain hacking, coughing sound that most cat owners know all too well. This unpleasant sound signals only one thing: Your cat is about to deposit a fresh hairball on the carpet. Over 38 million U.S. households own at least one cat, so certainly many, many people are aware of hairballs. But did you know that today, April 30, is National Hairball Awareness Day (NHAD)?

When a cat coughs up a hairball, it is actually choking. This hacking can be very dangerous and can cause death in some cases. Cats will overgroom themselves, especially in the spring during peak shedding season. To reduce the hair and the hack, many veterinarians recommend proactive grooming with a product like the FURminator Shedding Tool for cats to help lessen the amount of hair ingested. This is a more holistic approach for reducing hairballs rather than altering a cat’s diet with specially formulated food or giving it a harsh laxative to flush out the hair in its digestive system. You can also add a little canned pumpkin to a cat’s meal once or twice a week. The fiber in the pumpkin can help move any hair clods through its system. Specially formulated hairball-control foods and treats have a similar affect.

Cats have primal instincts and the location of their water bowl can prove it. In the wild, a cat would never drag its kill to a watering hole to eat and drink at the same time. House cats have inherited this same instinct. Owners should keep a cat’s water and food bowls in separate locations. The cat will drink more water, which will help its system clean itself of ingested hair.

A cat’s age can affect how they shed. As a kitten matures, its coat changes in several ways: texture, thickness, curl and coloring. This transition may take up to two years depending on the breed. Once a kitten’s coat has matured, it will begin to shed more by dropping its “kitten coat.” Consult with a veterinarian or groomer on the cat’s changing grooming needs.

Keep cats active to stay healthy; they’re athletes at heart. A healthy cat can jump as much as seven times its height. Unfortunately, 21 percent of cats are considered obese or overweight by their veterinarians. Active play with interactive toys encourages cats to leap, stretch and stay active, increasing balance and coordination while also helping your pet maintain a healthy skin and coat.

Joking aside, hairballs are a bummer for cats and can cause vomiting, loss of appetite and constipation in your kitty. Spare your cat from these problems by following these handy guidelines. Learn more about important cat grooming at Cats 101:

1. Brush your cat daily, especially while she's shedding, to help prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach.
2. Use a bristle or rubber brush for shorthaired cats.
3. Brush longhaired felines with a wide-toothed comb or wire slicker brush.
4. Feed your cat a "hairball control" cat food high in vegetable fiber, or administer a commercial hairball prevention preparation available from your veterinarian or at pet stores.

A thanks goes out to Barking at the Moon blog, for the heads up!
http://www.barkingatthemoon-lunakris.blotspot.com/