Tag Archives: Old age

3 tips to prevent and to avoid hairballs

Believe it or not, we almost never vomit hairballs. We are maybe fortunate, or then we benefit daily of all the measures which allow to reduce this natural phenomenon.

How do form hairballs ?

When we lick ourselves, the small harshness of our tongue collect impurities and dead hairs. As our papillae are directed to the back, hairs are brought in the direction of our throat, and we swallow them. Most of the time, these hairs get through our digestive system with no problem at all, and go out again with our dropping.

However, it can happen that hairs stay in our stomach and eventually agglomerate and form a hairball. Most of the time, it goes out again by where it entered : we vomit a kind of sausage of agglomerated hairs. But not always…
Zorro giving a bath to Pixie

What are the dangers of hairballs ?

If your cat refuses to eat or becomes lethargic, consult your veterinarian : hairballs can cause constipation, or worse, an intestinal obstruction which requires a surgical operation.

Long-haired cats and old cats are the most exposed to hairballs.

How to prevent and to avoid hairballs ?

  • Make sure that your cat drinks enough : the digestive system works better in a correctly hydrated cat.
  • Verify that his food contains enough fatty acids, especially Omega-3 : fatty acids help the digestive system to “slide » swallowed hairs towards the exit.
  • Brush your cat regularly : it’s the best prevention.

brushing toolsChoose the brush or the comb according to the hair of your cat. For short-haired cats, use a soft brush once a week. We love the Furminator (which exists for long or short hairs) at the seasons turned, when our coat changes. If you have a long-haired cat, our friend Cornelius and Elizabeth advise you here.

Are hairballs frequent at your home ? Have you other tips to prevent them ?

How to feed an old cat

With the age, the physical activity of the cat decreases, and its energy needs also. An adapted food will contribute to maintain him healthy. Here are the advice of our angel Isis :

  • Choose delicious and easily digestible food.
  • Split the meals.
  • Unless otherwise specified by the veterinarian, favor a top-quality wet food.
  • Watch a contribution being enough in vitamins : C and E for the immune system and against cellular ageing, D for skin and fur(so that your cat can synthesize the vitamin D, expose him a small moment to the sun if he doesn’t go there alone), and the rest of the alphabet for his general well-being.
  • Watch a regular contribution of glucosamin and chondroitin to protect his articulations and his musculoskeletal system (by means of a food complement with extract of green mussel for example).
  • Always put some fresh water in arrangement, and watch the consumption of your old cat. Consult the veterinarian if your cat drinks more than 100 ml / kg / day, it can be due to a problem of loins.

If your old cat loses weight without visible reason, he maybe has a toothache, or bellyache, or somewhere else : go to the veterinarian !

isis02
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How to help an old cat to stay clean

isis03Hercule08With the age, your cat can have some difficulty having a wash because he gained weight, because he has osteoarthritis, because he has teeth problems, or because he is sick. His hairs begin to clump, his rear and his ears begins to smell, and he can develop other diseases.

To prevent discomfort and health problems bound to the lack of hygiene, the bean of an old cat has to help him to wash if he does not manage to do it alone.

  • Observe your cat when he gets older : don’t wait until he’s disgusting to ask yourself if he needs help for his wash.
  • A daily attention is absolutely necessary.
  • Brush your old cat softly every day ; this brushing can be followed by a passage with a warm wet dish mop if your cat doesn’t finish to groom himself all alone.
  • Our angel Isis had dingleberries all year long : with round-ended scissors, Claire delicately cut the hairs of her rear to have a well cleared zone around her “rosette”. That made the veterinarian laugh when he saw this magnificent Persian cat with her rear all flat, but that allowed to avoid having every day droppings taken in fur. Trim regularly his rear, and maintain the zone clean by brushing it and by cleaning it with a wet dish mop.
  • Once a week, also check more attentively his eyes, his ears, his mouth, and the general state of the skin to spot the first signs of an affection which could require a veterinary treatment. Our angel Hercule adored that we clean him the auricle ! You can use a compress soaked with camomile to clean eyes which flow a little.
  • Once a month, clip carefully his claws.
  • If your old cat struggles, don’t take the risk of hurting him and ask for help the veterinarian.

A last word about baths : if your cat has already had baths regularly, why not to give him one from time to time, but should the opposite occur, especially not : it would be far too stressful for him !
Zorro137
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