While I love all animals, I've never personally owned a cat. I can thank my dad for that as he swore to me for years that he was deathly allergic to them and therefore we couldn't have one in the house. I, of course, found out years later that this wasn't the case; rather, he just simply didn't want a cat.
Even though I never had my own cat, my friends did and, over the years, I became very familiar with those gooey little lumps of hair that they would frequently vomit. I felt so sorry for the cats because not only did it appear gut wrenching, I certainly wouldn't want that in my belly.
So what actually is a hairball and why do cats get them?
Well, we all know cats groom themselves every day by licking their hair and, as a result, ingest a certain amount. And because hair is not digestible, it can accumulate into a small lump called a "hairball." These hairballs can irritate the cats stomach, thus causing them to vomit -- sometimes with the hairball, other times not. Hairballs can be persistent little devils so it's important you understand how to prevent and treat them. For more information on hairballs, click here.
I hope this has been educational. However, for those of you who know me well and what I like to write about, you've probably guessed my blog doesn't stop here. I believe that education is key to helping our pets live happier, healthier and subsequently longer lives. I also believe that sometimes a little dramatization can help emphasize a point, as long as that's all it is -- dramatization.
So for those of you who have seen our "Little Dog. Big Surprise" video, I hope you also enjoy our latest viral video called . . . you guessed it . . . HAIRBALL.
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