How you can help your cat with digesting its hair
Even when not in the seasonal moulting period as it gets warmer, cats are always replacing their fur. You can’t miss the lost hair from a Norwegian Forest cat, that of a Cornish Rex does not take as much effort to sweep up. While cleaning, cats will always swallow some of the hair that comes loose. The hair passes through the digestive system and comes out the other end without much change to it. When there is a lot of hair in the stomach though, it can be difficult for it to be moved on to the next digestive stage. The cat then vomits this hairball back up.
There are two main ways you can help prevent hairballs, especially on long-haired cats. The first is plenty of grooming with a brush. This removes much of the naturally lost hair and it never gets as far as the cat’s stomach. The other is to feed cat food that aids the digestion and passing through of hair. Grapeseed oil and Evening Primrose oil are known to support the natural passage of hair, which is why we add small functional amounts to 3coty® natural cat food. These oils also contribute omega-3 fatty acids that support overall well-being.
Does your cat suffer from hairballs? Have they improved since feeding 3coty® natural cat food?
Did you know?
In the wild, cats manage swallowed hair in a very natural way. They instinctively eat grass or certain leaves which stimulate the stomach and help bring up hair that cannot pass through the digestive system easily. Domestic cats share the same instinct because it is written into their DNA and shaped by thousands of years of evolution.
This natural behaviour is so deeply rooted that all cats, even those who swallow very little hair, will often nibble on grass when they see it. Wild cats chew grass or tender leaves to clear their stomachs of anything that should not remain there, including excess hair. Domestic cats respond in the same way when they encounter fresh greens. It is not a sign of illness but nature’s built in method for keeping the digestive system clear.
We might deal with indigestion by drinking herbal or mint tea, but this is not a treatment for our cats. Their natural solution is already built into their instincts.
