Fur-balls are a fairly common aspect of a cat's life. In the wild fur-balls are often ejected orally which is a natural feature developed as a means of coping with the fur eaten with mice and other similar animals. As most domesticated cats are fed a constant diet of tinned / packet food their fur-balls will nearly always be as a result of grooming their own coat. Although many cats can cope with a certain amount of fur ingestion some will take in large quantities which can lead to problems. Long haired cats are particularly at risk along with cats that live very inactive lives. Elderly and overweight cats are also often affected. Obsessive grooming due to stress, fleas and various skin irritations will also add to the problem. Once fur intake reaches higher than normal levels it will begin to build up in the stomach and cause bowel disorders.
Grooming is something cats do naturally. Their tongues are fairly rough and will pick up hair easily. As they can't really spit out the hair it is generally swallowed. In most cats this fur is passed through the stomach without any undue problems. It's much like hair which builds up in bathroom pipework, u-bends and the like, which will often be the one of the causes of a blockage. Your cat is obviously no job for a plumber but trapped hair in your cat's stomach can accumulate as it is continually taken in through grooming.
The action of ejecting a fur-ball may be a little alarming if you've never seen it happen before. Some cats will pass hair all the way through their systems and finally eject it in their faeces while others will dramatically vomit out a fur-ball. If your cat has fur-balls it may be noticeably lethargic and / or constipated. It's always worth visiting your vet in order to make certain you are not jumping to conclusions.
If its apparent fur-balls are a problem you may want to give thought to your cat's diet. Just as with humans an increase in fibre is usually a good thing. For bigger problems your vet may suggest a petroleum based laxative. Some such products contain a mixture of cod liver oil, malt extract and white soft paraffin. Sounds a bit of a peculiar mix but they are usually a good solution to the problem. Katalax is one such treatment which can be administered to adult cats as well as kittens. Dosage will depend mainly on the size of the cat. Sometimes treatment will need to be given every few days or increased during times when the cat is moulting.
Once your cat is free of fur-balls you should notice it pick up and quickly return to its normal routine. If your cat has had fur-balls it's worth monitoring them for repeat bouts. If the problem is recurring frequently your vet is best placed to investigate further. If recovery seems slow it may be that fur-balls have given rise to a stomach irritation which may take a bit longer for the cat to recover from.
