Tag Archives: hairballs

What a Hairball Looks Like

It looks a lot like poop, doesn’t it? For the first six years of living with Mr. Meow, every time I found one of these piles I thought he’d had an upset belly and hadn’t made it to the litter box in time. It wasn’t until 2005 that I learned what it really was: a hairball. “That’s a hairball?” In 2005, shortly after we moved to Nashville, the neighbor across the street befriended us. Her little boy loved Murphy and always begged her to stop by so he could say hi. Usually in the afternoons after they came back from … Continue reading →

When Is Vomiting An Emergency?

One truth of pet ownership: you’re going to have to deal with barf. And poop. And sometimes both. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sound of a hairball in progress, or a beloved pet yakking up her latest meal. Most times, vomiting or diarrhea isn’t an emergency. Sometimes pets just eat something that doesn’t sit right, or eat too fast, or just get too excited or nervous. Moose tends to get diarrhea after spending an afternoon running around with the energetic puppy Casey. All that play is just too much for his system to handle! Lally will sometimes … Continue reading →

Help For Hairballs

From time to time, your cat may share the joy of a hairball with you. Hairballs form from loose hair that gets swallowed. Cats are conscientious groomers, and are constantly dislodging fur from their coats. It’s only natural to swallow a few hairs! Over time, all that loose hair collects into a hairball, and is regurgitated. An occasional hairball is perfectly normal. In fact, once the hairball is out, the problem is pretty much solved! However, if your cat is presenting you with frequent hairballs, she may need a little help in eliminating hair buildup and preventing future problems. A … Continue reading →