Combat Fur Balls with Fish

Written by Doris Donnerman (last updated February 17, 2009)

The reason cats even get hairballs is that they groom themselves by licking, and because cats have a nasty tendency for excessive shedding, some of their hair gets onto their tongues and makes its way to their stomach with the rest of the things they eat. Hairballs, while common for cats, can have a negative impact on the animal's health. So how do you get rid of hairballs or at least minimize their occurrence?

There are a couple of ways you can combat the fur balls from which your cat may suffer. One of the tricks you may want to try is feeding your cat fish. You sometimes see cats stereotypically eating fish as a part of their meals, but in reality feeding your cat fish isn't such a bizarre thing. If you feed your cat sardines packed in oil every three or four weeks, you can significantly reduce the fur balls coughed up by your cat. The oil helps the hair move more quickly through the cat's digestive tract, so it will not have as much of a tendency to clump.

Hairballs are quite disgusting and I'm sure your cat would agree! So, any way you can help your cat avoid such an inevitability is something worth trying. We may not get too excited about sardines, but your cat will probably find it tasty, and it will help your cat combat the nasty fur balls!

Author Bio

Doris Donnerman

Doris is a jack of all trades, writing on a variety of topics. Her articles have helped enlighten and entertain thousands over the years. ...

MORE FROM DORIS

Tips for Plastic Containers

Over the years, kitchens tend to gather all sorts of things that seem to do nothing but add to clutter. Plastic ...

Discover More

Using Mirrors to Decorate

If you are looking for inexpensive, effective decorating tips, this article is for you. Learn to use mirrors as a great ...

Discover More

Cleaning Up After Potted Plants

Potted plants can help soften even the starkest room. Unfortunately, if the proper care and precaution isn't taken, then ...

Discover More
More Pet Tips

Stop Fur Balls with Liquid Paraffin

Fur balls are understandably gross, and there are several methods for reducing and eliminating hairballs from your cat. ...

Discover More

Brushing Your Cat's Teeth

Humans aren't the only animals that need to have their teeth cleaned regularly. Even cat's can get things like tartar ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 4 + 9?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)