Furball formation

When the tongue is not being used as a cleaning tool, the barbs lie flat. Any fur collected during the grooming process slides off the tongue and is swallowed. This fur normally passes through the intestinal tract and is expelled in the cat’s faeces, but occasionally it can become entangled and accumulate in the stomach or intestine as furballs. Cats may vomit up these matted hair balls, but sometimes, albeit rarely, they become large as a result of excessive grooming and may cause an obstruction. Diets and supplements can be given to help ease the passage of furballs, and daily grooming by the owner to remove dead hair will also help. Most cats groom themselves well and there is generally no need for owners to intervene. However, assisted grooming can help long-haired cats to remove some of the dead hair the cat would otherwise swallow, and a daily brush can help these long, often dense coats from becoming severely matted. It also enables bonding between owner and pet and provides a useful opportunity to check for injuries or lumps on the cat’s body.