How to Prevent Hairballs in Cats – #PetHairSolutions from FURminator

FURminatorLogoCats and hairballs – they go paw in paw. More than likely you have stepped in at least one mushy projectile on your floor in your lifetime and it is a subject that is universally joked about because it’s something that pretty much any cat lover on this earth can relate to. But, the truth is, hairballs actually can be the sign of something much more serious in your cat and are no laughing matter. Having a good grooming plan in place to help your cat stay hairball-free is essential and that is why in our household we use the FURminator deShedding tool on a regular basis.

I first found out about the FURminator deShedding tool back in 2012 when I was asked to try one out with my gang on behalf of National Hairball Awareness Day which falls on April 25th. It was an instant hit – I loved how easy it was to use and how much fur it got off my cats, my cats loved the bonding experience of me grooming them, and we all loved the fact that hairballs have been virtually eliminated in our household!

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This was Zee during his first FURminator grooming experience and I was using the large deShedding tool for long-haired cats (The large/long hair tool is for cats over 10 pounds with fur over 2″ long).

Well, here we go – National Hairball Awareness Day is tomorrow and I am thrilled to be working with the FURminator team again to talk about why the FURminator deShedding tool is such an invaluable aid in hairball prevention. But, before I do, a quick 101 on what a hairball is and why they can be harmful to your cat in case you do not already know this information.

Basically, hairballs develop as a result of a cat’s common grooming routine. When a cat licks its fur, tiny hook-like structures on its tongue catch the loose and dead hair, which is then swallowed. The majority of this hair passes all the way through the digestive tract with no issues but if some hair stays in the stomach, a hairball can form. Typically the cat will hack up the hairball with no problems, but if you notice symptoms such as vomiting or gagging without producing a hairball, lack of appetite, lethargy, constipation, or diarrhea, your veterinarian should be contacted, as this could be an indication that a hairball has caused a potentially life-threatening blockage.

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If you look closely, you can see the tiny hook-like structures on Zoey’s tongue that enable her to catch the loose and dead hair on her body. Without the aid of a grooming brush like the FURminator deShedding tool, much of this loose hair is swallowed which can cause dangerous hairballs.

When you see it in black and white like that, you can understand why hairballs really are a serious subject and why a hair grooming regiment is necessary for our feline friends. I am happy to say that the FURminator company has a full line of pet hair solutions available to help us, in particular with my favorite item, the FURminator deShedding tool.

WHAT is the FURminator deShedding tool? It is an easy to use brushing tool that has a carefully-crafted, precise, stainless steel edge that will not cut or damage your cat’s coat. It is recommended by both veterinarians and professional groomers and has been designed to reach deep beneath your cat’s top coat to gently remove all the cat hair that might otherwise end up in your cat’s belly, under your couch, on your floors, or on your clothes.

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Even though Jazmine is still a young cat, she is already very relaxed and loves to be groomed with the FURminator deShedding tool. Kizmet is kind enough to hold her tail down and help me with the grooming!

WHY should I use it on my cat? Because cats can ingest up to 2/3 of the hair they lick while grooming – regular use of the FURminator deShedding tool reduces shedding up to 90% so that this hair does not end up in your cat!

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This very quickly and easily came off of Kizmet – need I say more? Do you really want your cat to be able to potentially ingest some of that?

WHEN should I use it on my cat? The FURminator deShedding tool should be used 1-2 times a week for about 15 minutes each session (always make sure your cat is free of tangles and mats BEFORE you use it).

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I love that the FURminator deShedding tool helps minimize the possibility of hairballs in my cats, but I also love that my cats look forward to being brushed and see it as a special time of the day. Seen here is Peanut being brushed with Zee waiting for his turn! Kizmet and Jazmine will be next!

HOW do I use it on my cat? When using the FURminator deShedding tool, brush your cat in the direction of hair growth, typically starting at the base of the neck and brushing to the tail. Don’t concentrate on only one area – use the deShedding tool over your entire cat (you can use it on the ears and tail – it is non-abrasive to the skin – just be extra careful because these can be sensitive areas for our cats).

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The belly is typically a very sensitive area on a cat, but Kizmet loves being brushed with the FURminator deShedding tool on his!

That about sums it up – for more information about other pet hair solutions for your cat and what sizes and types of FURminator deShedding products are available, please visit www.furminator.com.

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Shed Control Cloths and the FURminator deShedding tool are just some of the great pet hair solutions found at FURminator!

While this post is sponsored by FURminator and I am being compensated for helping spread the word about FURminator, we have happily been using the FURminator at Zee & Zoey’s for years and only share information we feel is relevant or important to our readers. FURminator is not responsible for the content of this article.

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  1. My mom-person comb´s me efurry day and now when I sheed a lot she uses a Furminator.
    A couple of times a week I get some Catmalt wich I think is furry jummy.
    So no hairballs over here either 🙂

    XOXO

  2. da tabbies o trout towne says:

    grate posts guys….N thanx for de linx …we troo lee dinna noe they made shed control cloths ~~

    heeres two a ton oh toona thurzday !!

  3. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. GREAT BLOG. I love it!!!

    We have 2 kitties and they assume the position (laying on their side and stretching) when they see the FURminator. They get brushed every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. They love it and it’s so relaxing for me.

  4. mariodacat says:

    M wishes I liked to be furminated more – it does the best job ever. Sometimes when I’m outside, they furminate me before I’m let back in the house. Because I’m outside, I don’t seem to mind it as much out there and the peeps love it because they just let the birdies use the fur in their nests.

  5. meowmeowmans says:

    We love our Furminator. Well, Gracie and Zoe do, but not Moosey (of course, he dislikes being brushed, period).

  6. We won a Furminator a while back, and I LOVE IT! When mommy waves the Furminator I am right there!! I purr and purr and purr. The only thing I don’t like is it on my belly. That’s very sensitive, and mommy knows it! We usually overlook that part of me.

  7. We get FURminated, but not nearly enough as we should.

  8. Sue Brandes says:

    Great post. We don’t have a furminator yet.