What To Do If Fur Is Coming Out Of Your Cat's Behind

Cats tend to be fastidious creatures, so it can be particularly alarming to notice fur coming out your cat's behind or finding it stuck in their stools. While this may simply seem like a disgusting discovery, it can actually put your cat's health at risk. This guide will explain why this happens, how you can prevent it from happening, and what you must do if it happens.

Why It Happens

When a cat consumes fur or hair, that matter isn't digested by their stomach. Instead, it passes through the intestines, and emerges in their fecal matter or from their rectum.

In minute quantities, this doesn't pose much of a problem. However, when enough fur builds up, it can create a blockage in the intestines. If the blockage isn't cleared, it can prevent your cat from excreting fecal matter properly. In addition, it can cause fecal matter to become stuck partially inside the rectum.

How to Prevent It

If your cat is consuming hair, there are a few steps you can take to prevent this problem from happening.

The biggest thing you should do is to make sure that your cat isn't consuming human hair or other varieties of fur. Cats can have a disorder called pica that makes them want to eat things that aren't food, like hair. There's no known cure for pica, so all you can do is make sure to avoid allowing hair to accumulate in places where your cat can potentially eat it.

That being said, cats will always groom themselves, so they're bound to consume a certain amount of fur from their own bodies. To help prevent this fur from creating a blockage, feed your cat hairball treats that contain petroleum jelly. This will help the fur to successfully make its way out of your cat's intestines, rather than becoming a tangled, impacted mess.

What To Do If It Happens

If your cat is already excreting hair or is unable to fully defecate because of hair, you must see a veterinarian immediately. This condition can quickly become hazardous to a cat's health. If your kitty is blocked up, they won't be able to defecate at all. In addition to causing pain, cats who can't defecate lose their appetite, which can potentially lead to fatty liver disease, another major health problem for cats.

Veterinarians are equipped to clear the blockage and to examine your cat to determine if there's a hair build-up higher up in the intestines. If so, your veterinarian will provide medication to clear the hair entirely so your cat can use the litterbox normally.

Finding hair in a cat's stools or coming from their rectum isn't fun, but it can mean that there's a serious problem developing. Seek veterinary assistance, such as from Animal Emergency Clinic, if your cat is exhibiting these symptoms.