If you are a novice or new cat owner, there are some common cat health problems that you should be aware of. Don't be alarmed or worried, none of them are serious on their own, just things to keep an eye out for so they don't develop into a problem.Probably the most common house cat health problem is hairballs, especially in long haired cats. Because cats are such clean and fastidious creatures, they wash or groom themselves regularly, often more than once a day. Cats shed a lot of hair and often it is swallowed during grooming. Sometimes the hair will clump into a ball and lodge in the digestive tract instead of passing through the normal way and being excreted. The only way he (or she) can get it out is by coughing it up, not a pleasant sound, and frequently they'll bring up some food or bile as well. Usually cats can remove hairballs without any intervention from us. However, if your cat continues coughing for more than a couple of hours and doesn't appear happy or hungry, it might be wise to check with the vet to see if a hairball has caused an obstruction. Regular brushing by you will help remove most loose hair and will also provide a bonding time for you both. There is something really soothing in brushing a relaxed purring cat.
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