My cat has what looks like a hairball stuck in…her behind. What do I do?!

[Tatum]

This is a first for me, folks. I am not sure what I need to do. Yesterday, while I was holding my cat, I felt something hard near her butt. I looked and she had something sticking out. It looks to me like the end of a hairball. There’s definitely fur and it looks like it’s her color (orange). I have only ever heard of cats coughing up hairball before, but it looks like she needs to pass this one. She‘s acting 100% normal and her appetite is just as good as ever. The only that’s been different in her life is I have tried to make an effort to have her eat only wet food lately after my other cat got sick about a month ago. I found that she’d vomited undigested food the day before yesterday, and yesterday was the day I found this hairball-looking thing. I don’t know if the two events are related or not. She doesn’t puke hardly ever, and she hasn’t vomited again since. I’m afraid to pull on this thing in case I cause any damage, but I want her to pass this before I leave on Tuesday for a trip. She hasn’t pooped yet since I found it. I could take her to an emergency vet but I don’t know if this constitutes and emergency or not. Could I get some help or advice?

Thank you!

 

[GranolaLouise]

if it were my kitty and I was to leave for a trip, i would take her to the emergency , have her seen and worked on, and bring her home with time to be with her as she heals and recovers from just the visit to the emergency(which can be scary just walking into the hospital with all the sounds). She probably could use the comfort time after. I would be concerned with her both puking and the butt thing.

 

[lisahe]

I agree with GranolaLouise about getting her taken care of sooner rather than later. If you happen to have an urgent care clinic near you (we have, for example, PetMedic where I live) you might be a le to get her treated faster and with less of that emergency hospital stress. I hope all goes well!

 

[Tatum]

if it were my kitty and I was to leave for a trip, i would take her to the emergency , have her seen and worked on, and bring her home with time to be with her as she heals and recovers from just the visit to the emergency(which can be scary just walking into the hospital with all the sounds). She probably could use the comfort time after. I would be concerned with her both puking and the butt thing.

I have good news! I looked this morning and the hairball is gone! I suppose she passed it!

 

[Tatum]

I agree with GranolaLouise about getting her taken care of sooner rather than later. If you happen to have an urgent care clinic near you (we have, for example, PetMedic where I live) you might be a le to get her treated faster and with less of that emergency hospital stress. I hope all goes well!

I have good news! I looked this morning and the hairball is gone! I suppose she passed it!

 

[lisahe]

I have good news! I looked this morning and the hairball is gone! I suppose she passed it!

Very glad to hear it! Yes, she probably passed it. If your cat frequently gets hairballs or seems constipated, you might want to consider discussing supplements with your vet. One of our cats gets hairballs and the other gets constipated... Vet's Best hairball relief tablets help both, as does Adored Beast's Feline Gut Soothe.

Enjoy your travel!