How to Keep Your Feline Hairball Free

毛球是大多数猫主人熟悉而不喜欢的东西。毛球混合了猫的消化液和毛发，不仅很难清理，而且也可能意味着你的猫有严重的健康问题。大多数猫在生命中的某些阶段都会受到毛球的侵扰，但你要能区分正常状况与非正常状况。
Hairballs are familiar yet unpleasant sights for most cat owners. Ugly clumps of fur mixed with your cat’s digestive fluids, hairballs are not just a nuisance to clean up, but also might mean a serious health issue for your cat. Most cats will suffer from hairballs at some point in their lives, but it’s important to know what’s normal and what’s not.

造成毛球的原因
What Causes Hairballs?

毛球是猫自我装扮生活习惯造成的产物，因为她最重要的修饰工具是舌头，上面包含数以百计的小钩，用来收集污垢和死皮。松散的毛皮被舌头上的小钩抓住，最终被吞进肚里。大多数的毛皮会通过他的消化系统随着大便排出体外，但是如果他吞下太多的毛发，就会有一些留在胃里，直到被猫呕吐出来。
Hairballs are an unfortunate side effect of your cat’s good grooming habits. His most essential grooming tool is his tongue, which contains hundreds of tiny hooks that collect dirt and dead fur. Loose fur gets caught on the papillae, and is ultimately swallowed. Most of the fur will pass through his digestive system and be excreted in the stool, but if he swallows too much for his body to eliminate naturally, some of it remains in his stomach until it is vomited.

长发品种猫和年长猫比幼猫花费更多时间梳理自己的毛发，最有可能生成毛球。在换季时，猫的毛发会自然脱落，毛球也会更频繁地发生。
Long-haired breeds and older cats, who spend more time grooming than kittens, are most likely to develop hairballs. Hairballs also occur more frequently during a change of season, when your cat is naturally shedding fur.

毛球有害吗
Are Hairballs Harmful?

康奈尔大学兽医学院报告说，每隔几个星期就会发现一个毛球是不常见的，但反复发作表明可能有潜在的健康问题，所以请务必带猫去找兽医检查。猫的胃肠道一般情况下能够处理吞咽的毛发，但是当毛发不能在肠胃里正常移动时，可能患有消化性疾病。经常发现毛球也可能是出现未知疼痛，皮肤瘙痒和情绪压力等情况，猫不断舔自己的毛皮以舒缓不适。
The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University reports that regurgitating a hairball every few weeks is not unusual, but repeated episodes can indicate an underlying health issue 3 so make sure to check with your vet. The feline GI tract is designed to deal with swallowed hair, but when fur doesn’t move through normally it can be a symptom of digestive disease. Frequent hairballs can also signal un-diagnosed pain, itchy skin and emotional stress, as cats compulsively lick their fur to soothe discomfort.

在极端情况下，毛球可能会紧密贴在肠道内，产生阻塞的危险。这种阻塞可能危及生命，需要手术去除。如果你的猫超过24小时没有活力或食欲，或者反复干呕，请尽快咨询兽医。
In extreme cases, a hair mass can become tightly lodged in the intestine, creating a dangerous blockage within the GI tract. This obstruction can be life-threatening and require surgery to remove. If your cat has no energy or appetite for more than 24 hours, or is retching repeatedly, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

毛球可以控制吗？
Can Hairballs Be Controlled?

以下简单的步骤可以减少猫咪体内毛球数量：
A few simple steps can reduce the number of hairballs your cat experiences:

经常刷毛：每天花几分钟时间帮你的猫刷或梳理毛发，去除多余的毛皮。保持毛发顺滑，不打结。长毛猫需要每年去宠物美容店理一次发。
Brush him regularly: Spend a few minutes each day brushing or combing your cat to remove excess fur before he can ingest it. Keep your cat’s coat tangle free so his fur doesn’t become matted. Cats with long hair can benefit from a visit to the groomer for an annual haircut.

改善饮食习惯：富含必需脂肪酸的饮食，如欧米加-3和欧米伽-6，可帮助猫咪保持健康的皮肤和毛发，并有助于消除过度脱毛。
Alter his diet: A diet rich in essential fatty acids, such as omega-3 and omega-6, will help keep your cat’s skin and coat healthy and may help eliminate excess shedding.

尝试化毛膏：每周喂一次或两次化毛膏（大多数宠物店有售）。
Try a hairball remedy: Feed your cat a hairball remedy (available at most pet stores) once or twice a week.

尽管很难彻底消除毛球，但是将问题控制在可控范围内，有助于您的猫咪过上更快乐和更健康的生活。
While it may be difficult to eliminate hairballs entirely, keeping the problem under control will help your feline friend live a happier and healthier life.