Hairballs are a classic feline ailment. Cats are meticulous groomers, and their tongues have tiny barbs that pull out loose hairs while grooming. These barbs make it difficult for a cat to rid the tongue of the hairs, so the cat usually ends up swallowing them. Usually, the swallowed hairs pass through the body and end up in the feces, but they can also accumulate in the stomach and form a mass of fur. The technical term for this mass …
Bad breath is common in cats and is generally termed oral malodor (halitosis). In general, it can be attributed to the protein-rich diet leaving food debris in the mouth, or products of metabolizing protein called volatile sulfur compounds. These volatile sulfur compounds are made up of food debris, saliva, blood, and exfoliated epithelium. However, malodor can also be a sign of a larger problem. Gastrointestinal, lung, and systemic diseases can all result in oral malodor. Also, gingivitis, an inflammation of …
