My long-haired cat's hairball poops are loose and hard to pass. Help!

A little added fiber or a daily pet probiotic can help firm up loose stools, however bringing a stool sample into the vet to rule out anything such as parasites or an underlying illness causing it is a good idea. In some cases, even normal stools can sometimes get stuck on long-haired cats. Gently trimming the area to make it less easy for stool to stick, or using a pet wipe after Pockey gets out of the litter box before the stool can dry may help make it easier to clean.

Thank you for submitting your question Bosbos. He appears to have eaten a hair or thread. You can try to remove it with very gentle pressure. If it does not does come out, do not pull harder. It could be stuck to his intestines. If you cannot easily remove it, then he should see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Dude. If possible, he needs to see a veterinarian. If he is constipated, an enema may be required to provide him with some relief. He also could be struggling to defecate if he is painful somewhere. Outdoor cats are notorious for suffering fight wounds. A thorough examination will help determine the source of his problem and how best to treat him. In the meantime, encourage him to drink as much water as possible to help soften the stoof if he is constipated. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for posting! Hard stool can certainly be an indication of constipation and while a hairball formula can help, you can also try a higher fiber diet (one that is formulated for hairball control) or just give a few teaspoons of plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) in her food which can help. However, if she is not eating and is acting lethargic, you may want to take her in to see a veterinarian to get checked out. Sometimes underlying health conditions such as liver or kidney disease or certain endocrine problems like diabetes can cause dehydration and can lead to harder stools and episodes of constipation as well as decreased appetite and lethargy. Certainly worth a veterinary visit if the hairball cream doesn't seem to be making a difference in her appetite or energy level. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Some times cats pass hair in the feces and often that hair/poop will be large and gray colored. This can be normal. I recommend Hills hairball prevention diet, using cat laxative weekly and brushing or combing your cat daily to remove as much loos hair as possible. If the hairballs continue then you may want to consider allergy medication from your veterinarian to reduce her licking and overgrooming. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Chloe.

It could be Mellow has some problems with hair balls, and there may be poop stains around his anus. I'd give him a bath to clean up his anal area. Feed him wet food with water added to it to see if that helps with the firm poop.

This is common in Persians and other long haired cats. You will need to keep her in a sanitary clip to prevent the stool from sticking to her hair. A groomer or vet can do the clip for your or you can learn to do it yourself. A sanitary clip is where you shave the hair around the anus and down both the back legs. I don't think she has an underlying medical issue with her balance but if you are worried you should have your vet check her.