VET Q&A; : Long in the Tooth

Q : Our cat, although getting on in years, is still in good health . However, I ‘ ve noticed a recurring lump that resembles a hairball on her lower lip. It causes her no discomfort, but does she need an examination?--J.S

A: It sounds as though your cat is experiencing an intermittent wadding of hair around one or more of her lower teeth, which can occur as a result of the cat’s normal grooming of her coat. Sometimes cats manage to remove these wads by themselves, but, if necessary, they can easily be removed (by owner or vet) using tweezers. Hair wads may form around mal-positioned teeth, and if large enough could cause eating difficulties or gum irritations. An examination by a vet is certainly a good idea.