Furball: meaning, definitions and examples
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furball
[ ˈfɜrˌbɔl ]
animal behavior
A furball is a mass of hair that is vomited by animals, particularly cats, when they groom themselves and swallow hair. This condition is often a result of excessive grooming, which can cause hair to accumulate in the stomach. Furballs can lead to digestive issues if they occur frequently.
Synonyms
hairball, vomited hair.
Examples of usage
- My cat just coughed up a furball on the carpet.
- It's important to help your cat prevent furballs by grooming them regularly.
- Furballs can be a sign of excessive licking and grooming behaviors.
- Veterinarians may suggest special diets to help reduce furball formation.
Translations
Translations of the word "furball" in other languages:
🇵🇹 bola de pelo
🇮🇳 बाल का गुच्छा
🇩🇪 Fellknäuel
🇮🇩 bola rambut
🇺🇦 клубок шерсті
🇵🇱 kulka sierści
🇯🇵 毛玉 (けだま)
🇫🇷 boule de poils
🇪🇸 bola de pelo
🇹🇷 tüy topu
🇰🇷 털뭉치
🇸🇦 كرة شعر
🇨🇿 chlupatý míček
🇸🇰 chlpatá guľa
🇨🇳 毛球 (máo qiú)
🇸🇮 krogla dlake
🇮🇸 hárkúlan
🇰🇿 жүн доп
🇬🇪 ბალახის ბურთი
🇦🇿 tük topu
🇲🇽 bola de pelo
Etymology
The term 'furball' combines 'fur' and 'ball' to describe the shape and nature of the mass that is typically seen when a pet expels the ingested fur. The word 'fur' comes from the Old English 'fūri,' which means 'hair' or 'fur,' while 'ball' originates from the Old Norse 'bollr,' which meaning a round object. This term began to gain popularity in the early 20th century as pet ownership increased, especially with cats becoming more common as indoor companions. The growing awareness about pet health and grooming practices also contributed to the need for specific terminology around issues like furballs, leading to the establishment of the term 'furball' in veterinary and pet owner lexicon. Over time, as more information about pet care practices has become available, educating pet owners about the prevention and treatment of furballs has led to a more general understanding and recognition of this common pet condition.