(NAPSI)-Not looking forward to giving your cats their hairball medication, knowing that they will hide from you because they don't like the taste? Do you shudder at the thought of how messy hairballs are to clean off your furniture and carpet? If you've answered yes to either of these, then you are among the 43 percent of cat owners surveyed who agree that hairballs are the most common health problem of cats.

Hairballs are the result of strands of cat hair that are swallowed when cats lick their coats during grooming. If the hairball moves into their digestive tracts or intestines, it can interfere with digestion and can cause such uncomfortable symptoms as dry cough, constipation or vomiting after meals.

"Helping to prevent future hairballs and helping to eliminate those that are just beginning to form, are key components to having a healthy cat," says William J. Taylor, D.V.M., of Mountain Vista Animal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. Dr. Taylor suggests that by following a few simple tips, you can help prevent this common problem.

• Brushing:
  While it is a cat's nature to groom itself, the process can be much easier if you help remove some of the loose hair, especially during peak shedding seasons in the spring and early summer. Whether your cat has long or short hair, daily brushing is a great habit to get into when your cat is a kitten. Brushing helps remove excess hair that could end up in your cat's stomach.
• Hairball Remedies:
  Traditional remedies on the market today are gel-like in form, come in tubes or pumps, and are applied to a cat's food bowl, nose or paws. They help eliminate hairballs by lubricating the intestinal tract, which prevents clumping and aids in the passage of hair. Cats often don't like the taste and the remedies can be just as messy as the hairball itself. Dr. Taylor recommends Pounce Hairball Treat-mentª, a cat treat now available to consumers. "It is the first cat treat on the market today that helps prevent and eliminate hairballs and it is easier to administer because the specially formulated gel is surrounded by a great meaty tasting treat."
• Balanced Diet:
  Feeding your cat a well-balanced diet will help them maintain a healthy coat, which can aid in the prevention of excess shedding and the occurrence of hairballs.