Tiger Undergoes Surgery to Remove Massive Hairball Lodged in Stomach

While hairballs may be common in cats, Serbian tiger Ty found himself in crisis mode when the 400-pound cat developed a 4-pound hairball in his stomach.

Staffers at the Wildlife Rescue and Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing for animals seized by Florida law enforcement, noticed there was something wrong when the tiger hadn’t eaten for a little under two weeks, according to a press release.

Several X-rays and an ultrasound later, both performed at a veterinary center in the area, as well as a scope with a camera put down his throat, BluePearl internal medicine specialist Brian Luria discovered the giant hairball was too big to be removed with the scope.

The surgery was performed by Don Woodman, owner of Animal Hospital of Northwood in Safety Harbor, and Mike Reems, a board-certified surgeon from BluePearl.

Together, the two removed the fur ball from the 17-year-old animal, which came out to a little over 4 pounds.

“I’m just extremely thankful for the help Dr. Woodman, Dr. Reems and the staff at BluePearl provided,” said Vemon Yates, founder of the organization that taking care of Ty.

Yates and Woodman, the release noted, were previously made famous when they were asked to assist in the capture of the “Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay,” which turned out to be a rhesus macaque who roamed the area for nearly four years before he was caught.

Hairballs in cats are the result of loose hair consumed during self-grooming. Though much of the hair passes through the cat’s digestive system into the cat’s stool, some hair can collect in the small intestine.

Symptoms of hairballs include gagging, hacking, vomiting, constipation and, as in the case of Ty the tiger, loss of appetite.

In order to decrease their occurrence, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) suggests brushing one's cat in order to remove loose hairs as well as distracting those that groom excessively with a toy or other activities.

Doing so, the ASPCA notes, “You will not only reduce the incidence of hairballs, but also spend some quality social time with your furry friend.”