BREAKING: Tiger With Tummy Trouble Has 4-Pound Hairball Removed

Awww, the poor little cutie. And I thought Larry had hairball problems! 

From a release:

TAMPA, Fla. – It’s was a typical story of a cat with a hairball, only the cat weighs approximately 400 pounds, and the basketball-size hairball was too big to be removed without surgery. The 17-year-old tiger named Ty underwent the procedure Wednesday afternoon at BluePearl Veterinary Partners specialty and emergency hospital in Clearwater, Fla.. Dr. Mike Reems, a board-certified surgeon from BluePearl Veterinary Partners and Dr. Don Woodman, owner of Animal Hospital of Northwood in Safety Harbor, performed the surgery to remove the 4 pound, feline, fur ball. 

Ty was initially brought in Monday to see BluePearl internal medicine specialist, Dr. Brian Luria, after the tiger had not eaten for a little under two weeks. Luria performed an ultrasound and took X-rays before using a scope with a camera to determine the problem, which appeared to be a giant hairball. Due to the size of the hairball, it was not possible to retrieve the obstruction using the scope, and surgery was selected as the preferred method. Woodman and Reems, successfully removed the hairball, which weighed in at a little over 4 pounds.

Ty is resting comfortably now. I'm guessing the his owner was politely handed a bill for $32,000.