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The formulas typically include things such as increased fiber, oil, minerals, and vitamins that can help the swallowed hair pass through the digestive system naturally. Hairballs in cats are more likely to appear in long-haired breeds, such as Persians and Maine Coons. Cats that shed a lot or who groom themselves compulsively are also more likely to have hairballs because they tend to swallow a lot of fur. You may have noticed that your cat didn’t have hairballs as a kitten, but developed them as they grew.
What to Do About Hairballs in Cats
As the name implies, a hairball is a mass of hair your cat throws up. Cats ingest a large amount of hair when grooming themselves, and they groom themselves often! Cats spend about 4% of their days grooming themselves—that’s a whole hour every day! A lot of people can barely take a 5-minute shower, let alone lick their entire body for an hour. It’s also possible for a cat that does have a hairball in her stomach to vomit without producing any hair, so a lack of hair in the vomit is not always indicative of what’s causing the vomiting.
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Cornell Feline Health Center
Such hairball prevention diets contain extra fiber and certain ingredients intended to lubricate the intestinal tract. Since over-grooming or barbering (chewing hair short) will also contribute to the formation of hairballs, causes of these behaviors should be addressed if no problems with gastrointestinal motility are found. Your veterinarian may look for fleas, evidence of skin allergies, areas of pain, or a urinary tract infection. With a blockage, the hairball passes through the stomach but becomes trapped in the intestines. This can be a life-threatening situation so it’s important to relieve the obstruction as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats
While a cat’s normal grooming behavior causes the development of a hairball, the way he or she eliminates the hair may not be normal. If your cat is easily vomiting up a hairball only once per week or less, a vet visit is likely not needed. Feline hairballs are more than just a messy nuisance; they can also be a sign of a problem! If your cat is having more hairballs than usual or has hairballs frequently, then it may be time for a visit to your veterinarian to look for underlying problems. The good news is that most simple hairball problems can be managed with regular grooming and over the counter preventive medications.
During an asthma attack, a cat will often hunch down very low to the floor and stretch her head and neck out as she attempts to suck in more air. Butter and oils (such as olive oil, coconut oil, and fish oil) may be adequate lubricants to help hair slide more easily through the intestines. However, too much of these fats can cause GI upset (including diarrhea and vomiting), pancreatitis or weight gain. Therefore, cat parents should avoid feeding them to their cats unless directed by a veterinarian. One at-home remedy that may be beneficial is using a small amount of plain petroleum jelly.
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Countless cat lovers have experienced the less-than-pleasant sensation of stepping barefoot onto a wet, furry, and sometimes still warm hairball left on the floor. Whether your cat has coughed up her first hairball or just one of many, it’s good to know what is and is not normal about cat hairballs. Dr. Brittany Kleszynski is a freelance veterinary and medical writer who specializes in creating meaningful content that engages readers and speaks directly to the intended audiences. She writes and edits educational articles for pet parents and creates continuing education and online learning modules for healthcare professionals.
Your cat may also be more prone to hairballs if he or she is over-grooming, which can occur due to anxiety, pain, or itching. Hairballs can be a disgusting nuisance, but luckily they are relatively easy to treat. Most hairballs can be remedied with over-the-counter hairball treatments.
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Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice vet covering all things pet health and wellness. Her special interests include veterinary behavior, nutrition, and internal medicine. As a freelance writer, Dr. Racine has written content for major companies in the industry such as the American Kennel Club, Merck Animal Health, Bayer PetBasics, Elanco, and CareCredit. In her free time, Dr. Racine enjoys playing trampoline dodgeball, hiking with her beagle Dasher, and spending time with her three mischievous cats. These symptoms can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as an intestinal obstruction, and should be addressed immediately.
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Be wary of treats marketed as hairball remedies, as many are full of empty calories and may not always help with hairball issues. You can decrease your cat’s chances of developing hairballs with regular grooming and brushing (to remove loose fur before your cat has a chance to ingest it). You may need to gradually get your cat used to being brushed by using positive reinforcement, but most cats enjoy the TLC.
And the development of hairballs is more frequent in seasons of the year when cats normally shed their coats. To minimize the development of hairballs and their complications, Dr. Goldstein recommends that owners get into the habit of brushing and combing their cats’ coats daily. The more fur you remove from your cat, the less fur that will end up as hairballs in their stomach. Combing or brushing your cat on a daily basis can be an effective way to minimize hairballs, and it can also provide a fun way for you to bond with your cat. If you can’t get your cat accustomed to brushing, think about taking them to a professional groomer for a grooming and haircut (especially for long-haired cats) every 6 months or so.
Fortunately, most hairballs can pass without issue and can be more easily managed with certain remedies and commercial treatments. However, many home remedies can do more harm than good and are not advised. Every so often, your otherwise fastidious cat will do an alarming and somewhat disgusting thing.
Hairball treats generally also contain a mild, edible lubricant that will help protect your cat’s digestive tract as the laxative moves the hair through. Similar to hairball prevention cat foods, special hairball prevention cat treats also contain added fiber and lubricating ingredients. Hairball prevention cat treats should be given according to the package directions, and like all treats, should make up no more than 10% of your cat’s total diet. Even if you see hair in your cat’s vomit, it may not be due to a hairball. On average, cats spend about 3.5 hours per day grooming, so there will often be some transient hair in their stomach. If your cat vomits and is acting ill (not eating, lethargic and/or also experiencing diarrhea) it might not be a simple hairball.
She loves to share the world of animal science with people to help them make informed decisions for themselves and their pets. Luxifa has worked in professional pet care for over six years and strives to help change the world of pet care by bringing the information people need to them in terms they can understand. Knowledge is power, and Luxifa loves to help everyone become the most informed they can be. Cat hairballs all look different, but they are generally wet wads of hair, saturated with a clear or yellow liquid that might be foamy or slimy-looking. Although called hairballs, they are not always ball-shaped when your cat vomits them up.
The best way to prevent hairballs in your cat is through regular grooming. Long-haired cats require daily brushing to help remove loose hair and prevent hairballs, while short haired cats may only need to be brushed weekly or every other week depending on the cat’s grooming behavior. Adult cats can spend up to 25 percent of their time bathing themselves. Hair and debris are swallowed, and hair is largely indigestible, so a hairball can develop in the stomach over time due to a cat’s innate grooming behavior.
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