Cats are skilled at grooming themselves and typically don’t need regular baths. However, while grooming, they can swallow loose hair, which may lead to a cat hairball. This is a common occurrence, and most cats experience hairballs from time to time. Although hairballs usually pass without issue, understanding how they form whether through cat vomit or coughing and knowing how to prevent hairballs can be helpful. If you’re concerned about how to help your cat, especially if they are long haired or frequently cough up hairballs, here’s everything you need to know to manage and prevent hairballs in your feline friend.

Hairballs, often seen in our feline friends, are a typical by product of a cat's grooming habits. These hairballs, composed of loose hair and digestive juices, form in the cat's stomach. As cats groom themselves, they ingest hair, which travels through their digestive system and collects in the digestive tract, eventually forming hairballs in their stomachs.

All cats groom themselves by licking their fur, using their tongues with little barbs that snag loose hair as it sheds. These barbs face backward, compelling cats to swallow the hair they groom, which can lead to cat hairballs forming in their stomachs. The ingested hair travels through the digestive system and gi tract, where it can accumulate, often resulting in hairballs. According to Richard Goldstein, DVM, an associate professor at College of Cornell university Veterinary Medicine, while small amounts of ingested hair typically pass through the digestive tract and are expelled in the litter box, larger accumulations can cause health problems. Proper cat food and hairball remedies can help manage this issue, but if hairballs become frequent, it's advisable to seek veterinary medicine advice.

When a cat is trying to expel a hairball, they may start retching, gagging, or acting like they are dry heaving and attempting to vomit. This behavior, often termed a cough gag retch, is a result of the cat's efforts to bring up a hairball. This reaction occurs because of the hair they ingest during grooming, which travels through their digestive system and GI tract. The swallowed hair can sometimes pass through without issue, but other times it accumulates, forming hairballs. According to experts at the College of Veterinary Medicine, this is a common occurrence in cats due to the hair ingestion during grooming.

Many cat owners find it very difficult and distressing to hear their cats gagging and retching, leading them to wonder if something is wrong. However, this behavior is normal for cats. They self groom to keep their fur in good condition, which involves ingesting loose hair. Most individual hairs will pass through the cat’s digestive system and GI tract without issue, but sometimes they form clumps and accumulate in the stomach, resulting in cat hairballs. To prevent these clumps from causing a blockage in the intestines, cats will try to vomit them up. If you see your cat stretching their neck, dry retching (opening their mouth wide), and expelling a hairball before calmly walking away, don’t be alarmed. Though it can be distressing to watch, this process is a normal part of hair ingestion and management in cats, as explained by experts at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Some cat owners think their pet brings up a hairball every day, but this isn’t true. Cats typically get hairballs occasionally, usually less than once a month. Most hairs swallowed during grooming will pass through the digestive system and into the litter box without a problem.

However, if your cat has hairballs frequently, it’s worth taking them to see a vet. Numerous cat hairballs could indicate an issue in the gastrointestinal GI tract, so it’s best to check this out as soon as possible.

Frequent hairballs can also be a sign that your cat is over grooming, which often occurs when cats are stressed. Like humans biting their fingernails, stressed cats may groom excessively and ingest more hair, leading to more hairballs. If you suspect your cat is stressed, consult a vet for advice.

Cat hairballs are a normal aspect of a cat’s natural grooming routine and are generally not a cause for concern. Kittens and younger cats tend to have fewer hairballs because they are less meticulous about grooming. Older cats, however, may become more fastidious and produce hairballs more frequently.

While fluffy cats make wonderful companions, they are also more prone to frequent hairballs. Cats with longer fur, like Ragdoll cats and Maine Coon, are especially likely to have more hairballs because their longer hair accumulates into clumps more quickly.

Many cat owners worry when their cat appears to be choking or struggling with hairballs. The best way to assist your cat in expelling a hairball is to give them plenty of space. Although it can be hard to watch your cat gagging and struggling, this behavior is normal as they work to vomit up the hairball.

The most important thing is not to become overly distressed. Simply monitor your cat to ensure they successfully bring up the hairball and that the gagging subsides afterward.

When dealing with cat hairballs, you might wonder about the available treatments. While many home remedies suggest using oils and lubricants, it’s best to avoid these options.

Instead, you can find specialized cat hairball treatment pastes that contain laxatives and lubricants to help hairballs move through the digestive system. However, these treatments are typically not necessary. If you choose to use one, be sure to follow the instructions carefully.

A particularly effective solution is hairball specific cat food. These kibble based products are high in fiber, which helps move excess fur through the digestive tract. They also include vitamins and minerals that promote healthy fur and reduce shedding.

For severe cases, your veterinarian can prescribe appropriate treatments for managing hairballs.

Hairballs themselves are generally harmless. However, if your cat is roaming around the house, repeatedly retching without producing a hairball, and shows signs of lethargy or loss of appetite, it's crucial to see a vet right away. These symptoms could indicate that the hairball has moved from the stomach to the intestine, which is a serious condition requiring prompt veterinary attention.

You should take your cat to the vet if they exhibit any of the following symptoms:

• Prolonged gagging, vomiting, or retching
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Excessive nibbling on grass
• A swollen or sensitive stomach
• Unusual Behavior

A veterinarian may use various methods to diagnose cat hairballs, including x rays or a physical examination. In severe cases, where the hairball has become particularly large, surgery might be necessary, which can be costly.

Constant retching without producing a hairball and lethargy could also indicate asthma. The vet will be able to determine the underlying cause. Regardless, addressing the issue early on will help prevent it from worsening.

While it’s normal for a cat to occasionally bring up hairballs, you should be concerned if your cat is vomiting hairballs every few weeks or consistently for more than 48 hours. This could indicate an excessive amount of hair in the digestive tract.

While it’s impossible to entirely prevent hairballs, there are several steps you can take to reduce their formation.

Proper grooming can help remove dead and loose hair from your cat’s coat. Regular brushing reduces the amount of loose hair your cat swallows during self grooming, which in turn means fewer hairballs. If your cat is picky about being brushed by you, consider taking them to a professional groomer.

Regularly trimming your cat’s coat helps reduce the likelihood of ingested hair becoming tangled into a hairball, increasing the chances that the hair will pass through their system smoothly.

Providing your cat with a balanced diet is crucial for managing hairball issues. Specialized cat foods are designed to address this problem. These foods are high in fiber, which helps prevent hairballs from forming in the stomach. Additionally, the balanced nutrients in these foods support your cat's coat, reducing shedding and keeping their fur sleek and shiny.

Cat fur is stunning, partly due to the extensive grooming cats do it's estimated that cats spend about 4% of their lives grooming themselves! Discover more intriguing facts about our feline friends in our article on fun cat facts.