Fun fact about me: until the pandemic in 2020, I rarely had hairballs! That was the year or so that there were no cat shows and instead of getting a couple of bath and grooming sessions a month, I only had them a handful of times. All that extra fur I was dealing with had to end up somewhere! Hence the hairballs.
Hairball Basics
Hairballs (or the technical term for them, trichobezoars) are cigar-shaped wads of fur your cat regurgitates. Hair is made up of a type of indigestible protein called keratin. Most of it passes through your cat’s digestive system. But the excess accumulates in your cat’s stomach and comes back up.
This happens because of your cat’s unique grooming tool — the barbs on their tongue. When your cat grooms themselves, the barbs comb through their fur and pick up any loose hairs, which they swallow. If you’ve ever seen a close-up of a cat’s tongue, you’ll see the barbs point backward, so they have to swallow the fur. They can’t spit it out.
Why You Should Care About Hairballs
Yes, hairballs are an unpleasant mess that nobody enjoys cleaning up. (And believe me, we cats don’t enjoy retching them up either!) But hairballs can pose a serious health risk to your cat.
If a hairball gets large enough, it can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage. It’s also possible for a large hairball to get stuck in your cat’s esophagus. Both these problems are emergencies that require an immediate visit to the vet or emergency clinic.
It’s fairly normal for otherwise healthy cats to get hairballs once a month or so. But when it becomes a frequent occurrence, it could indicate other problems. This could be anything from overgrooming because of stress or a skin condition, to a gastrointestinal problem. While it’s not an emergency like a blockage, hairballs that happen once a week or more should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Reducing Hairballs in Your Cat
There are several ways to battle hairballs before they begin. I’ll start with the most important one.
Grooming
Regular brushing is always at the top of the list for hairball prevention. Of course, you don’t have to give your cat a full bath and groom like I got for my shows. Although if you have a cat with long, thick fur, like a Persian or a Maine Coon, having them professionally groomed a couple of times a year is not a bad idea. But it’s the regular brushing that’ll really reduce the chances of your cat tossing up a hairball.
Ideally, all cats should get used to being brushed and combed regularly from an early age. But any age is good to start. If your cat hasn’t been brushed before, start easy by getting them used to the brush. Hold it up to their face and let them rub against it. Let them be in control. Go slow in helping them adjust to being brushed. Start with the areas they like being touched by you, and go from there.
Also, try a variety of combs and brushes. Cats respond differently to different bristles and types of brushes. Avoid forcing them to stay put. Let them wander if they want. Cats hate losing control of any situation. If they show signs of overstimulation — twitching skin, whipping tail, or low growling — end the session. And always finish grooming with their favorite treat, whether that’s food, playtime, or catnip.
Although most people assume that longhaired cats are the most likely to get hairballs, it depends just as much on the thickness of the coat. Some shorthaired cats have lots of fur, and some long-haired cats (like me) have sleeker, silkier coats. But really, all of us need regular grooming.
Hairball Treats and Supplements
These should never be used as a replacement for regular grooming, but they can be helpful. They are usually gels or high fiber and designed specifically to move fur through a cat’s digestive tract. Read the label and always follow the directions. If you’re compelled to give more than what’s recommended, your cat may be dealing with a medical issue that needs to be looked after.
Never give your cat oils from your kitchen cupboard in an attempt to help them with hairballs. And never give them laxatives without a veterinarian’s recommendation.
Exercise
Yes, exercise. Keeping your cat active improves their overall health, and helps things move through their digestive tracts. This is especially important for older cats, whose GI systems may slow down a bit, and cats who overgroom out of boredom.
When Hairballs Need Veterinary Intervention
If your cat is throwing up hairballs several times a month, you should discuss that with your vet. They may have some helpful suggestions or recommend a special diet. But there are times when hairballs could pose a serious risk to your cat’s health.
Symptoms of Serious Hairball Problems
- Lethargy
- Keeps trying to throw up, but without results
- Vomiting just liquid or bile, and a hairball never comes up
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea, or constipation
- Swollen stomach
These may mean that your cat has a hairball stuck in their digestive tract. They will need a veterinarian’s help to get it out. Your veterinarian will probably give your cat some sort of laxative and keep them for observation until it passes. This is more likely to be the treatment over surgery.
The best way to deal with hairballs is prevention, and to keep up regular checkups with your vet. If you keep your vet informed of any changes going on with your cat, you may be able to deal with any problems, hairball or otherwise, before they become a serious issue.
Have you ever had a hairball problem with your cat? Let’s discuss it in the comments.
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