Cat Hairballs- Causes & Prevention

Cat hairballs are well known to all cat owners, and are an inevitable part of owning a cat. As cats groom themselves they ingest hair, which form balls in the digestive system. As hair cannot be digested, the hairballs, or trichobezoars as they are also called, either pass through the digestive system or are eliminated by retching and vomiting. This can be quite alarming for cat owners to witness, but is a natural process for your cat.

Cat hairballs are more common in longer haired cats, such as Persians, but occur in all cats. Cats spend much of their time self grooming; their tongue is ideally created for this as it has a rough surface which makes it easy for them to remove loose fur and knots. Sometimes they are able to spit the fur out- you have probably found it on your carpet- but other times it is swallowed. Hair that isn’t passed through feces builds up inside the stomach, and needs to be eliminated by your cat coughing or vomiting it up.

Hair balls can become a serious problem if they become so large that they block your cat’s digestive system. If this occurs, it can prove fatal if left untreated. See your vet immediately if your cat displays symptoms such as retching without actually bringing anything up, constipation or a swollen abdomen as this could indicate a blockage.

Reducing the Risk of Hairballs
Grooming your cat regularly will remove the dead hairs, meaning that your cat is less likely to ingest them. Ideally you should groom your cat every day, especially if she is long haired or elderly. As cats age, they lose flexibility and find it more difficult to groom themselves.

There are special cat treats available which contain special ingredients to assist your cat’s digestive system to break up hairballs. For cats with a persistent hairball problem, your vet may be able to prescribe a lubricant.

Some people find that putting a drop of cod liver oil in the cat’s food helps with lubrication.