Common conditions
Hairballs in Cats: What Is Normal and When to Worry
The occasional hairball is normal for a grooming cat. Frequent vomiting, gagging with nothing produced, or a cat off its food is not.
Why hairballs happen
Cats swallow loose hair as they groom. Most passes through the gut unnoticed; some collects in the stomach and is vomited up as the familiar sausage-shaped hairball. Long-haired cats and enthusiastic groomers produce more.
What is normal
An occasional hairball — perhaps one every week or two in a long-haired cat, fewer in short-haired cats — with a cat that is otherwise bright, eating and passing normal stools is usually nothing to worry about.
When to see the vet
These signs mean something more than hair.
- Frequent vomiting, with or without hair
- Repeated unproductive gagging or retching
- Loss of appetite, lethargy or constipation
- Any vomiting that is new for an older cat
Gagging is not always a hairball
Coughing and retching can be signs of feline asthma, and frequent vomiting can signal gut disease, parasites or — in older cats — conditions such as hyperthyroidism. Do not assume hair; get persistent signs checked.
Reducing hairballs
Simple measures help most cats.
- Brush daily — every hair on the brush is one not swallowed
- Ask your vet about hairball-control diets or pastes if the problem is frequent
- Keep water intake up; wet food helps
- Address over-grooming, which can be a sign of stress or skin disease
Frequently asked questions
- Can a hairball be dangerous?
- Rarely, a dense clump of hair can obstruct the intestine, causing repeated vomiting, appetite loss and constipation. That is a veterinary emergency.
- Do hairball remedies work?
- Lubricant pastes and high-fibre hairball diets help some cats, but brushing is more effective than any product — and free.
References
- International Cat Care — cat health advice — https://icatcare.org/advice/