Cat Hairballs: Causes & Treatments

What exactly are hairballs?

Cats are very clean creatures. In fact, your cat or kitten will spend up to half their day grooming themselves, which is a solid time commitment! In doing so, they'll pick up any loose hairs from their coat. These are difficult to spit out, especially as cats have a barbed tongue, so the hairs will probably be swallowed. Most of the time, this will cause no problems whatsoever and the hairs will just pass through the digestive tract. Sometimes, however, the hairs can remain in the stomach and form a hairball, or fur ball as some people call them.

How does the hairball get out?

Usually, once a hairball has reached a certain size, the cat vomits it up (look out for sausage-like balls of hair), although some will pass hair in their stools. Either way, it rarely causes much distress. Every now and again, a hairball can be difficult to get rid of and the affected cat may have repeated bouts of ‘gagging’ or vomiting. If you are at all concerned, don't hesitate to call your vet.

In some very rare cases, a cat may be unable to pass the hairball naturally and surgery may be required. Thankfully, this is very unusual.

Underlying causes of hairballs

If hairballs are not normally an issue for your cat, but you suddenly start noticing them, there may be something else going on. Parasites and skin disease can cause itching and excessive grooming, but so can abdominal pain and stress.

Cats are very sensitive creatures and can become easily stressed. This is usually because of conflict with other cats in the house or in the neighbourhood. Chronic stress in cats can cause bladder problems called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC). This is a painful condition and can be very serious if the bladder becomes blocked. One of the earliest signs of this pain and stress can be overgrooming, which you may notice especially around the tummy area.

So you see, hair loss and hairballs can sometimes be the first subtle signs of another issue. If you’re ever concerned that something has changed, seek advice from your vet.

How can you help to prevent hairballs?

One of the best ways to help prevent hairballs is to groom your cat regularly. Get into the habit of gently doing this when they are very young, so they get used to it.

Preventing a bad hair day

The type of grooming brush you use can be important; your vet can offer you advice on which one is best for your cat. Many people with short-haired cats favour a rubber brush or a grooming mitten or glove. They're soft enough not to cause any discomfort but great at removing loose hair.

If you have a long-haired cat, you'll need to be even more diligent with grooming. Some long-haired breeds like Persians have coats that are so long they can be difficult for the cat to properly groom by themselves. Make sure you are absolutely committed to caring for this kind of coat before taking on such a cat. Short hair is much more natural for a cat and easier for everyone to manage.

You'll need to step up the regularity of your brushing during spring and summer, when your cat will moult more heavily. This needn't be a chore, though. It can be a good way for you and your cat to bond. A cuddle or a game is a nice way to round off a brushing session.

Can diet have a role in preventing hairballs?

There is evidence that a high-fibre, dry food can help reduce the formation of hairballs in the gut. The fibre helps to trap the hairs and keep them moving through the intestines without clumping up in the stomach. Ask your vet for advice.

Remember - hairballs may not be nice but they're rarely anything to worry about.

Seeing your cat struggle with a hairball can be upsetting, but it's important to remember that most cats have problems with them from time to time, and there's hardly ever any reason for real concern.

Reviewed by Dr. Hein Meyer, DVM, PhD, Dipl-ECVIM-CA and Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS