Cat Hairballs: How to Help Your Cat

Cat hairballs are a problem especially in the spring. This video looks at what causes them and what you can do about it.

The scientific name is trichobezoar. Are they something to worry about? Probably not if they happen infrequently, but they should not be ignored either.

Hairballs are created when cats swallow too much hair from grooming themselves. Their digestive system is equipped to handle some hair, but if it is too much, it builds up in their stomach. Eventually, they throw it up. If they are unlucky the hairball could get jammed in their digestive system, and they might need medical intervention.

There is a reason your cat is swallowing too much hair to handle. Veterinarians don’t all agree on how quote, unquote “normal” hairballs are. Some vets point out that studies of feral cat colonies indicate that cats in the wild rarely vomit hairballs.

There is no consensus on why indoor cats get hairballs more than feral cats. But it does give us some clues on how to deal with the problem.

How many hairballs are normal for a healthy cat? The numbers range from a hairball every week or two, to only once or twice a year.

The most likely cause is excessive grooming. What are some causes?
1. Anxiety
2. Pain.
3. Food sensitivities
4. Food allergies
5. A skin condition
6. Fleas
7. Boredom

I personally believe that boredom is the primary cause of excessive grooming in indoor cats. By protecting our cats and keeping them indoors, they also become super bored and spend time grooming instead of prowling around or hunting.

Your problem might be amplified if your cat has
• Long hair
• Fastidious groomer
• Grooms another cat with long hair.
• Or it’s springtime when cats are shedding for the summer

So, what can you do to avoid the problem in the first place?

The best solution if your cat has a healthy coat is to brush your cat regularly.

The pet industry also makes cat foods with a “hairball reduction formula.” They generally include more fiber, in theory to help any swallowed hair to move quickly through their digestive system.

They also make mild cat laxatives, which comes as a jelly that you feed your cat with meals. The idea here is to lubricate their digestive system and help the hair move along faster.

But, there are vets that consider these last two remedies ineffective.

To quote a discussion of hairballs on the website of the Cats Only Veterinary Hospital in Norristown, PA, “Imagine if you went to the doctor for vomiting and they advised you to eat petroleum jelly 2-3 times a day.” The link to the full article is

Unfortunately, there is not much data to go on regarding any of these possible solutions.

Quoting from an abstract on the website of the National Library of Medicine:
“Although a range of commercial hair ball control diets are available there is no objective information in the public domain regarding their efficacy. Similarly, no studies have evaluated the success of other commonly recommended preventive strategies.” The link to the abstract is

If you use these products or have tried them, please leave a comment. In either case, you should not change your cat’s diet or try laxatives without consulting your vet first.

Other suggestions include; making sure that your cat is drinking enough and feeding them several smaller meals rather than one or two large meals to keep their digestive system moving.

Most importantly, however, if they are over-grooming, try to get to the cause of that, whether it’s anxiety or pain or boredom.

Back to brushing. If your cats have a healthy coat brush them, especially in the spring when they are shedding. When cats are in the wild, they rub up against bark, bushes brambles and other abrasive materials that naturally help them get rid of loose hair. In our homes, everything is smooth and soft and that does not happen, so we have to help them with a brush.

Try to get something that is not too soft and not too hard. They also make specialized brushes, specifically make to get at the undercoat and these do make a big difference.

If your cats have a poor or thin coat already, them brushing more is not the answer. They might have anxiety or food sensitivities or allergies and it is best to discuss next steps with your vet.

In the most serious cases, what are some signs that your cat could have a hairball obstruction? Here is a list.

Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching, or hacking without producing a hairball
Lethargy
Not eating
Diarrhea
Constipation

If your cat has these symptoms take it to the vet as soon as possible. They might have to do bloodwork and take x-rays to figure it out. And if laxatives and other un-invasive measures don’t work, it might mean surgery.

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#9livestolive
#cathealth

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