That retching sound at seven in the morning and the cylinder-shaped gift on the rug have a name: hairballs in cats. September arrives, the autumn moult begins and the problem multiplies right about now. The good news is that nearly all of it can be sorted out at home: here's why they form, which hairball symptoms in cats mean it's time to call the vet, and the specific plan to stop them forming in the first place.
Why hairballs form in cats
A cat's tongue is covered in stiff, backward-facing papillae — a kind of natural comb. When she grooms, she drags out dead hair and swallows it without meaning to. Most of that hair passes through the digestive tract and leaves with the stool without you ever noticing.
The problem starts when she swallows more hair than she can pass. That hair builds up in the stomach, compacts with saliva and gastric juices and forms a trichobezoar, which is the technical name for a hairball. Since it can't move on into the intestine, the cat brings it back up.
Some cats are far more prone than others:
- Long-haired and semi-long-haired cats (Persian, Angora, Maine Coon), simply because of the volume of hair.
- Cats that over-groom, almost always because of stress, allergies or fleas.
- Cats in the middle of the spring or autumn moult.
- Indoor cats, which shed more steadily all year round.
- Older cats, whose gut transit is slower.
Hairball symptoms in cats
The usual picture looks like this:
- Retching and a dry cough just before bringing something up.
- An elongated wad of compacted hair, sometimes mixed with food.
- Once every few weeks, with no other consequences.
A healthy cat can bring up the odd hairball and carry on as if nothing happened. Within reason, that falls squarely within normal.
When you need to see the vet
Watch out for these signs, because a hairball can also block the digestive tract, and that is an emergency:
- Repeated retching without anything coming up.
- Frequent vomiting, more than once or twice a week.
- Constipation, or very dry stools with visible hair.
- She stops eating, or eats far less than usual.
- Lethargy, hiding away, a swollen or hard abdomen.
- Losing weight for no obvious reason.
Frequent vomiting in cats is almost never just hair. Behind it you'll usually find gastritis, a food allergy, parasites, inflammatory bowel disease or kidney problems. If your cat vomits often, don't put it down to hairballs without having a vet take a look.
How to prevent hairballs in cats
Brush her — nothing works better
Hair you remove with the brush is hair your cat doesn't swallow. It's the most effective measure and the cheapest. Rough guide to frequency:
| Coat type | How often to brush |
|---|---|
| Short hair | 2 or 3 times a week |
| Semi-long hair | Every other day |
| Long hair | Daily |
| Moulting season (spring and autumn) | Increase the frequency and use a fine-toothed comb |
If your cat hates the brush, start with two-minute sessions at her calmest time of day and always finish with a treat. Five short sessions a week beat one long one that ends in a hiss.
Look after hydration and fibre
A well-hydrated gut moves hair along far better. If your cat eats only dry food, consider adding wet food or a water fountain: many cats drink considerably more from moving water. Foods formulated for hairball control contain extra fibre to carry hair through to the stool. Check with your vet before changing her diet.
Malt and laxative pastes, used sensibly
Cat malt lubricates the digestive tract and helps the hair pass through rather than come back up. It's useful during moulting season or in prone cats, but it isn't a daily treat for everyone: ask your vet about the dose and how often, especially if your cat has any underlying condition.
Proper cat grass
A pot of cat grass (sprouted oats, wheat or barley) helps them regulate and bring hair up. Don't confuse cat grass with catnip: that's a different plant and it does something else entirely. And make sure the plants you keep at home aren't toxic to her.
Check whether she's over-grooming
A cat that licks obsessively until she creates bald patches doesn't have a hair problem: she has a skin or stress problem. Check for fleas, changes at home or a lack of stimulation. Fix the cause and the hairballs drop off too.
And the hair she leaves around the house
Everything that doesn't end up in her stomach ends up on the sofa, on your clothes and on the blankets. Consistent brushing cuts loose hair dramatically, and for whatever's left, a reusable lint roller deals with it in a minute without burning through sticky refills every week.
Brush, water and an eye on the warning signs
To sum up: brushing, hydration, fibre and attention to the warning signs. With that, hairballs in cats go from a recurring problem to the occasional anecdote.
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