Hairballs in cats are common. Cats swallow hair every time they groom themselves, and most of it passes through the intestines and is excreted in the stool. However, some can accumulate in the stomach and later come up. A single hairball in an otherwise healthy cat is not necessarily a sign of illness. If the cat vomits hairballs frequently, vomits repeatedly without anything coming up, or has a reduced appetite, weight loss or other symptoms, the cause should be investigated.
Is your cat vomiting repeatedly without bringing up anything, and has it stopped eating? Contact us the same day. Repeated vomiting along with lack of appetite, lethargy or no bowel movements may be signs of a blockage in the stomach or intestines. Call A-Vet Small Animal Clinic at 33 13 98 40 during opening hours, and read more about emergency care at A-Vet. Outside opening hours: contact the veterinary emergency room. If the cat is breathing heavily or labored, it is an emergency situation regardless of the cause – do not assume it is due to a hairball.
What is a hairball?
A hairball, also called a trichobezoar, is a collection of swallowed hair that usually forms in the stomach. Cats cannot digest hair the same way they do food. Most of it passes through the intestines and is passed out in the stool, while some may collect in the stomach and later be vomited up.
A hairball that comes up is oblong in shape. This is not because it is lying like that in the stomach, but because it is pushed through the esophagus on its way out. It often comes together with a little liquid or leftovers from the last meal, and it is easy to confuse it with regular vomiting in cat.
Why do some cats get a lot of hairballs?
Frequent hairballs are not a diagnosis in themselves, but a sign that something in the chain has changed. Three mechanisms explain most cases: the cat swallows more hair than before, the cat grooms itself more than before, or the passage through the stomach and intestines is slower than before.
Long fur and shedding
Long-haired cats naturally swallow more hair than short-haired ones, and during heavy shedding periods the amount of loose hair increases significantly. The same applies to cats grooming each other. This is the most innocent explanation, and also the one that can be dealt with the most.
Excessive grooming
A cat that licks itself more than normal swallows more hair. Excessive grooming often leads to itching, skin disease, allergy, fleas or other parasites, pain from a specific area, or stress. If you see thin areas in the fur, skin changes, or that the cat is licking a lot in one place, it is the fur care that should be investigated – not the hairball.
Stomach and intestinal disease
In chronic intestinal disease or other gastrointestinal disorders, contents and hair move more slowly through the system, and hair that would normally pass through has time to accumulate. If hairballs occur along with weight loss, decreased appetite, loose stools or vomiting also between the hairballs, it is the intestines that are the main issue.
Is it really a hairball?
This is perhaps the most important point on the entire page. Repeated episodes of retching or vomiting without hair coming up may not be related to a hairball at all.
Coughing in cats looks like an attempt to vomit. The cat sits low, often hunched over, stretches its neck forward and makes a coughing or rasping sound with its mouth open. Many owners describe this as the cat "trying to bring up a hairball", and it is one of the most common reasons why respiratory disease in cats is detected late.
If your cat does this repeatedly without a hairball appearing, it should be examined. Feel free to record a short video with your mobile phone – it is much easier for us to assess than a description afterwards.
When can a hairball in a cat become dangerous?
As long as the hair comes out at one end, either as vomit or with the stool, a hairball in a cat is rarely dangerous. In rare cases, a compact mass of hair can pass through the stomach and contribute to a blockage in the intestines. This is a serious condition that does not resolve on its own.
If a hairball has caused a blockage, treatment depends on where it is and how affected the cat is. Some cats will need fluids and supportive care first. In some cases, a hairball in the stomach can be removed. endoscopic, while an obstruction further down the intestine may require surgery.
Symptoms that should be investigated by a veterinarian
Hairballs in cats usually do not cause any other symptoms than vomiting, and the cat is unaffected the rest of the time. Contact us if you also see any of the following:
- Repeated vomiting or retching, especially without hair coming up
- Reduced or lack of appetite
- Lethargy and changed behavior
- Abdominal discomfort or pain, or the cat not wanting to be handled
- Reduced or absent bowel movements
- Signs of dehydration, such as dry mucous membranes and decreased general condition
Breathing difficulties do not belong on this list. Altered or labored breathing should be evaluated urgently, and should not be explained by a hairball without the cat being examined.
How is a cat with suspected blockage examined?
- Medical history and clinical examination. How long has it been going on, what comes up, does the cat eat and poop, and how does the abdomen feel when palpated.
- X-ray and ultrasound to assess whether there is a blockage and where it may be located.
- Blood tests to assess fluid balance and general condition, and to rule out other causes of vomiting.
- Endoscopy when a hairball is located in the stomach and can be removed without surgery.
- Surgery in case of confirmed intestinal obstruction.
If hairballs are frequent without signs of blockage, the investigation goes in a different direction: it then concerns skin, fur, and intestinal function rather than imaging.
How can hairballs be prevented?
Regular brushing
This is by far the most effective measure. Hair that you get out with the brush is hair that the cat does not swallow. This is most important for cats with long fur, cats in heavy shedding, and older or overweight cats that no longer groom their entire body and therefore groom unevenly.
Get your cat used to brushing from a young age, with short sessions and calm handling. A cat that finds brushing okay will tolerate brushing throughout its life.
Feed and fiber when relevant
Some cat food is formulated with fiber combinations that should help swallowed hair pass more easily through the intestines. Whether such a food is relevant depends on the cat and what is causing the hairball problems. If the cause is itching or intestinal disease, changing the food will not solve the underlying problem.
Many cats enjoy eating grass, and some vomit afterwards. However, there is no evidence that cat grass is a reliable way to prevent or treat hairballs, and we would not recommend it as a hairball remedy. You should discuss dietary supplements with us first, so we know what your cat is actually getting.
What should you not do at home?
- Do not give oil, petroleum jelly, butter, or laxatives if the cat is vomiting, not eating, or you suspect intestinal obstruction. In the case of a blockage, it will not help and may delay treatment.
- Do not give human medicine against nausea or constipation. Several of them are directly harmful to cats.
- Don't wait out a lack of bowel movements. A cat that has not had a bowel movement and is vomiting at the same time should be evaluated.
- Don't assume that shortness of breath is a hairball. It is this confusion that most often causes something serious to be discovered too late.
Hairballs in cats are usually harmless, but it is not always easy to tell the difference between a normal hairball and something that should be investigated. If in doubt, feel free to record a short video of an episode and bring it to class – it often says more than a description afterwards.
