What are hairballs?

Hairballs (trichobezoars) are balls of hair which are vomited from the stomach.

What causes cats to cough up hairballs?

Any cat owner will have observed their cat spending countless hours grooming itself. When the cat does this, loose hairs are ingested. More often than not, the hairs pass through the digestive system & are passed out in the faeces.

Sometimes excessive amounts of hair accumulate in the stomach which can't be passed through into the faeces, causing irritation. Your cat will gag & cough & eventually vomit up a sausage shaped hairball.

If this happens occasionally it is not of concern, but if it is a frequent occurrence it is important to speak to your veterinarian about it as it may be a sign something more serious is causing your cat to regularly vomit hairballs such as a blockage.

How are hairballs treated?

Regular grooming of your cat will reduce the amount of hair it swallows during grooming. This is especially important if your cat is longhaired or has a particularly thick coat.

You could try adding a teaspoon of canned or boiled pumpkin into the food.

If this is a regular problem & your veterinarian has ruled out other medical conditions then he will able to recommend a hairball product for your cat. These products are usually non digestible oil type products which help lubricate the digestive system & aid the movement of the hairball to the bowel.

There are some brands of cat food on the market specifically designed to help reduce hairballs in cats. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on which one best suits your cat.

Are hairballs dangerous?

In most cases no, they are not dangerous but if your cat is frequently suffering from hairballs then it can be an indication that the hair in the digestive system has impacted, which can cause blockages preventing your cat from vomiting or defecating. It has been observed that hairballs the size of baseballs have been removed from the stomachs of cats.

Symptoms of a serious problem include a swollen & hard stomach, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite. It is important to see your veterinarian immediately.