Hairballs are most common in long-haired cats, but short haired cats get them too. As cats groom themselves, they swallow the loose hairs. Most of the hair passes through the intestinal tract and in stools uneventfully. However, longer hair and tufts of hair can stay in the stomach where the churning rolls them up into balls, thus upsetting the stomach and results in a vomiting cat.
Cat owners bring their cats into me concerned that their cat is coughing, choking or gagging that may be simply suffering from hairballs. As the hairball passes through the esophagus, it is squeezed into the shape of the esophagus (tubular), and the cat is trying to hack it up.
Hairballs can be problematic. If not cleared by the cat via gagging it up or passing it through the intestines, they can cause obstruction of the bowel, slow normal g.i. peristalsis thus create constipation or even diarrhea due to g.i. irritation.
When should you be concerned?
- Ongoing vomiting, gagging, retching or hacking without producing a hairball
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy
- Constipation-No stools in litter box or straining in litter box
- Diarrhea
Time to call the veterinarian.
What can you do to decrease hairballs?
- Regularly brush your cat to remove loose hairs.
- Shave or trim fur to keep it short (this is my personal favorite for my cat)
- Administer hairball product (petroleum based) to help lubricate the swallowed hair, allowing it to pass more easily.
- Feed a higher fiber diet to push hair down the g.i. tract (Science Diet Hairball Control)
- Take steps to identify why your cat may be excessively grooming, such as fleas or behavioral issues, and then treat the issue (you need your veterinarian's help here)
Fun Fact: Large cats such as lions rarely get hairballs. This may be a reflection of their grooming behavior, their more natural higher fiber diet or the relatively larger size of the g.i. tract compared to their hair length.
