What it is
A cat's tongue is covered in tiny backward-facing barbs, so a cat swallows a lot of hair as it grooms. In a healthy gut the hair leaves with the stools, and some of it is now and then brought up as a hairball.
Hairballs can increase when a cat is moulting, when its coat is long or thick, and above all when it grooms more than normal because of itching, pain or stress. Sometimes the reason is a slower gut, so hairballs that keep growing in number are a reason to look for what lies behind them.
A large hairball can get stuck in the stomach or gut and block it. The cat then retches again and again with nothing to show for it, stops eating, passes no stools and turns listless: that is an emergency.
Signs you may notice
- Brings up a hairball
- Coughs or retches with nothing coming up
- Eats less
- Struggles to pass stools
- Grooms too much
A cat coughs or retches until it brings up a long, hairy clump, sometimes with fluid or food. If a hairball stays put, the cat may eat less and struggle to pass stools.
When to see a vet
Book a visit if hairballs keep coming or your cat is grooming more than before. If it retches with nothing coming up, eats nothing and passes no stools for a day or more, a vet is needed immediately.
For everyday care
These are everyday care products, not a treatment. Your vet will tell you how to look after your cat while it recovers.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own cat's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.