Hairballs aren’t pleasant (for you or your cat), but they develop as a natural result of your cat’s healthy and dedicated grooming routine. As your cat grooms themself with their rough tongue, the small barbs on their tongue will lead indigestible hair down their throat and into their stomach. Your cat can’t digest the hair, but most of this it passes through the digestive tract. Sometimes it stays in the stomach and forms what will eventually emerge as a hairball that your cat throws up.
While it’s not uncommon for cats to vomit the occasional hairball, they can potentially create life-threatening blockages in the digestive tract. You should see your vet right away if your cat is lethargic, refuses to eat for more than a day, or has episodes of unproductive vomiting.
To reduce the risk of hairballs and their complications:
- Brush your cat regularly
- Try cat food formulated for hairballs
- Add more fiber
- Increase water intake
