Cat Hairballs: What Is Normal and What Is Not
Hairballs are often treated as just part of owning a cat. Occasional ones can be, but frequent hairballs or repeated retching deserve attention. Here is what to watch for and how to help.
In short
Hairballs are often treated as just part of owning a cat. Occasional ones can be, but frequent hairballs or repeated retching deserve attention. Here is what to watch for and how to help.
Cats spend a large part of their waking day grooming, and the tiny backward-facing barbs on their tongue pull loose hair into the stomach. Most of it passes through. Some of it clumps and comes back up as a hairball. An occasional hairball is common; frequent ones are a sign to look more closely.
What Is Normal
Many vets consider an occasional hairball — perhaps once every few weeks or less, more often for long-haired cats during a moult — to be within normal. A hairball is usually a tube-shaped clump of hair, sometimes with a little food or liquid.
When to See the Vet
- Hairballs more than about once or twice a month
- Retching or gagging without bringing anything up
- Vomiting food or liquid frequently, not just hair
- Lethargy, hiding or loss of appetite
- Constipation, small hard stools or straining
- A swollen or painful belly
- Weight loss
Repeated retching with nothing produced, or a cat that stops eating, needs a vet promptly. A hairball can occasionally cause a blockage, and frequent vomiting has many causes besides hair.
Why Some Cats Get More Hairballs
- Long coats: more hair to swallow
- Seasonal moults: spring and autumn especially
- Overgrooming: from stress, itching, fleas or skin allergies
- Gut movement problems: some cats do not move hair through as well
If your cat is grooming more than usual, look for bald or thin patches and talk to your vet. Overgrooming is often a sign of a problem in its own right.
Complete Cat Owner Binder
"How often does it happen?" is the first question your vet will ask. The Complete Cat Owner Binder has printable feeding, litter and health logs, so you can note every hairball and vomit and see the real pattern.
Get the Complete Cat Owner Binder →Brushing Is the Best Prevention
Every hair you brush out is a hair your cat does not swallow.
- Short-haired cats: brush once or twice a week, more during a moult
- Long-haired cats: brush daily with a wide-toothed comb, then a soft brush
- Keep sessions short and positive, and stop before your cat gets annoyed
Other Things That Can Help
- Encourage drinking — a water fountain or wet food helps many cats
- Ask your vet about hairball diets or remedies before using them
- Keep up flea prevention to avoid itching and overgrooming
- Reduce stress with hiding places, height and play
Two ways to keep records
For a cat-focused system with feeding and litter logs, choose the Complete Cat Owner Binder. For focused medical records and vet visits, choose the Pet Health Record Binder.
Get the Pet Health Record Binder →Frequently Asked Questions
How often is too often for hairballs?
More than about once or twice a month is worth discussing with your vet, as is any hairball with other symptoms.
Do indoor cats get more hairballs?
Indoor cats can shed all year round because of artificial light and heating, which may mean more hair to swallow. Regular brushing helps.
Can hairballs be dangerous?
Rarely, a hairball can block the gut. Repeated unproductive retching, loss of appetite or constipation are reasons to call your vet.
Printable and fillable PDF templates for pet owners — feeding schedules, health records, training trackers and more.