When Is It More Than Just A Hairball?

If you’re a cat lover, then you are probably very familiar with the word “hairball”. Hairballs are most often a result of your cat’s natural, healthy grooming routine. They are not the most pleasant to watch as your cat hacks one up, and they can be confused with vomit. So, how do you know what is normal when it comes to hairballs? First, let’s take a look at what a hairball is!

What is a Hairball?
A hairball is exactly what it sounds like. It is a ball of indigestible hair, which is formed when loose hair gets collected in your cat’s digestive system and is unable to pass through. As part of your cat’s daily grooming routine, she either will be able to pass the hair through her digestive system, or it will collect within her stomach, forming a hairball that causes her to “vomit” it up. A hairball will usually look like a mushy tube of hair as a result of passing through the esophagus. There are ways to help reduce the frequency and amount of hairballs that are produced by your cat.

Tips on Reducing the Hairballs Produced by Your Cat
Brushing your cat helps remove loose hair within her coat. By helping her remove excess hair from within her coat, you are helping her digestive system to collect less hair and pass fewer loose hair when she is ready to groom herself.

In addition to brushing her coat regularly, there are more hairball remedies that you can try.
Laxatone, a tasty oral lubricant, used to help lubricate the digestive tract
Hill’s Hairball Control diet, specially formulated to help reduce the production of hairballs

When is it More Than Just a Hairball?
If you notice any vomit not characteristic of a hairball or if vomiting occurs frequently- call your veterinarian for an examination.