For most pet owners, hairballs and cats are a disgusting fact of life. The telltale retch and the unfortunate, stinky mass in the middle of the carpet—these are familiar signs. Hairballs are not only a nuisance, but they can also pose a serious health threat to your cat.
The feline affinity for grooming is also their downfall when it comes to hairballs. A cat’s tongue has a rough surface covered with papillae that act as a “comb” when they lick their coat. This “comb” catches dead hair, and unable to spit it out, cats swallow the hair. The hair is not digestible, so it accumulates in the stomach and intestines. Over time, this accumulation grows and mixes with digestive acids, mucus, and undigested pieces of food, eventually causing a blockage. Food and water may have trouble passing through the hair, leading to coughing and gagging episodes. In most cases, the retching produces the hairball, providing temporary relief—until the cycle begins again.
Signs of Hairballs in Cats
The signs of hairballs can vary in severity, depending on the cat and the degree of blockage. Early signs include poor appetite, depression, and lethargy. A dry cough and frequent retching—especially after meals—along with small spots of yellow bile on the floor or carpet, are evidence of unsuccessful attempts to expel the hairball. Constipation or hard stools with visible hair may occur as the digestive system tries to handle the excess hair. Eventually, the hairball itself will form—a cylindrical, wet, sticky, and stinky mass of hair and digesta.
The best way to treat hairballs in cats is by prevention. Brushing your cat regularly is the most effective way to prevent their formation. While hairballs are more common in long-haired cats, both long-haired and short-haired cats can develop them. Due to their natural grooming behavior, most cats actually enjoy regular brushing. A slicker brush works similarly to a cat’s tongue “comb,” brushing and separating the hairs while removing loose and dead hair. With daily brushing, you can decrease the amount of dead hair your cat ingests, greatly reducing the accumulation of hairballs.
While brushing is an effective way to prevent hairballs, once they are present in your cat, there are several over-the-counter solutions available for removal.
Commercial hairball remedies often come in gel form and are given to the cat for several days when signs of a hairball appear. These gels contain lubricating ingredients to help encourage the passage of hairballs, along with bulk to help the cat pass the hairball through feces. However, because many hairball remedies contain mineral oil, they should not be used on a routine basis. Mineral oil can deplete the body of essential vitamins.
There are several treats in various forms designed to help facilitate the removal of hairballs. Most of these also contain lubricants, so it’s important to read the ingredient list and dosage instructions carefully to ensure their safe, long-term use.
Many major pet food companies offer a “hairball formula” cat food, which is available at most pet stores. These foods work by adding extra fiber to the diet to help the passage of hair in the stool.
Some cat owners have also found success with home remedies or additives to their cat’s food to prevent and expel hairballs. A small amount of canned, non-flavored pumpkin added to your cat’s food daily can provide much-needed fiber and natural lubrication to help hairballs pass. The high fiber content in pumpkin may also help with constipation and diarrhea issues related to hairballs. Most cats find the pumpkin additive palatable and readily eat it in their food. In addition, bran, psyllium, and slippery elm can each be useful in relieving hairballs in cats.
Hairballs in cats are usually an annoying but manageable problem with a strong prevention program. Unfortunately, without treatment, hairballs can progress to a full obstruction of the stomach or intestines, a life-threatening emergency that may require surgery. Cats who have been struggling to expel a hairball unsuccessfully for over two days, or those who do not respond to over-the-counter treatments, should be seen by a veterinarian. These could be signs of more serious medical issues and require immediate attention.
Hairballs and cats go hand in hand. Thankfully, with a little preventative care from you and the ability to recognize and treat the early signs of a problem, you can prevent hairballs from becoming a serious, life-threatening issue for your cat.
