How Do You Manage Hairballs in Cats?

You love your cat, there's no doubt about that. But hairballs in cats? Not so much. Take some comfort in the fact that you're not alone in your fight against dreaded cat hairballs. In fact, a Hill's study showed the top condition–reported by 35 percent of cat parents–was hairballs. Here are some answers on how to reduce those cringe-worthy piles of hair.

What Are Hairballs?

Normally, hair ingested by your cat passes through her intestinal tract and is expelled in the litter box. But when the hair accumulates in the stomach or esophagus and isn't digested, she gets rid of the hair by vomiting it up. The form differs from cat to cat, but most frequently hairballs are cylindrical in shape due to their trip up the narrow esophagus.

It's not uncommon for a cat to vomit a hairball every week or two, according to Richard Goldstein, DVM, an associate professor of small animal medicine at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Hairballs in cats are generally about an inch long, but can be as long as five inches and an inch thick. These little gifts that she leaves you will have a hue that almost matches her fur, but slightly darker in color because of her food and other gastric secretions from her digestive system.

Every cat seems to have their own style when it comes to hairballs; some cats will make loud crying noises almost as a warning of what she's about to do, while others are a bit stealthier before they vomit it up. But the common telltale sign that your cat is about to spit up a hairball is a loud retching and hacking noise.

Why Is My Cat Eating Hair?

Don't worry, your kitty doesn't see her coat as a midday snack. Cats ingest hair as they are self-groomers, which means they keep themselves clean by licking themselves. You may already know if you've been the recipient of a cat's fond kisses, their tongues are quite rough. That roughness gives your fastidious pet a way to remove the dirt, debris, and loose hair from her coat, allowing her to remain sleek and clean without human help (unlike most dogs, for instance). Unfortunately, however, cats are unable to digest their hair. That is why hairballs have to be excreted one way or the other.

Are Some Cats More Likely to Get Hairballs Than Others?

Long-haired cats, such as Persians and Maine Coons, are more susceptible to hairballs simply because they have more hair than their short-haired friends. Hairballs may be more common when the weather warms, too, as all cats tend to shed their heavier winter coats. Some cats just naturally groom more often than others as well, which makes them more likely to suffer hairballs.

Are Hairballs in Cats a Health Issue?

It depends. Hairballs in cats are a natural–albeit not fun–way for a cat to rid herself of hair that gets stuck in her stomach and are normal on occasion. But if they occur frequently or if you see or hear your cat retching, vomiting, or coughing without the eventual appearance of a hairball, you should talk to your veterinarian. Other signs that hairballs might be a health issue you should discuss with your vet include constipation, an extraordinary amount of hair in stools, a loss of appetite, and lethargy. Additionally, if you start to see the number of hairballs increase, or you see your cat grooming more often than usual, it might be a sign of a larger skin condition that you should speak to your vet about.

If your cat is having trouble with hairballs, your vet might want to do blood tests to make sure your cat's liver and kidneys are performing as they should. The vet might also recommend an ultrasound or take x-rays to make sure there are no blockages that could harm your cat. Vet Jeff Johansson, writing for Asheville Veterinary Specialists, details how a cat brought in with an elevated respiratory rate, loss of appetite, and increased salivation was suffering from a hairball firmly lodged in his esophagus, which was only discovered after x-rays. Johansson and his team were able to push the hairball back into the stomach, where it eventually passed naturally. In less severe cases, a laxative might work to pass the hairball, but laxatives should only be administered under the direction of a vet. In more severe cases, surgery might be the only way to remove a particularly stubborn mass of hair.