Why Does My Cat Throw Up Hairballs?

That hacking, gagging sound, followed by a soggy tube of fur on the carpet: hairballs are one of the less lovely parts of living with a cat. An occasional one is normal, but frequent hairballs are your cat telling you they need a little help.

Why cats get hairballs

• Self-grooming: a cat’s tongue has tiny hooks that catch loose fur, which they then swallow.
• Long or thick coats: Persians, Maine Coons and other fluffy cats swallow more hair.
• Shedding season: more loose hair means more hairballs.
• Over-grooming: stress, itchy skin or fleas can make cats lick far more than usual.

What really helps

1. Brush regularly. Every hair you brush out is one they don’t swallow. Daily for long-haired cats, a few times a week for short coats.
2. Choose a hairball-control food with extra fibre to help hair pass through.
3. Encourage drinking. Fresh water, wet food or a cat fountain helps digestion.
4. Keep up flea prevention to reduce itchy over-grooming.
5. Reduce stress with play, hiding spots and a steady routine.

When to speak to a vet

See your vet straight away if your cat keeps retching but nothing comes up, stops eating, is constipated, has a swollen or painful tummy, or seems lethargic. These can be signs of a blockage. Also check in if hairballs happen more than once or twice a month, or you notice bald patches from over-grooming.

The heart of it

Cats spend hours each day keeping themselves beautiful. A few minutes of brushing from you helps them stay comfortable, and many cats come to love that quiet, purring time together.