Black cat being brushed to remove loose fur and help reduce hairballs

Cat Hairballs: Causes, Prevention and When to See a Vet

A cat crouches, stretches their neck and produces noises that suggest the final act of a small opera. Then a damp cylinder of fur appears on the carpet. The performance is dramatic. The evidence is usually a hairball.

An occasional hairball may happen in an otherwise healthy cat. Repeated vomiting, unproductive retching, loss of appetite or breathing changes are different matters. Not every hack is “just a hairball”, and waiting for one to appear can delay treatment for an intestinal blockage, asthma or another illness.

What is a cat hairball?

A hairball is a clump of swallowed fur mixed with digestive fluid. The veterinary term is trichobezoar. Cats swallow loose hair during normal grooming because the backwards-facing structures on their tongues pull fur towards the throat.

Most swallowed hair passes through the digestive tract and is eliminated in the stool. Some can remain in the stomach and collect into a larger clump. Although we call it a ball, the material a cat brings up is usually narrow and cylindrical because it passes through the oesophagus.

Cornell Feline Health Center explains that hair is made largely from indigestible keratin. Most passes normally, but a large clump can occasionally become lodged in the digestive tract.

Why do cats get hairballs?

Any cat that grooms can develop a hairball, but some cats swallow more fur than others. The likelihood may increase with:

  • long or dense coats;
  • seasonal or heavy shedding;
  • frequent grooming;
  • older age and well-established grooming habits;
  • skin irritation, parasites, allergies or pain that causes overgrooming; and
  • digestive problems that affect how swallowed hair moves through the gut.

Long-haired cats often need more grooming help, but short-haired cats are not exempt from the paperwork. A sudden increase in hairballs can matter more than coat length alone.

What does a cat hairball look like?

A typical hairball is damp, compact and tube-shaped rather than round. Its colour often resembles the cat’s coat, darkened by food and digestive fluid. It may be surrounded by clear liquid, foam or bile.

Food, parasites, foreign material and other types of vomit can look confusingly similar. If you are uncertain, take a photograph for your veterinarian. It is not glamorous, but neither is diagnostic guesswork.

Is it a hairball or a cough?

Retching and coughing can look similar. A cat trying to bring up a hairball may crouch, extend its neck and make repeated abdominal heaving movements. A respiratory cough may also involve a low crouch and a stretched neck, but no sputum is produced.

Do not rely on sound alone. Record a short video if it is safe to do so and show it to your veterinarian. Repeated episodes without a hairball, wheezing, rapid breathing, open-mouth breathing or obvious breathing difficulty require prompt veterinary attention. A suspected hairball should not be allowed to provide cover for asthma.

How often is too often?

An isolated hairball in a cat who is eating, drinking, toileting and behaving normally may not be an emergency. A new, increasing, or regular pattern warrants veterinary advice, especially when accompanied by other symptoms.

Cats Protection notes that regularly bringing up hairballs can be associated with stomach or intestinal disease, or with skin problems that increase grooming. Treat the change in pattern as information rather than an eccentric domestic tradition.

How can you help prevent cat hairballs?

Brush out loose fur

Regular brushing removes loose hair before the cat swallows it. VCA Animal Hospitals advises that long, silky or curly coats may need daily brushing, while short coats may need less frequent grooming. More brushing may be useful during periods of heavier shedding.

Start with brief sessions and use a tool suited to the coat. Stop if the skin appears sore or the cat becomes distressed. Mats close to the skin may need professional help; scissors and moving cats have formed an unreliable partnership.

Pay attention to overgrooming

Hair loss, bald patches, broken fur, skin sores or persistent licking are not ordinary grooming upgrades. Fleas, allergies, pain and stress can all contribute to overgrooming. Cornell’s guidance on excessive licking recommends investigating the underlying cause rather than treating the extra swallowed hair in isolation.

Feed a complete diet and provide fresh water

Feed a complete cat food appropriate for the cat’s age and health. Some hairball-support foods and treats are formulated with fibre to help swallowed hair move through the digestive tract, but they are not suitable for every cat. Change food gradually and follow the feeding guide.

Keep fresh water available. Wet food or other veterinary-approved hydration strategies may help a cat meet their fluid needs, but water is not a remedy for repeated vomiting or a suspected blockage.

Use pastes and laxatives only with proper guidance

Do not give a cat a human laxative or improvise with oils, butter or petroleum jelly. Hairball pastes and laxative products can interact with the cat’s diet, medication or medical condition. Follow the label and ask a veterinarian which product, amount and frequency are appropriate.

When should you call a veterinarian?

Contact a veterinarian promptly if your cat has:

  • repeated retching without producing a hairball;
  • recurrent vomiting or a sudden increase in vomiting;
  • loss of appetite;
  • lethargy, weakness or hiding more than usual;
  • weight loss;
  • constipation, diarrhoea or straining in the litter tray;
  • a painful or swollen abdomen;
  • blood in vomit or stool; or
  • coughing, wheezing or any change in breathing.

Open-mouth breathing, severe breathing difficulty, collapse or signs of a possible intestinal obstruction require urgent veterinary care. Cornell warns that a large hairball can occasionally lodge in the intestine and become life-threatening.

A practical hairball-support routine for adult cats

Once illness and obstruction are not the concern, some households may prefer to bring food, grooming and clean-up into one routine. Hairball Control Plus contains six full retail products and The Apartment Cat’s practical hairball-control guide:

  • Kit Cat Chicken Cuisine Hairball Control Dry Cat Food — 1.2 kg;
  • Kit Cat Purrfect Pockets Hairball Control — 60 g;
  • INABA Churu Hairball Control Chicken Recipe — 4 × 14 g;
  • Mikki Classic Soft Pin Slicker — Small;
  • Kyron Laxapet Laxative Gel — 50 g;
  • M-PETS Lint Roller — 100 sheets; and
  • The Apartment Cat practical hairball-control guide.

The dry food is complete and balanced for adult cats. The Purrfect Pockets and Churu products are complementary treats and should remain part of the cat’s daily treat allowance. The slicker removes loose fur before it can be swallowed, while the lint roller is for compatible household surfaces rather than the cat. Use Laxapet only according to its label and veterinary advice.

This bundle may suit adult cats whose households want a practical routine combining nutrition, treats, grooming and clean-up. The slicker is best suited to medium, long, silky, double or thick coats. The bundle is not suitable for kittens, and cats with allergies, ingredient sensitivities or a veterinary-prescribed diet need veterinary approval before dietary changes. It does not treat an intestinal blockage, respiratory disease, skin disease or persistent vomiting.

View Hairball Control Plus

Frequently asked questions

Can short-haired cats get hairballs?

Yes. Any cat that swallows loose fur while grooming can develop a hairball. Long or dense coats may increase the amount swallowed, but coat length is not the only factor.

Can a hairball cause an intestinal blockage?

It is uncommon, but possible. Repeated unproductive retching, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, constipation or abdominal discomfort require veterinary assessment.

Does brushing really help with hairballs?

Regular brushing removes loose fur before the cat can swallow it. The appropriate frequency depends on the coat, shedding and the individual cat.

Why is my cat retching but no hairball is coming out?

Possible causes include a lodged hairball, gastrointestinal disease, nausea or a respiratory problem such as asthma. Repeated unproductive retching should be assessed by a veterinarian.

Can I give my cat olive oil, butter or a human laxative?

Do not improvise a treatment. Oils and laxatives can be unsuitable or unsafe depending on the cat and the cause of the symptoms. Ask your veterinarian before using any hairball paste or laxative product.

Do hairball treats replace brushing?

No. Treats may form one part of a hairball-support routine, but regular grooming removes loose fur before it is swallowed. Treats also do not replace veterinary assessment when symptoms are frequent or concerning.

Should I change my cat’s food because of one hairball?

Not necessarily. An isolated hairball in an otherwise healthy cat does not automatically require a diet change. If hairballs recur, speak to your veterinarian and gradually transition to a different diet if one is recommended.

Sources and care note

This article provides general cat-care and product information, not individual veterinary advice. Last reviewed on 15 August 2026.

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