Hairballs in Cats: Causes, Care and When It's Serious

The occasional hairball is a normal, if unpleasant, part of life with a cat — that distinctive retching followed by a damp sausage of fur on the carpet. Usually it's nothing to worry about, but frequent hairballs, or repeated retching with nothing coming up, deserve a closer look. This is general guidance, not a substitute for veterinary advice — if you're worried, contact your vet.

What is a hairball?

Cats are meticulous groomers and spend a surprising amount of their waking hours washing. Their tongues are covered in tiny backward-facing barbs that catch loose hair, which they then swallow. Most of this hair passes harmlessly through the gut and out the other end, but some collects in the stomach and is brought back up as a hairball — the proper name is a trichobezoar. Despite the name they're usually sausage-shaped rather than round, having taken the form of the oesophagus on the way up.

For most cats this is an occasional, if unpleasant, fact of life rather than a health problem. The aim isn't to eliminate hairballs entirely — that's not realistic for a creature that grooms so much — but to keep them infrequent and to recognise when retching means something more.

Why some cats get more hairballs

Several things increase hairballs:

• Long-haired breeds simply swallow more fur
• Moulting seasons, when there's more loose hair about
• Over-grooming, which can be driven by stress, fleas or skin irritation
• Older cats, who often groom more

Frequent hairballs can sometimes point to an underlying tummy or skin problem, so they're worth mentioning to your vet if they become regular.

Signs of a hairball

The familiar picture is hunched retching and gagging, often with a distinctive sound, then bringing up a plug of fur, sometimes with a little food or liquid. Afterwards most cats simply shake themselves off and carry on as normal. Occasional hairballs (a few times a month or less) in an otherwise happy, healthy cat are generally nothing to worry about.

What's worth paying attention to is the pattern. A cat bringing up the odd hairball is very different from one retching repeatedly without producing anything, or one whose hairballs come alongside a drop in appetite or energy. Keeping a rough mental note of how often it happens helps you and your vet judge whether anything has changed.

Reducing hairballs at home

You can do a lot to cut down on hairballs:

• Regular grooming is the single biggest help — brushing removes loose hair before your cat swallows it. You'll find brushes and de-shedding tools in the shop.
• Good hydration keeps things moving — see cat hydration.
• Hairball-control diets and specialist treats are available; check anything new is suitable with our can my pet eat this checker or your vet.
• Tackle over-grooming by ruling out fleas and stress — our indoor cat enrichment guide has ideas for reducing boredom-driven grooming.

Brushing is genuinely the single most effective thing most owners can do, and it doesn't need to be a battle. A few minutes every day or two, building it into a relaxed fuss rather than a chore, removes a remarkable amount of loose fur before your cat can swallow it. Long-haired cats benefit most, but even short-haired cats shed enough during moulting seasons to make regular grooming worthwhile. If your cat dislikes a brush, a grooming glove or softer tool can be a gentler introduction.

When to see a vet

A hairball that won't come up can, rarely, cause a dangerous blockage. Contact your vet promptly if your cat:

• Retches or gags repeatedly without producing anything
• Has frequent hairballs, or hairballs alongside vomiting, going off food or constipation
• Seems lethargic, has a swollen tummy, or is straining
• Is losing weight or over-grooming to the point of bald patches

If retching is constant and unproductive, treat it as urgent — it could signal a blockage, which occasionally needs surgery to resolve. It's also worth remembering that what looks like "trying to bring up a hairball" can sometimes be a cough or even breathing difficulty, which are different problems entirely; if you're at all unsure what you're seeing, a quick call to the vet sorts it out. For the everyday cat with the occasional fur sausage on the rug, though, there's no need to worry — a brush and a bit of patience are all that's usually needed. You can find a vet near you in our directory.

Sources

• PDSA — Hairballs in cats: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub
• International Cat Care — Cat advice: https://icatcare.org/advice/
• Blue Cross — Cat advice: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/cat