Everything You Need to Know About Cat Hairballs

If you’ve ever had a cat, chances are that at some point you’ve had to clean up a hairball. But what exactly is a hairball and why do cats throw them up? Let’s find out!

What Is A Hairball?

A hairball, also known as a trichobezoar, is formed when cats groom themselves with their tongues. As they lick their fur, it collects loose hairs which then form into long strands. This long strand of fur can become tangled in the cat's stomach or intestines and cause blockages. When this happens, the cat will vomit up the hairball along with other stomach contents such as undigested food. It may look like an unappetizing mess, but it's actually quite normal for cats to throw up these hairballs every now and then.

What Can I Do To Help Prevent Hairballs?

The best way to prevent hairballs from forming in your cat’s digestive tract is to ensure that they are adequately groomed regularly. Regular grooming helps keep your kitty's fur free of tangles, mats and other debris that can get stuck in their digestive system and cause blockages. Additionally, feeding your cat high-quality wet food or supplements designed for hairball control will help reduce the amount of loose fur being ingested when grooming. Finally, regular brushing sessions with a brush designed specifically for cats can help reduce the amount of loose fur in your pet's coat and minimize the risk of developing a serious blockage due to ingested fur. 

Are Hairballs Dangerous For My Cat?                                                              

In most cases, no – most cats experience no ill effects from vomiting up a hairball once every few weeks or so. However, if your cat vomits more frequently than this or has difficulty passing stools regularly then it could indicate a more serious problem such as intestinal obstruction due to hair accumulation. If this is the case, then it would be best to bring your kitty into the vet immediately so that they can diagnose and treat any underlying issues causing these symptoms before they worsen over time.

Hairballs are often seen as gross by-products of having a pet cat – but there’s actually more than meets the eye! Understanding why cats experience them and how we can help prevent them goes far beyond just cleaning up after our furry friends after they’ve thrown one up on our carpets! With regular grooming sessions and high-quality wet food/supplements specifically designed for preventing them – we can ensure our cats remain healthy while avoiding those pesky (and gross!) little blobs on our floors!