How to Get Rid of a Hairball

Hariballs are also callled trichobezoars.

A cat hacking up a hairball is unpleasant for the owner to hear and uncomfortable for the cat. Cats get hairballs from grooming themselves. The hair collects in the stomach and if it's not expelled through the cat's digestive system, the hair has to come out the other way — by hacking, gagging and then vomiting it up. Getting rid of hairballs before your cat hacks them up will save you both some grief.

Things You'll Need

• Brush
• Clean cloth
• Hairball cat food
• Supplements

Instructions

1. Brush your cat regularly. Hairballs gather in its stomach because cats spends about 10 percent of their waking hours grooming themselves. Long-haired cats are particularly prone to developing hairballs so they need to be brushed on a daily basis. Wipe your cat with a clean cloth after brushing to remove any lingering hairs.

2. Purchase a cat food specially formulated to reduce hairballs. Add a supplement containing nondigestible oil-based ingredients which lubricates the intestinal tract to help the hairballs pass more easily.

3. Count how many times your cat vomits hairballs. Cats should only vomit hairballs one to four times a month. If your cat is vomiting hairballs more often, it could be a symptom of an underlying gastrointestinal problem.

4. Monitor your cat for other symptoms if it frequently vomits hairballs. Look for signs of constipation — straining in the litter box or outside — or diarrhea. If so, seek veterinary attention.

References

• ASPCA: Hairballs
• PetEducation.com; Hairballs Cause Vomiting, Not Coughing; Drs. Foster and Smith
• Pets.ca: Tip 69 – Hairballs in cats – Cat Has Hairballs – Treating a Hairball Problem