🧶 Vet Guide to Hairballs in Cats (2025): Causes, Myths & Solutions 🐱🧼

“He’s throwing up hairballs constantly.” If you’ve stepped on one of those slippery surprises, you know how unpleasant they are. But while hairballs are a common complaint, they may signal something more serious than just fur ingestion. In this 2025 veterinary guide, Dr. Duncan Houston BVSc dives into the medical, behavioral, and nutritional aspects of hairballs—formally known as trichobezoars—and what you can do to help your cat. 🩺🐾

🧬 What Are Hairballs?

A hairball, or trichobezoar, is a mass of undigested hair that accumulates in a cat’s stomach. Cats ingest hair while grooming, especially because their tongues have backward-facing barbs that catch loose fur. Most of the hair passes through the digestive tract and is eliminated in the stool. But when the digestive system can’t handle the load—or something else is wrong—it may be regurgitated. 🤢

🧼 Grooming: The First Factor

• 🐾 Normal grooming: Helps cats remove dirt, loose fur, and debris.
• 🐈 Long-haired cats: Ingest more fur than short-haired cats—especially if not brushed regularly.
• 🔁 Excessive grooming: Can be a response to pain, stress, anxiety, or skin irritation.

Overgrooming means more hair enters the digestive system than the body can process. This can lead to frequent hairballs. 🌀

⚠️ What Else Causes Hairballs?

Hairballs are often a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Here are some underlying causes your vet may consider: 🧠

• 🚨 Intestinal motility issues: Conditions like ileus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or GI cancer can slow digestion.
• 💔 Stress & stereotypic behaviors: Grooming as a coping mechanism, similar to thumb-sucking in children.
• 💊 Pain: Cats with arthritis or abdominal discomfort may overgroom painful areas.
• 🦠 Parasites or infections: Mites, fleas, or skin infections can trigger overgrooming.
• 🚽 Urinary tract issues: Like cystitis or kidney stones may increase grooming.

🔍 Diagnosing the Cause

If hairballs are frequent, your vet may recommend one or more of the following tests:

• 🧪 Blood tests and chemistry panel
• 💩 Fecal exam for parasites
• 💧 Urinalysis
• 🖼️ Abdominal ultrasound or radiographs
• 🧫 Skin cytology or fungal cultures
• 🧠 Behavior assessments for anxiety or obsessive grooming

These help uncover if hairballs are linked to GI disease, behavioral issues, or something more serious. 🔬

🧴 Treatment Options

1. 🪮 Grooming Support

• 🪥 Brush your cat daily, especially if long-haired
• 🧽 Use grooming wipes to reduce loose fur
• 🐾 Schedule professional grooming if needed

2. 🍽️ Diet Adjustments

• 🍗 High-fiber “hairball control” diets promote GI motility
• 💧 Hydration-rich diets help lubricate the tract
• 🔄 Easily digestible foods support smoother passage of hair

3. 🧘 Environmental Enrichment

• 🎣 Daily play sessions reduce boredom
• 🏠 Provide vertical space and window views
• 🧩 Use puzzle feeders for mental stimulation

4. 💊 Veterinary-Directed Therapy

• 💊 Anti-nausea medications if vomiting is severe
• 🔄 GI motility aids for cats with digestive slowdown
• 💡 Addressing the primary disease (IBD, pain, stress, etc.)

📆 When to See a Vet

Hairballs are common—but frequent vomiting or distress during regurgitation is not normal. Seek veterinary care if you notice:

• 🔁 Vomiting hairballs more than once a week
• 💤 Lethargy or appetite loss
• 📉 Weight loss
• 🩸 Blood in vomit or stool
• 💩 Chronic diarrhea or constipation

📲 Ask A Vet for Expert Help

Not sure if your cat’s hairballs are normal or a sign of something deeper? Use the Ask A Vet app to connect with Dr. Duncan Houston or another licensed vet. Get answers, treatment options, and grooming advice—all from your phone. 📱

Visit AskAVet.com for immediate support with feline grooming, GI health, and hairball prevention. 🐱

💬 Final Thoughts

Hairballs are more than a hairy nuisance—they can be a sign of stress, illness, or underlying health concerns. With the right approach, you can reduce hairballs and improve your cat’s overall well-being. 🧴🐾

Dr. Duncan Houston and the Ask A Vet team are here to help with solutions tailored to your cat’s unique health needs. 🩺❤️