How Often Do Cats Throw Up Hairballs in Limerick, PA?

Cats and hairballs can go together, but how often exactly? Cat owners both new and experienced often wonder whether or not it’s normal for their cats to have hairballs as often as they do. If you’re one of the many cat owners wondering the same thing, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the more common causes of hairballs and what makes cats throw them up often in some cases. With this information, you can determine whether or not your cat’s hairballs are normal and determine when to speak to your veterinarian as well.

 

Causes of Cat Hairballs

Coat Length

It may go without saying, but cats with longer hair will have more frequent hairballs than those with short hair or medium hair. And of course, cats with no hair will not have hairballs at all!

Despite this, even a longhaired cat shouldn’t have a cat hairball too often. It’s important to pay attention to the other areas that contribute to your cat’s hairballs so you can help him prevent this problem moving forward.

Grooming

Do you groom your cat? If you let him do all the grooming himself, he may be more prone to frequent hairballs because of this constant licking and self-grooming. However, you can help and reduce a cat hairball at the same time by grooming him yourself frequently.

To do this, you should invest in a brush that works best for your cat’s coat length. You may also want to pick up a variety of brushes and combs so you can get rid of your cat’s loose hair with ease. This has the added benefit of being soothing and comforting to most cats, so he will probably enjoy it!

Underlying Health Concerns

Cats who have long-term chronic health problems may be more prone to developing hairballs frequently than healthy cats. These health problems may cause your cat’s digestive system to work incorrectly or more slowly than it should, which can contribute to digestive issues such as hairballs.

On the other hand, some cats with health problems may be in a lot of pain, and this may cause them to lick the affected parts of their bodies too often. Licking to soothe their pain may cause cats to ingest more hair than is normal for them, which can also cause a frequent cat hairball.

Blockages

In some instances, hairballs can cause blockages in a cat’s digestive system. If this happens, cats may retch or vomit liquid but never be able to cough up the actual hairball, and they may also have severe diarrhea or severe constipation because of it as well.

A cat hairball may also be caused by blockages that already exist due to tumors or ingestion of foreign objects. If a cat’s digestive system is unable to digest hair properly due to a blockage, the cat will have more frequent hairballs. Once again, these may be unable to be coughed up because of the underlying problem.

Diet

Finally, the food your cat eats may have some impact on his hairballs. If your cat is not eating a healthy diet, his digestive system will not function the way it should, and this can quickly cause him to develop more frequent hairballs as a result.

Your Vet Can Help With Your Cat’s Hairballs

Now that you’ve learned a little bit more about hairballs in cats, you can understand when your cat’s hairball problem may be getting out of hand.