Hairball Awareness Day

Last Updated on May 11, 2021 by Holly Anne Dustin

Why Do Cats Get Hairballs?

When your cat licks her coat, fur sticks to her barbed tongue, and she swallows the fur. Her digestive tract is built to handle hair.  After all, in the wild cats eat the whole of whatever they catch, they don’t skin off the fur. But sometimes they can’t digest it.  That’s when a hairball forms and you find that wet, nasty mess on the floor (bed, sofa).

If your kitty is throwing up hairballs too often, she’s probably going to need treatment.  You could try a preventative formula food or treats or the classic hairball paste. Most of the gel products on the market are petroleum based or mineral oil based.  But there are other options.

In honor of Hairball Awareness Day, here are some natural ways to help your kitty handle the hair.

• Feed a moisture-rich diet:  Keeping her digestive tract well hydrated will help the hairball pass through easier.
• Add fiber to her diet: a little bit of canned pumpkin, psyllium fiber, slippery elm, or marshmallow.  The fiber will help the hair pass through without forming balls.
• Add omega 3 supplements:  Fish oil or Krill oil will help improve the overall condition of kitty’s skin and coat which will help prevent hairballs in the first place.
• Add egg yolks or egg yolk lecithin: 1-2 egg yolks a week should prevent furballs from becoming a problem.  You can use a supplement instead if your kitty won’t eat eggs.
• Add a bit of fat to the diet:  feed fattier cuts of meat or a little bit of butter.  It is a controversial option, but you could try a bit of coconut oil instead.

Chronic vomiting isn’t normal and kitty should see a vet to rule out any other digestive problems. Hairballs can cause an obstruction which would need surgical intervention.  If your cat gets lethargic, goes 2-3 days without eating, or tries to vomit unproductively then you need to get her to the vet. Left untreated an obstruction will be fatal.

The best way to prevent hairballs is to feed your cat a good diet and brush her regularly.  Removing the excess hair before she can swallow it is the one sure way to make sure you aren’t stepping on it in a wet and slimy hairball in the morning.

For a humorous take on how to celebrate Hairball Awareness Day on April 27th with your cat, check out this article at Bustle.