Symptoms, Causes & Natural Remedies

A long-held myth in the cat world is that regular hairballs are a normal part of life for cats. This is untrue. Vomiting hairballs is not normal for cats. Cats who throw up hairballs on a regular basis have an underlying issue that should be addressed by the cat parent.

Symptoms of Hairballs in Cats

Hairballs often appear as a stool-looking substance that regurgitates from the digestive system and shows up in the vomit of cats. Before vomiting a hairball, you’ll often see cats ‘wheeze’ and/or cough – hovering low to the ground as if they are trying to get air.

If your cat is unable to expel the hairball, you may see lack of appetite and lethargy.

Cats with hairball issues may also have constipation.

Common causes of Hairballs in Cats

• Dry food diets / Moisture-deficient
• Poor quality ingredients in food – Cats were not designed to consume the starches, carbohydrates and grains that are present in dry foods. This can cause “clogging” in the digestive tract, resulting in hairballs. 
• Excessive shedding
• Digestive problems
• Overgrooming

Natural Treatments for Hairballs in Cats

The health of the hair follicle is directly proportional to the overall health of your kitty. If your cat is shedding excessively, they will be more prone to hairballs. Addressing the root issue typically resolves the hairball issue. Here are some tips on how to do just that:

• Feed your cat a moisture-rich diet (wet food is better for cats than dry food)
• Feed a grain-free, high quality diet (a species appropriate, balanced raw or gently cooked diet is best)
• Brush your cat daily
• Add digestive enzymes (CATalyst) to the daily diet to help break down the ingested hair and heal the skin/coat
• Offer your cat ½ tsp of coconut oil daily to help keep the digestive system lubricated and strengthen the skin/coat (organic, unrefined coconut oil is recommended)
• If your cat is overgrooming, you will want to rule out topical skin problems with your veterinarian. If this is due to stress, click here for steps on how to reduce stress in your cat.