Symptom · Cats
Cat vomiting hairballs: what it means and when to call the vet
An occasional hairball is normal for many cats. Frequent hairballs, repeated retching without producing one, or vomiting with lethargy or loss of appetite needs a vet.
By Maya HartCommon causes
- Swallowed hair from grooming, especially in long-haired cats
- Over-grooming from itchy skin or stress
- Slow gut movement in older cats
What you can do at home
- Brush your cat regularly, especially long-haired breeds
- Hairball diets or pastes can help — ask your vet
- Encourage drinking with wet food or a fountain
What the vet may do
- Check for gut disease that causes vomiting
- Treat skin problems causing over-grooming
- Surgery if a hairball blocks the gut (rare)
Prevention
- Regular brushing
- Enough fibre and water
The details
Many owners assume all vomiting in cats is hairballs. Vets now consider frequent vomiting — more than once or twice a month — worth investigating, because it can be an early sign of inflammatory bowel disease or other conditions, particularly in older cats.
Questions owners ask
Is cat vomiting hairballs an emergency?
Often it can be watched at home for a day, as long as none of the warning signs appear. Go now if you see: repeated retching with nothing coming up; not eating, or constipation for more than a day or two; a swollen or painful belly; lethargy or hiding.
What causes cat vomiting hairballs?
Swallowed hair from grooming, especially in long-haired cats; Over-grooming from itchy skin or stress; Slow gut movement in older cats.
What can I do at home?
Brush your cat regularly, especially long-haired breeds. Hairball diets or pastes can help — ask your vet. Encourage drinking with wet food or a fountain.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts