Does Your Cat Have Hairballs? Watch This Video!

Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ shares the details on hairballs in cats, explaining why they happen and what you can do to help.

Video Navigation:

0:00 Introduction
1:39 What are Hairballs?
2:11 Identifying Hairballs
3:35 How to Know if Your Cat's Hairballs Are Normal
5:04 How Vets Evaluate Cats With Hairballs
5:17 Causes of Hairball Problems
6:03 How to Treat Hairballs in Cats
9:40 Conclusion

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[nancyhammons]

When I hear that retching noise once I know it's a hair ball, if I hear it twice its food and I'm looking at the vomit to see what's in it. My little girl has eaten paper, we've had a discussion on "If it's not food don't eat it", she doesn't listen, she just purrs. My big boy, long hair cat loves Temptations Hairball Control snack.

[robinholbrook]

Dr. Sarah, you have such a lovely presence. I love listening and watching you. And I appreciate the way you present the information in a form we (lay people) can understand. Because fur balls are a real problem with 2x of my kitties I recently did some research. These are some of the “tips” I found. Please correct any you don’t agree with! 1) Feed 1 sardine packed in oil a month
2)Drain oil from tuna and mix on kitty’s food
3) every other week 1 teaspoon of safflower oil on food
4) after brushing wipe kitty with a natural baby wipe to remove any loose hair
5) mix 1/2 teaspoon Metamucil (psycillium husks) with water and mix with food 2x a day
6) mix 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin with food 1-2 x a day. They love this! Be sure it’s PLAIN pumpkin NOT the pumpkin pie mix!!!
7) put some ORGANIC COCONUT OIL on their nose or paw every day. Just a pea size 2 x a day. Works like petroleum jelly only healthier.

I’ve been doing the pumpkin but I’m going to add the coconut oil. Only do ONE at first and see how it goes for at least 6-8 weeks. My w guys vomit fur balls every 3-4 days…and ALWAYS on my newly folded clean laundry! Sigh….❤️🐾❤️

[liveslisa]

I have an 8 year old cat that has vomited all the time since she was a kitten. She gets cleared by the vet every year. Thanks for your video. I'll try the Temptations since she won't take hairball medication from me. Maybe they will help. She is a short-haired cat. I have a long-haired cat who never vomits hairballs. Go figure.

[mattdonna]

It's kinda weird waking up today finding a fresh hairball on my bed and 10 minutes later this popped up on my tablet. Thanks again doctor Sarah for sharing your knowledge and your love for cats. P.S. I loved your story about your drooling cat.

[dmm]

My cat is too lazy to groom herself. So I brush her and use cat wipes because she does not like the bathtub. That's why she doesn't throw up hairballs. She's old and lazy and I love her.
❤️😸❤️

[nunyabznz]

Thank you again for your time and effort to make these videos for us!

[yesim.kartalli]

Thank you very much Dr. Sarah. You're a great help (as always)

[stacyflores]

Thank you for covering Hairballs!!! My cats were going through this recently, and I really wanted to see other ways to help my cats besides changing their diet/ food. I was wondering if you could cover dental health for cats?

[jjnlucky]

For people in a hurry, she gets to the remedies at 7:36.

[williamforsyth]

Thank you! This information has been very helpful. My cat does have issues with hairballs at certain times of the season. I now use a over the counter natural hairball remedy that works. Thanks again.

[carolcole]

10-10-2023. I have been beside myself trying to help my cats with their hairballs. Three days ago I finally got hold of something that I am praying will help. Well, it HAS helped for 3 days, and to my way of thinking, 3 days without cats vomiting is like a miracle to me. And the most miraculous part is that both cats absolutely love it ! I suppose that different remedies work with different cats, so thank you for your video.

[j.s.]

This is very informative. Thank you! My vet didn't seem concerned about my cat's episodes.

[sarahdee]

I used to live on 4 acres in the woods with my indoor/outdoor cat Shyla. After she had been with me about 5 years I was marveling at the fact that she had NEVER vomited up a hairball. What a good kitty. Then I sold that house, moved with Shyla to an apartment. Guess what, she now occasionally vomits 'em up! She must have been eating grass and vomiting them up outside and I just never saw that happening. So now I'm very interested in prevention. Thank you!!!
and PS I think they should be renamed "hair logs".

[monikajohnson]

Thanks for the info! My 2 year old cat vomited up his 1st hair ball! He grooms himself slot! Now I know what to do 😃 I'll be watching your videos more ! My cats are still young 4 and 2! I lost 2 cats 2 years ago but they had along great life They were 18 and 20 years old! I do have another question, I was able to take my 20 year old cat to the vet and be with her but my 18 year old cat took off and died alone! It broke my heart. Is there any reason that some cats do this? I've never had this happen before and I' ve always had several cats! So glad I found your show! Are you in Davis? I live in Oroville CA. Fortunately I have a wonderful vet here!

[easygoing]

Thank you very much for your advice and information that you so graciously give to us. These videos of yours are so helpful and informative! Again, thank you!

[petalpassion]

Thank you! One of mine coughs, gags, etc like she's going to throw up a hairball but then almost always swallows them. When she seems to be struggling, I do give her petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and she licks it off my finger. Lol. I swear sometimes she is acting just to get some "Vaseline" because she likes it! She's a little goofy. I've also let her lick coconut oil off my hands and put a little on her fur. Is that okay?? Thanks -Angie

[lulohi]

I am a first cat owner. Thanks for this

[Dogsnark]

I give my long-hair cat “Cat Lax” and it really seems to be effective. He still occasionally will throw up a hair ball, but previously, he’d been producing these on a regular basis. He still has coughing fits, but I suspect other causes for this that I hope a vet can help with.

[shawnaford]

I have a medium hair foster cat with IBS and hairballs cause a flare. Even though I brush nightly. I will get her a shave at the beginning of the shedding season.

[cathybeebe]

My MC has had very few problems with hairballs in his 15 years. Brushing and Purina hairball control kibble have done the trick. Thank you for these videos. I enjoy them very much.