Why Does My Cat Get Hairballs? (And How Grooming Prevents Them)

Why Does My Cat Get Hairballs? (And How Grooming Prevents Them)
TL;DR Hairballs form when your cat swallows loose fur while self-grooming. The fix is upstream: remove loose fur before the tongue finds it — a few minutes of brushing or gloving per day during shedding season prevents most hairballs. Frequent hairballs (more than ~1–2 a month) or retching without producing one deserve a vet visit.

What actually causes hairballs?

Cats groom themselves for hours a day, and their tongues are covered in backward-facing barbs that pull loose fur straight into the mouth. Most of it passes through normally. When too much accumulates in the stomach, it comes back up as the tubular clump every cat parent knows. The Cornell Feline Health Center notes this is common — but frequency matters.

When are hairballs a warning sign?

Occasional hairballs are normal, especially in long-haired breeds and during spring/fall coat changes. Talk to your vet if you see: hairballs more than once or twice a month, repeated unproductive retching, lethargy, constipation, or appetite loss — those can signal a blockage or an underlying skin/gut issue, not just fur.

How do you prevent hairballs?

Method How it helps How often
Deshedding glove Lifts loose undercoat while you pet — fur lands on the glove, not the tongue Daily, 5 min
Steam brush Fine warm mist makes loose fur cling to the brush instead of floating free 1–2× a week
Hydration & diet Water and fiber keep swallowed fur moving through Always

The ASPCA's cat grooming guide recommends regular brushing for exactly this reason: every strand you catch is a strand your cat can't swallow.

A 5-minute anti-hairball routine

  1. Start when your cat is relaxed (post-meal is ideal).
  2. Glove through the coat with the fur's direction — cheeks, back, flanks.
  3. During heavy shedding weeks, follow with a steam-brush pass so the fine underlayer clings to the brush.
  4. Empty the glove/brush into the bin — that pile is the hairball that never happened.

Related reading: how to deshed a cat without the drama and why is my cat shedding so much?

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Hairball FAQs

How many hairballs per month is normal?

One or fewer for most short-haired cats; long-haired cats may produce slightly more during coat changes. A sudden increase is worth a vet call.

Do hairball gels work?

Lubricant gels can help fur pass through, but they treat the symptom. Removing loose fur by grooming addresses the cause.

Does shaving a cat stop hairballs?

No — and shaving can damage coat regrowth and temperature regulation. Regular deshedding is safer and works.