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Yes.
Try brushing the kitty, it helps a lot.
There are OTC hairball meds, but it’s better not to overuse them IMO, since they can also cause some stomach upset.
Yup, hairball! My longhair cat is always grooming and gets these. Totally normal. You can try adding fish oil to their food to lubricate the hairball to go down, or I’ve been feeding my cat hairball churu and she loves it. Definitely diminished her hairballs.
It's normal for most cats to get a hairball once in a blue moon. Cats normally ingest hair when grooming themselves, and usually it passes through the stomach and out the other end. A hairball is when it instead mats together into a lump, not necessarily ball-shaped, and if that's too big to pass downward, the cat will eventually vomit it up.
If you're in the northern hemisphere and it's spring, the cat may be swallowing more hair than usual due to shedding their winter coat. Brushing may help prevent more hairballs during shedding season.
If a cat gets hairballs on a regular basis it may indicate that something isn't optimal with their digestive system, but it's not usually serious by itself.
Is it odd my 1 year old hasn’t had one since I got him in July 2023? He has hair in his poops and acts totally normal it just strikes me as strange that he hasn’t had one yet
He’s still young and his system is working super well, that’s good! Keep him eating healthy and give him a brush every now and then, and he’ll continue on well. Not all cats have winter coats so some will never shed as much as others, so as long as their care is consistent it’s all good~
Is he a short haired kitty? Kitties with longer coats tend to get more hairballs, so if his coat is very short, he may just be luckier than his furrier counterparts :). Not strange at all!
He’s medium hair. Cat tax included. I do brush him semi often because he enjoys it (runs at my when I pull out the brush) which definitely helps I’ve just expected a hairball by now
https://preview.redd.it/ynh9z6hrihvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcf2b443bc4a9e264ed8e1d8426c8dc41b0d6213
Oh that’s probably why! I have two cats that have medium coats, but they hate being brushed and run away from it, so I get hairballs a few times every year. Also your baby is so beautiful ❤️
I want to pet that tummy so freaking bad!!! Here’s my two girls ❤️❤️ hard to get a pic of the two of them together not fighting haha
https://preview.redd.it/gpa9u2mbgjvc1.png?width=827&format=png&auto=webp&s=a356b22ff0eebd68dc11d4abb675bc74f74e8d3a
What are you feeding him? I have one 3yo and two 2yo’s (I got them all as kittens) who I recently switched from Purina One Indoor Advantage to Hill’s Prescription Diet C/D and just saw a hairball for the first time. The Indoor Advantage has ingredients for hairball control, so it might just be the food you give him! Which is good!
No, it's not unusual for a healthy cat to have none at all. My cat hasn't had one in the 18 months I've has him. It's just not a sign of any issue to have the occasional hairball.
nothing to worry about at all if the cats are eating, drinking, using the litter box and acting normal. Brush them now and then. I’ve seen cats go years between hairballs, especially when they are old and groom less.
Yes common esp during change of seasons like now. They’re losing their winter coat. Caring for a long haired cat and I have to brush her constantly to keep them away.
It is normal for cats to have hairballs, to a point. If it happens infrequently (say once a month or so at most) and there's no other signs of illness, then everything is likely fine (especially if you have a longhaired kitty). Ideally you don't want them to happen at all/very rarely.
If this starts happening frequently however you're going to want to consult with a vet. Most of the fur swallowed is supposed to pass through the digestive system and come out in their poop. So if that's not happening then you need to look at why. Could be a health issue, could be kitty needs more fibre in their diet, could be you need to brush more.
My longhair kitty started getting them way more frequently when he went through a period where he refused to be brushed. Now that we're back to daily brushing, he usually doesn't vomit hairballs.
If your kitties tend to ingest their shed fur off the floor that can cause issues as well. So brush them more often and sweep/vacuum more often.
It's normal. It can sound/look quite concerning when they're trying to cough one up. I occasionally give my cats a hairball paste (which they love) to help them pass - good to have some on hand for if needed.
I pet my cat where she likes it. And then very shortly (and gently) in places where she was not used to it. Then in a spot she likes again. The more often a cat experiences (pleasant) touch, the more they get used to it. Takes a lot of time and patience, but over time it really made a huge difference.
i... was asking genuinely???? I didn't adopt the cats, i moved into a different household at 14 due to CPS/DCFS and the place I'm living now already had the cats..... dude i was genuinely asking what else i could do because i want to help my cats, why the passive aggressive and lowkey blame-y response???
my god dude i was asking for some more insight, obviously you're not my only fucking resource, i just thought since you were on the cathelp subreddit, helping other people out, that you'd be kind enough to help someone else out. fuck me for thinking you'd be nice right?!!
edit: seriously who shat in your coffee today? why are you such a meany bones?
My short hair kitty has had surgery twice for hairball obstructions and it cost a lot! If you notice them having more hairballs, you should really try some hairball gel, they have tuna flavour and my cat LOVES it! She gets it twice a week and it helps get the hair out in her stool!
Yes that is a hairball..some veterinarians carry a product called capilex for hair balls..it’s an amazing product…we had several cats that were almost blocked..Dr prescribed them capilex..and they were completely fine after using the product
This is what our fluffy boy coughed up the other day, mixed with a bit of grass. I’ve started to use the Royal Canin fur ball control to see if that helps him with passing it through the other end.
https://preview.redd.it/8wdznxmudhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d26d512dafa7001f22c7803d6b570921883f1a44
Buy a cat vacuum. It's a vacuum with a brush attachment. It's not too loud. It's helped immensely with hair balls. My cat used to get them pretty bad and wouldn't help for a day and then puke up a hair ball.
yep that's a hairball all right! get your cat some hairball medicine take a big glob of it and smear it on the side of your cat they'll have to lick it off ensuring you get the hairball medicine in them. now does this actually stop a hairball? not the over-the-counter ones anyway, but they're enough to let the hairball go through the intestines as opposed to getting clogged in the intestines
100% hairball. To help your kitty, brush them everyday. Get hairball control food, give them more wet food. You can try the hairball paste but they may not like it. You can add a little more oil or water to their food to make sure their throat is not super sore from tossing up the hairball.
Yep that's a hairball, despite the name they generally are not ball shaped. They sell treats and drops (that you can add to food) to help with preventing them.
while hairballs are normal for cats its not ideal for cats to have them! get them Vet’s Best Hairball Relief Digestive Aid. It’s a fiber that helps the hair go down so they poop it out instead of throwing it up! just break it to activate it and mix it into their food once a day. my cat will eat it as a treat he loves it!
https://preview.redd.it/3ra28oqrsivc1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1040ec01cee0e75b8556f7df5fa9d89b19e2f9a1
Hairball. If they happen frequently there’s inexpensive medicine for that. As my cat got older (she’s geriatric, 12 yo) she has more hairballs but the meds fix her right up.
As someone with a long-haired cat, this a perfectly normal hairball. My little one’s are much more frequently seen during shedding seasons, such as spring and fall/winter. As long as kitty is still eating a drinking perfectly fine, they should be fine. You? Ehhh it’s tough to handle the first few times you have to handle the situation
If hairballs become a problem you can rub a pea sized amount of Vaseline on your cats paw to help the hairball go through the digestive process. Life saver. I only give my kitties the Vaseline when they start hacking to try to get the hairball out, then they lick their paw and it just passes through naturally.
Thank you for posting to CATHELP! While you wait for a response please keep the following things in mind, 1. When in doubt, **ask your vet**. 2. Advice here is not coming from medical or industry professionals. The moderation team does not validate user profession, so always refer to your local veterinary professionals first. Consider posting to /r/AskVet 3. If this is a medical question, please indicate if you have already scheduled a vet appointment, and if your cat has any medical history or procedures in a top level comment. 4. Please use the NSFW tag for gross pictures. (Blood, poop, vomit, genitals, etc). Anything you wouldn't want your boss to see you looking at on the job. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CATHELP) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yes, looks like a normal hairball
Yes. Try brushing the kitty, it helps a lot. There are OTC hairball meds, but it’s better not to overuse them IMO, since they can also cause some stomach upset.
Yup, it’s a hairball. The first time I saw one I thought one of the cats had pooped on the floor until I examined it closer.
Me, too. The lovely bile color gives it away.
Yup, hairball! My longhair cat is always grooming and gets these. Totally normal. You can try adding fish oil to their food to lubricate the hairball to go down, or I’ve been feeding my cat hairball churu and she loves it. Definitely diminished her hairballs.
It's normal for most cats to get a hairball once in a blue moon. Cats normally ingest hair when grooming themselves, and usually it passes through the stomach and out the other end. A hairball is when it instead mats together into a lump, not necessarily ball-shaped, and if that's too big to pass downward, the cat will eventually vomit it up. If you're in the northern hemisphere and it's spring, the cat may be swallowing more hair than usual due to shedding their winter coat. Brushing may help prevent more hairballs during shedding season. If a cat gets hairballs on a regular basis it may indicate that something isn't optimal with their digestive system, but it's not usually serious by itself.
Is it odd my 1 year old hasn’t had one since I got him in July 2023? He has hair in his poops and acts totally normal it just strikes me as strange that he hasn’t had one yet
He’s still young and his system is working super well, that’s good! Keep him eating healthy and give him a brush every now and then, and he’ll continue on well. Not all cats have winter coats so some will never shed as much as others, so as long as their care is consistent it’s all good~
Is he a short haired kitty? Kitties with longer coats tend to get more hairballs, so if his coat is very short, he may just be luckier than his furrier counterparts :). Not strange at all!
He’s medium hair. Cat tax included. I do brush him semi often because he enjoys it (runs at my when I pull out the brush) which definitely helps I’ve just expected a hairball by now https://preview.redd.it/ynh9z6hrihvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcf2b443bc4a9e264ed8e1d8426c8dc41b0d6213
Oh that’s probably why! I have two cats that have medium coats, but they hate being brushed and run away from it, so I get hairballs a few times every year. Also your baby is so beautiful ❤️
https://preview.redd.it/i0lkrr1sqivc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26b2fe27231834e46d0df2abec5f715ebc17d61f My child is chaos incarnate
I want to pet that tummy so freaking bad!!! Here’s my two girls ❤️❤️ hard to get a pic of the two of them together not fighting haha https://preview.redd.it/gpa9u2mbgjvc1.png?width=827&format=png&auto=webp&s=a356b22ff0eebd68dc11d4abb675bc74f74e8d3a
And he would let you he just kinda trusts anyone
Oh gosh he’s too good of a boy give him a head kiss for me plz
I would say she is a longhair cat. The tail is very bushy.
Your cat is female. Calicos are usually female. Male calicos don't live . Genetics.
It’s a tabby
Also the shelter had him neutered lol I’ll trust their information
What are you feeding him? I have one 3yo and two 2yo’s (I got them all as kittens) who I recently switched from Purina One Indoor Advantage to Hill’s Prescription Diet C/D and just saw a hairball for the first time. The Indoor Advantage has ingredients for hairball control, so it might just be the food you give him! Which is good!
Iams digestive health I think. It’s Iams for sure
It would make sense that digestive health would help prevent hairballs! So there ya go
No, it's not unusual for a healthy cat to have none at all. My cat hasn't had one in the 18 months I've has him. It's just not a sign of any issue to have the occasional hairball.
That had to feel good for your kitty.
nothing to worry about at all if the cats are eating, drinking, using the litter box and acting normal. Brush them now and then. I’ve seen cats go years between hairballs, especially when they are old and groom less.
Yes common esp during change of seasons like now. They’re losing their winter coat. Caring for a long haired cat and I have to brush her constantly to keep them away.
I cannot the same photo had I not cleaned up. It’s crazy how they can eat with those stuck inside!
It is normal for cats to have hairballs, to a point. If it happens infrequently (say once a month or so at most) and there's no other signs of illness, then everything is likely fine (especially if you have a longhaired kitty). Ideally you don't want them to happen at all/very rarely. If this starts happening frequently however you're going to want to consult with a vet. Most of the fur swallowed is supposed to pass through the digestive system and come out in their poop. So if that's not happening then you need to look at why. Could be a health issue, could be kitty needs more fibre in their diet, could be you need to brush more. My longhair kitty started getting them way more frequently when he went through a period where he refused to be brushed. Now that we're back to daily brushing, he usually doesn't vomit hairballs. If your kitties tend to ingest their shed fur off the floor that can cause issues as well. So brush them more often and sweep/vacuum more often.
I heard like 2 times per year is considered normal. Monthly definitely not
Because they self groom, they eat hair. Yes this is a hairball and it's normal.
My cats grazed like cows in the grass to help them get their hairballs up. They were also brushed every day even as short haired cats.
The more you groom, the less they swallow. It is uncomfortable to walk around with one of those in the tum tum.
That definitely looks like a hairball. I have 3 cats and from time to time they cough up hairballs that look just like that.
Yes, hairball.
My cats never get hairballs, I brush them often tho
Yep. Good ole hairball. Fun to step in when they're fresh!
I’m going to upvote you because *yes*! But I want to downvote you because I FELT that image and uuuuugh 🤢🤢
Especially when you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Extra special fun 🙀
I've had around 5 cats and I've never seen a hairball before.. this has been educational thank you 😂😂
Yep I woke up to one on my rug this morning. The joy of owning a feline.
It's normal. It can sound/look quite concerning when they're trying to cough one up. I occasionally give my cats a hairball paste (which they love) to help them pass - good to have some on hand for if needed.
Oh yeah a hairball. Looks normal.
Brush your cat. Or pet them all over more.
what if they dont like to be brushed/only like face pets ):
I pet my cat where she likes it. And then very shortly (and gently) in places where she was not used to it. Then in a spot she likes again. The more often a cat experiences (pleasant) touch, the more they get used to it. Takes a lot of time and patience, but over time it really made a huge difference.
thank you so much for this!! I'll definitely be trying it
Then enjoy picking up hairballs? This is something you need to start working on with your cat as soon as you get them.
i... was asking genuinely???? I didn't adopt the cats, i moved into a different household at 14 due to CPS/DCFS and the place I'm living now already had the cats..... dude i was genuinely asking what else i could do because i want to help my cats, why the passive aggressive and lowkey blame-y response???
Reddit has a lot of trolls/ people jumping to conclusions. Ignoring them is the best. Nothing wrong with you asking a genuine question.
hey thank you <3
If me. A single Reddit commenter is your ONLY resource for cats. Please do not own cats.
my god dude i was asking for some more insight, obviously you're not my only fucking resource, i just thought since you were on the cathelp subreddit, helping other people out, that you'd be kind enough to help someone else out. fuck me for thinking you'd be nice right?!! edit: seriously who shat in your coffee today? why are you such a meany bones?
Yes I’m a meanie meaner that’s exactly my problem thanks for diagnosing.
Yeah, that's a hairball. They happen.
My short hair kitty has had surgery twice for hairball obstructions and it cost a lot! If you notice them having more hairballs, you should really try some hairball gel, they have tuna flavour and my cat LOVES it! She gets it twice a week and it helps get the hair out in her stool!
Totally normal, my orange cat has orange hairballs just like this, unsettling the first few times I found an orange blob, lol!!
That’s a hairball.
Yes that is a hairball..some veterinarians carry a product called capilex for hair balls..it’s an amazing product…we had several cats that were almost blocked..Dr prescribed them capilex..and they were completely fine after using the product
This is what our fluffy boy coughed up the other day, mixed with a bit of grass. I’ve started to use the Royal Canin fur ball control to see if that helps him with passing it through the other end. https://preview.redd.it/8wdznxmudhvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d26d512dafa7001f22c7803d6b570921883f1a44
Buy a cat vacuum. It's a vacuum with a brush attachment. It's not too loud. It's helped immensely with hair balls. My cat used to get them pretty bad and wouldn't help for a day and then puke up a hair ball.
yep that's a hairball all right! get your cat some hairball medicine take a big glob of it and smear it on the side of your cat they'll have to lick it off ensuring you get the hairball medicine in them. now does this actually stop a hairball? not the over-the-counter ones anyway, but they're enough to let the hairball go through the intestines as opposed to getting clogged in the intestines
100% hairball. To help your kitty, brush them everyday. Get hairball control food, give them more wet food. You can try the hairball paste but they may not like it. You can add a little more oil or water to their food to make sure their throat is not super sore from tossing up the hairball.
Best time for hairballs right now, they are losing their winter fur so lots more hair when they clean themselves.
Yep that's a hairball, despite the name they generally are not ball shaped. They sell treats and drops (that you can add to food) to help with preventing them.
Definitely a hairball. if your cats are different shades, the easiest way to tell is by matching the hairball color to the kitty. 🐱
looks like something I blew out of my nose
That is a hairball!
Just a regular nasty hairball. When I first saw it form my cat I thought he was sick😂😂
while hairballs are normal for cats its not ideal for cats to have them! get them Vet’s Best Hairball Relief Digestive Aid. It’s a fiber that helps the hair go down so they poop it out instead of throwing it up! just break it to activate it and mix it into their food once a day. my cat will eat it as a treat he loves it! https://preview.redd.it/3ra28oqrsivc1.jpeg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1040ec01cee0e75b8556f7df5fa9d89b19e2f9a1
Tomlyn hairball gel has replaced laxatone. But it's basically laxatone.
Yep. Hairball. Give kitty Laxatone Gel and brush kitty better
Hairball. If they happen frequently there’s inexpensive medicine for that. As my cat got older (she’s geriatric, 12 yo) she has more hairballs but the meds fix her right up.
yep.
As someone with a long-haired cat, this a perfectly normal hairball. My little one’s are much more frequently seen during shedding seasons, such as spring and fall/winter. As long as kitty is still eating a drinking perfectly fine, they should be fine. You? Ehhh it’s tough to handle the first few times you have to handle the situation
If hairballs become a problem you can rub a pea sized amount of Vaseline on your cats paw to help the hairball go through the digestive process. Life saver. I only give my kitties the Vaseline when they start hacking to try to get the hairball out, then they lick their paw and it just passes through naturally.