What are the symptoms of hairballs (trichobezoar)?

Retching and bringing up cylinders of hair. Coughing or nausea after grooming. If the hairball does not come up: vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation. In rare cases: intestinal obstruction (emergency)

Is Hairballs (trichobezoar) contagious?

Hairballs (trichobezoar) does not spread directly between animals.

Digestivas

Hairballs (trichobezoar)

A build-up of hair in the cat's stomach, formed by swallowing hair during grooming. Normally the cat brings it back up; the problem arises when it cannot expel it.

Mild🐈 Cats

Symptoms to watch for

• Retching and bringing up cylinders of hair
• Coughing or nausea after grooming
• If the hairball does not come up: vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation
• In rare cases: intestinal obstruction (emergency)

Causes

The cat swallows hair while grooming. Long-haired cats, those in moulting season, or those that over-groom (due to stress or itching) accumulate more.

Diagnosis

Clinical history. If there is persistent vomiting, the vet rules out an obstruction with an X-ray or ultrasound.

Treatment

Frequent brushing to reduce the amount of hair swallowed, malt or hairball paste, and specific high-fibre diets. A hairball obstructing the intestine is a surgical emergency.

Prevention

Brush the cat regularly (daily for long hair and during moulting season), a suitable diet, and treating over-grooming if it is stress-related.

When should you see the vet?

See your vet if your cat retches frequently without bringing up hair, or has repeated vomiting with loss of appetite.

Consult a vet

WetAi guides you and takes you to the vet; it does not diagnose.

Notice: this information is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It does NOT replace diagnosis or treatment by a registered veterinary surgeon. If you notice any symptoms, always consult a professional. Wallapets accepts no responsibility for the use of this information without veterinary supervision.