Why Does My Cat Keep Getting Hairballs?

If you're regularly waking up to the unmistakable sound of your cat hacking in the middle of the night, you're definitely not alone.

Hairballs are one of those things most cat parents accept as part of living with a cat.

But why do they actually happen?

And more importantly, is there anything you can do to help?

The short answer

Cats swallow loose fur every time they groom themselves.

Most of that fur travels through the digestive system and eventually ends up in the litter box. But because hair is made primarily from keratin, your cat can't simply digest it like food.

Sometimes swallowed hair collects in the stomach instead of moving through normally.

Eventually, your cat may bring that collection of fur back up as a hairball.

Your cat is swallowing hair every single day

A cat's tongue is remarkably good at grooming.

Those tiny backward-facing structures you can feel when a cat licks your hand help remove loose fur from the coat.

The problem is that once that fur enters your cat's mouth, much of it gets swallowed.

That doesn't automatically mean a hairball will form.

In fact, most swallowed fur normally continues through the digestive tract.

Hairballs happen when some of that fur accumulates instead.

Some cats are more prone to hairballs

Hairballs can happen to almost any cat, but certain cats may experience them more frequently.

Long-haired cats naturally have more hair available to swallow during grooming.

Cats that shed heavily can also ingest more loose fur, particularly during seasonal shedding.

And cats that groom themselves excessively may swallow more fur than usual.

That's why reducing loose fur through regular brushing can be one of the simplest things a cat parent can do.

Are occasional hairballs normal?

An occasional hairball isn't automatically a reason to panic.

What matters more is whether your cat's usual behaviour suddenly changes.

Repeated unsuccessful retching, loss of appetite, lethargy, unusual vomiting or obvious discomfort shouldn't simply be dismissed as "another hairball."

Hairballs can occasionally become too large to move normally through the digestive tract, and frequent vomiting can have many causes unrelated to hairballs.

When something seems different from your cat's normal routine, speak with your veterinarian.

What can you do about hairballs?

The goal isn't necessarily to stop your cat grooming.

Grooming is normal cat behaviour.

Instead, the aim is to reduce how much loose hair is swallowed and support its normal journey through the digestive system.

Brush away loose fur

Regular brushing removes hair before your cat has the chance to swallow it.

This is especially useful for long-haired cats and during periods of heavy shedding.

Keep your cat hydrated

Good hydration supports normal digestive function.

Fresh water should always be available, and some cats naturally consume more moisture when wet food forms part of their diet.

Pay attention to diet

Certain hairball-support foods and treats use ingredients such as dietary fibre to support the movement of swallowed hair through the digestive tract.

The important distinction is that hair isn't being magically "dissolved."

You're supporting the normal process by which swallowed hair moves through the body.

Hairball care shouldn't have to become a battle

One frustration we hear repeatedly from cat parents is that traditional hairball solutions aren't always easy to give.

Anyone who has tried convincing a suspicious cat to lick a sticky paste knows exactly what we mean.

That's one of the reasons we created Fresh Fangs around a much easier idea: make supporting your cat's normal routine something they actually look forward to.

[Discover Fresh Fangs →]

The bottom line

Your cat grooms.

Your cat swallows fur.

And most of the time, that fur passes through the body without you ever knowing it was there.

Supporting your cat means reducing unnecessary loose fur, keeping them hydrated, paying attention to digestive health and knowing when something doesn't look normal.

Because the goal isn't simply fewer unpleasant surprises on the carpet.

It's helping your cat feel comfortable while doing what cats have always done: grooming themselves.