Cat Hairball Symptoms

An unfortunate side effect of cat grooming is cat hairballs. It's the licking, really. As a cat grooms herself, she can't help but swallow some hair as a result.

Normally, this hair will pass through your cat's stomach and digestive tract. Sometimes, however, traces of the hair remain behind. Over time, this hair accumulates and forms into a hairball-also known as a gastric trichobezoar, if you like big, scary terms.

Trichobezoar? Yikes, What to Do?
This is not a new phenomenon, and your cat knows exactly what to do: she vomits. Normally, vomiting will force the hairball out and your cat will be back to her normal, neat-freak ways.

But not always. In some cases, the hairball will become too large to pass (in one direction or another). In this case, your cat could be in danger. A blocked digestive tract could be a life-threatening situation. You'll be able to help if you're aware of the cat hairball symptoms your feline might display.

Keeping an Eye on Your Cat
If your cat has a hairball blockage, she let you know by displaying one or more of the following cat hairball symptoms:

• Hack, hack! If your cat's go-to response (vomiting) doesn't work, she may begin to have a dry, hacking cough or dry heaves. If this symptom is persistent and unproductive, your cat may have a hairball blockage.
• A change in appetite. If your cat suddenly begins eating less or coughs up undigested food, it could be a symptom of a cat hairball blockage.
• Swollen stomach. In extreme cases, the hairball blockage may be large enough to cause the stomach to swell or become hard.
• A clean litter box. If your cat slows or stops defecating, the blockage may be preventing proper bowel movements.