Hairballs
Hairballs, or trichobezoars, can be a common occurrence when you have cats in the house. Cats ingest hair when they groom themselves. Usually this is not a problem because the hair is excreted in the feces gradually over time. However, in some cases, the hair may build up to a level where it cannot be excreted and must be vomited up. Sometimes, there may be so much hair that it cannot be excreted or vomited up, and can lead to an intestinal blockage.
Hairballs are generally more common in long-haired or older cats. If your cat is going to vomit up a hairball, it is quite a performance! There will be lots of retching and dry heaving before the hairball is finally spit out onto the floor. Then you will be left with a lovely mat of wet, soggy hair on your floor!
If your cat gets an intestinal blockage due to a hairball this is a serious situation. You may notice signs of dry heaving, attempts to vomit without production, and constipation. If you suspect an intestinal blockage you should contact your veterinarian because this may require medical intervention.
If your cat is prone to hairballs, you can feed her a special "hairball-reduction" diet. This diet is available from many of the major pet food manufacturers. These are basically higher-fiber diets that will help your cat move the hairballs along her digestive tract. There are also treats that work to help break up the hairballs within the digestive system. The best way to reduce hairballs, especially in a long-haired cat, if through frequent brushing. By reducing the amount of loose hair on your cat for her to ingest, she will form fewer hairballs in her digestive tract!