Cats Don’t Always Have Hairballs
Even though they happen frequently, hairballs are actually not “normal.” In other words, cats don’t always have hairballs. A healthy cat will spend a lot of time grooming itself, removing and swallowing stray hair in the process. This occurs as a result of their tongues being covered in many tiny barbs that face backward and snag hair to transport it into their digestive systems. Most cats don’t have any problems as this eaten hair normally exits their system (and out the other end).
But some cats will accumulate so much hair in their digestive systems that it results in an obstruction that can be thrown up as a hairball. These hairballs are sometimes brought on by either having problems passing the hair through their system or consuming excessive amounts of hair by overgrooming (common with skin issues, sore places, or stress), or gastrointestinal diseases or certain medications.
Cats that are groomed often or don’t have a lot of hair won’t always have hairballs. In reality, whether or not your cat always has hairballs is more specific to the cat.
Do Cats Always Have Hairballs: Confusing hairballs and vomit
Hairballs and other types of vomit are frequently confused by owners, and it is understandable why. Cats are known for their distinctive crouching posture (with their necks stretched and their bodies low) and “expulsive” sounds when they vomit. And, let’s face it, as a cat owner, it’s an experience you’re not likely to forget. But cats do this whenever they vomit for any reason, and if they’ve been grooming, there is nearly always some hair in the vomit. However, just because there is hair in the vomit does not imply that a hairball is there.
A cat’s morning ritual of retching and spitting forth puddles of liquid, including tiny tangles of hair, is another frequent occurrence that many people mistake for hairballs. The time of day when cats are most likely to experience this is in the early morning when they begin to become active, are considering feeding, and have almost no food in them. Although this may contain liquid and hair, cats who do this frequently have acid indigestion, hyperacidity, or bilious (nauseous) vomiting, and they should be treated as such.
The proportion of hair to other material is the main indicator for distinguishing between vomit and hairballs. A hairball will look like a tightly wound cigar with some digestive fluid surrounding it. In contrast, vomit will mostly consist of liquids, bile, undigested food, and/or other things, however some hair may also be present.
Hairballs Look Different Than You Think
Actually, a hairball doesn’t resemble a ball at all. In reality, as hairballs are long, dense, tubular bundles, “hair sausage” could be a better visual description (typically about the width of a thumb). The way the hair gathers and wads together in the stomach is what gives the body this characteristic form. Additionally, a cigar-shaped object is much simpler to pass out of the stomach than a round ball is.
Do Cats Always Have Hairballs: Confusing Coughing and Hairballs
Speaking of vomit, many people are unaware that cats adopt nearly identical poses and emit nearly comparable sounds during coughing and vomiting. Unfortunately, this causes many owners to disregard their cat’s coughing because they mistake it for a hairball. Ignoring this might be challenging because the coughing may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, like a respiratory ailment. It’s important to keep in mind that cats are excellent vomiters. So they will do so if they have something in their tummies that has to come out. Therefore, if nothing is coming out, they are probably coughing rather than “trying” to vomit.
