If you’ve ever been woken up at 3 AM by the sound of your cat hacking up a hairball, you know the struggle is real. Didi is a shedder — like, I could knit a second cat with the amount of fur he leaves around. And with all that grooming comes the occasional hairball. Here’s what I’ve learned about keeping them under control 🐱💫
What’s Normal vs. What’s Not
Occasional hairballs — maybe once every week or two — are normal for cats, especially during shedding season. But if your cat is hacking up hairballs daily, straining to bring them up, or acting lethargic, that’s a red flag 🚩 that something bigger might be going on. Didi used to have hairballs about once a week during spring shedding. After I made a few changes, it dropped to maybe once a month.
The Hairball Prevention Routine
Brush more, vacuum less. The single most effective thing I did was bumping up Didi’s brushing sessions. I brush him daily during shedding season with a rubber grooming mitt — it removes loose fur before he has a chance to swallow it. The amount of fur that comes off is honestly shocking the first time you try it 😲
Hairball control treats — I give Didi a hairball control treat a few times a week. They’re basically flavored gel formulas with fiber and lubricants that help fur pass through the digestive system instead of balling up in the stomach. The chicken-flavored ones are Didi’s favorite and he actually comes running when he hears the package.
Pumpkin power — A teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just plain pumpkin) mixed into wet food is a natural hairball remedy. The fiber helps move fur through the gut. Didi doesn’t even notice it’s in there. Plus it’s good for digestion in general 🎃
When to See the Vet
If your cat is retching without producing anything, hasn’t eaten in 24 hours, or seems constipated alongside hairball symptoms, don’t wait. A stuck hairball can cause a dangerous blockage that needs veterinary intervention. I’ve never had to deal with that with Didi, but I know people who have — and they all say “go sooner than you think you need to.”
Regular brushing, a little dietary fiber, and the right treats have pretty much eliminated Didi’s hairball problem. Your furniture might still be covered in fur, but at least you won’t be stepping on wet hairballs in the dark anymore 😸
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