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Is it normal for your cat to vomit hair?



Is vomiting hairballs normal? Article by @karlalawrenceramos - veterinary consultant at Cat Nanny Lisboa


To answer this question, we first need to understand how cats form hairballs.


Cats lick themselves for a variety of reasons, including self-grooming, temperature regulation, stress/anxiety relief, and communication. In healthy cats, hairballs are naturally eliminated through their feces. When a cat vomits hairballs frequently, it may be a sign of a pre-existing condition. The main causes of vomiting in cats include inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, infectious diseases, and gastrointestinal disorders secondary to other conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and pancreatitis.


Excessive licking can also be a predisposing factor, as it increases hair ingestion, and can be triggered by allergies, pain or even stress/anxiety. In addition, studies indicate that long-haired cats vomit hairballs more frequently than short-haired cats. The important thing is to assess the frequency of your feline's vomiting before considering this behavior as normal.


If your cat vomits once every 2 or 3 months, it is reasonable to just monitor it. However, if vomiting occurs more frequently, such as weekly or every 15 days, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian to rule out other causes.



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