Hairball Awareness Day

Exactly what it sounds like – a wet, sticky ball of hair that has been regurgitated by the cat. It should not take more than a day or two for a cat to pass a hairball – if your cat is gagging for longer, see your vet to check for a problem.

Once a hairball forms, there are two possible outcomes. Many cats simply vomit up the hairball, leaving you to discover it on your floor, and continue on with their normal lives. In some cases, however, this hairball may become lodged in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to an obstruction.

Although uncommon in humans, some hairballs have been reported. These hairballs occur when hair strands collect in the stomach and are unable to be ejected as a result of the friction on the surface of the gastric mucosa. Hairballs are often seen in young girls as a result of trichophagia, trichotillomania, and pica.