How Long Does It Take for a Cat to Pass a Large Hairball?

Although referred to as hairballs, the often slimy wads of fur that your cat throws up are more cylindrical in shape than round. Generally slender and about 1 inch long, hairballs are usually coughed up after your cat retches, gags and hacks. Regardless of the size of the hairball, some can come out within seconds and some can take about one minute or longer. On rare occasions, retching and hacking doesn't result in a hairball. The swallowed hair just accumulates and might trigger a problem that requires professional help.

  1. Hairball Frequency

    • Whether your cat throws up a hairball once a week or once a month depends on several factors. Long-haired cats, shedding cats and cats who are avid groomers might throw up hairballs more often. 60 to 80 percent of cats throw up a hairball once a month.When a cat grooms and licks his fur, his rough, sandpaper-like tongue acts like a comb and traps and removes loose hairs. These hairs often pass through his digestive system, but can also remain in his small intestine or stomach and trigger him to gag and throw up.

    Reducing Hairballs

    • To reduce the frequency that your cat throws up, brush him regularly so that when he grooms himself the amount of ingested loose hair is minimal. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends brushing long-haired cats daily and short-haired cats at least once a week. Giving your cat a commercial hairball remedy, which lubricates the hair and helps it pass through his digestive system, can also reduce the frequency that he throws up hairballs. If your cat is an avid groomer, play with him and give him toys to distract him from his cleaning fetish.

    Detecting Problems

    • Hairballs can sometimes cause problems in cats. If a hairball isn't regurgitated and gets trapped in your cat's intestinal tract, a blockage can occur, which might require surgical removal. Your cat might be constipated or vomit after eating. Other signs of a blockage can include increased vocalization, lack of appetite, swelling of the abdomen, and retching and gagging without resulting in a hairball. Consult a veterinarian for a definite diagnosis, because sometimes these symptoms might indicate a medical condition unrelated to hairballs.

    Considerations

    • Although the sight and sound of your cat throwing up a hairball might seem painful and unpleasant, you should be happy each time you see the tubular wad of fur emerging, because hair that doesn't come out can potentially be life threatening. Encourage your cat to drink water, and if your veterinarian approves, feed him food that's geared toward combating hairballs. If you have a long-haired cat, consider taking him to a groomer up to twice a year for a haircut.