Hairballs

• It all starts with good grooming. Cats want to look good and feel good so they perform their ablutions by licking themselves. A cat's tongue is equipped with little "hooks" that will retrieve any dead or loose hair on its body. Most of it is flushed through and out of the digestive system but some inevitably remains in the stomach where it adheres to itself and eventually forms a tube-shaped clump that has to come out. Long-hair cat breeds are more susceptible than short-hair breeds, but all cats get hairballs.
  
  

Symptoms and Health Problems

• The first symptom of a hairball is audible -- that wretched sound that includes moaning, gagging, coughing and retching. In a way, this is a good thing because it means a hairball appearance is imminent. WebMD.com warns that the following signs may mean a looming or existing health problem caused by a hairball: unproductive vomiting (no hairball results), a decline in appetite, a lethargic disposition, constipation and diarrhea.
  
  

Prevention

• While there is no cure per se for hairballs, the best recourse is prevention. Brushing your cat's hair to remove dead or loose hair removes a lot of the raw material for the hairball. Brushing once a week should be enough for most breeds, but long-hairs should get daily attention.
  
  

Treatments

• Commercial remedies of a petroleum foundation are available and should be used according to direction. If you have a finicky feline that doesn't care for the taste of the treatment, you can spread it on the cat's paws or below its nose. You can also explore changes in the cat's diet and look at treats specially designed for preventing hairballs, as well as high-fiber cat foods.