Most cat owners are familiar with the sight and sound of their cat producing a hairball. 
Hairballs are common in cats due to the ingestion of hair while grooming. While both short- and long-haired cats can get hairballs, long-haired cat are especially prone to it. Kittens and young adult cats are less likely to develop hairballs than older cats.
What Causes Hairballs?
Hairballs occur as a results of self-grooming. Grooming allows cats to keep themselves clean by removing old hair, surface dirt and foreign bodies, swallowing hair in the process. The development of hairballs are more frequent in spring, when cats shed their winter coat and in autumn when cats shed old hair to make room for their new winter coat to keep them warm in winter.
Normally the ingested hair simply passes through the intestinal tract and out in the faeces. However, some hair can remain and collect in the gastrointestinal tract, causing the cat to hack, gag or retch until the hair is vomited out.
Problem Signs of Hairballs
An occasional hairball is no cause for alarm, but if your cat is vomiting up a hairball more frequently it is take action. 
Very rarely, hairballs can cause intestinal blockage or constipation. In serious cases the blockage might have to be removed surgically.
Intestinal blockage can lead to vomiting of undigested food, dry/unproductive retching, inability to defecate, loss of appetite, lethargy and a swollen abdomen. Please consult with a veterinarian if these abnormalities are noted.
Over-grooming due to stress, anxiety, pain or a skin irritation can also lead to your cat vomiting up a hairball more often. If you suspect that your cat is over-grooming, a veterinary consultation can determine the underlying cause.
Fleas and worms can also cause a cat to groom himself more often, ingesting more hair. It is very important to make sure that your cat’s flea and deworming treatments are up to date.
How To Treat Hairballs
Brushing/combing your cat daily is one of the most effective ways of reducing the amount of hair that can be ingested. Afterwards, wipe your cat with a clean, damp cloth to remove loose hairs. This is also an excellent bonding activity for you and your cat.
There is also specially formulated hairball control diets available for cats that are prone to hairballs, such as Hill’s Science Plan Hairball Indoor and Royal Canin Hairball Care.
There are also over-the-counter hairball remedies available that help to encourage the passage of hair through the intestinal tract, e.g. Laxapet
The coarse plant fibers of grass can also help a cat vomit up that irritating hairball. Provide your cat with some “cat grass” that you can place indoors for him to nibble on, e.g. Kunduchi Super Grass.
If boredom is suspected as a cause of overgrooming, encourage activity by providing him with an interactive or treat dispensing toy to distract him.
Nothing is more important for your cat’s digestion than water. Provide your cat with a bowl of clean, fresh water daily. You can also place additional water bowls around the house to encourage your cat to drink water.
