Is Cat Vomiting Fur Normal? Understanding Feline Hairba

One: Why hasn't my cat ever vomited fur, despite constantly grooming itself?

There are several reasons why your cat may not have vomited fur, despite its frequent grooming. One possibility is that the cat may have a condition affecting the stomach or small intestine, which slows down the rate of gastric emptying. This can cause fur to accumulate in the stomach and form clumps. Many cases involve transient gastritis or abnormal small intestinal motility, which often resolve on their own.

Two: Does grooming have an impact on a cat's health?

Adult cats can ingest tens of thousands of hairs into their digestive system daily, with this number increasing two to three times during seasonal changes. Most of these fur balls end up in the intestines, leading to slow intestinal motility and constipation. Therefore, regularly feeding your cat a defurring paste is highly recommended (daily, if possible).

Three: What is the purpose of defurring paste (hairball paste)?

The defurring paste is not a chemical solution to dissolve fur, as hair is composed of keratin, which has an extremely stable chemical structure. In simple terms, it is highly resistant to dissolution in strong acids or bases. Therefore, there is no actual "dissolving" of fur in defurring paste.

The ingredients in defurring paste are vitamins and edible lubricants, which help supplement trace nutrients and lubricate the intestines. It can effectively prevent vomiting caused by slow intestinal motility and constipation due to the adhesion of fur and feces. However, it is ineffective against fur clumps in the stomach.

It is acceptable for cats to occasionally vomit fur during shedding seasons. However, if your beloved cat frequently vomits at home, be cautious, as this may indicate varying degrees of disease in the stomach and small intestine. It is advisable to seek medical attention promptly.

If your cat never vomits fur, there is no need to worry, as this suggests a healthy gastrointestinal system.

Tip: For more information on the causes and treatment methods of cat vomiting, you can read "The Causes and Defurring Methods of Cat Hairballs." Click here to learn more.