How long does it take a cat to cough up a hairball? (2023)

How long does it take a cat to cough up a hairball?

It can take a feline around 48 hours of regular gagging and retching to expel a hairball. Cats sometimes eat grass to make themselves vomit when they have a hairball, or show signs of constipation and lethargy.

Provide your cat with a small amount of canned tuna or sardines occasionally. Another effective option is to dip your cat's paw into some petroleum jelly. They'll lick it off, and the jelly will line the digestive tract to help the hair pass through their system.

The general consensus is that cats should produce no more than one hairball per week, no matter their coat length. So, if your cat is vomiting hairballs more frequently, retching without any production, or not eating, schedule an appointment with our veterinarian.

If a hairball gets stuck somewhere in the digestive tract, the resulting blockage can be life-threatening. Gastrointestinal blockages require prompt surgical intervention, so if your cat has any of these symptoms of a possible blockage, see your veterinarian immediately: repeated unproductive retching. lethargy.

It can take a feline around 48 hours of regular gagging and retching to expel a hairball. Cats sometimes eat grass to make themselves vomit when they have a hairball, or show signs of constipation and lethargy.

A large hairball ( known as a trichobezoar) can cause a blockage in a cat's intestinal tract and cause your cat to choke to death.

Usually, fur passes straight through the gastrointestinal tract and comes out as a stool. The digestive process takes around 7-12 hours in cats. Other times, hair collects in the stomach and forms into a hairball. This process takes slightly longer, but healthy hairballs should pass within 24-48 hours.

Does wet food help with hairballs? Yes, they do. Wet food aids in the passing of hair through the tract because it's easy to digest, which means it passes through the body quickly, not allowing hair time to form a ball. Therefore, cats that are on a diet of just wet food will have reduced hairballs.

When a cat is trying to bring up a hairball, they may start retching, gagging or acting like they are dry heaving and trying to vomit. Sometimes the sound they make is called a 'cough-gag-retch'. This is because your cat can appear to be coughing from the lungs, gagging with their throat and retching from the stomach.

What does a vet do for a stuck hairball?

If a blockage is detected, surgery may be required in order to remove the hairball. More often, however, therapy will center on protecting the intestines through several days of clinical care that includes the use of a laxative to move the hairball through the digestive tract.

Here's a simple yet effective remedy for aiding in the passing of a hairball: Put a bit of plain petroleum jelly (about 1/4 teaspoon) on the cat's paws or under its nose (according to our vet source, do this treatment one time a day for about four days).

If a blockage is detected, surgery may be the only way to remove the hairball. More often, therapy will center on protecting the intestine through several days of clinical care that includes intravenous rehydration and the use of a laxative to move the hairball through the digestive tract.

On average, vet visits that include treatment for a hairball cost anywhere between $50 -$150.

Truly, the safest way to make your cat vomit is to have your vet do it. There are injectable medications that your vet can give your cat to induce vomiting, including dexmedetomidine, hydromorphone, and xylazine.

Adding olive oil to your cat's food can ease digestion and help pass the hair naturally. If you see your cat struggling with hairballs, consider adding a bit of olive oil to his or her food. Never force oil into the mouth, though, as you could send it into the lungs. Allow your cat to lick it up.

Some cats neglect grooming as a result of stress, anxiety, depression or various other medical problems. If you suspect that this is why your cat doesn't cough up hairballs, then it's time to investigate the situation further -- with the veterinarian. And younger cats and kittens are less likely to have hairballs.

Can hairballs make a cat sick? Although it's rare, occasionally the hair that accumulates in a cat's stomach forms a mass that's too big to pass into their feces or be vomited up like normal, causing an obstruction, which can result in constipation.

You will need to feed one of these foods (and nothing else!) for about 8 weeks before you can say definitively whether or not it is helping. If you've tried a couple over-the-counter, limited-ingredient foods with little success, talk to your veterinarian about prescription diets.

Are hairballs painful for cats?

In the severest of situations a hairball can cause a blockage of the intestine. Symptoms may then include repeated vomiting, abdominal pain and discomfort and will require urgent veterinary attention.

So how do you spot an intestinal blockage in your cat? Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, refusing to eat, weakness and lethargy, abdominal pain or swelling, cold body temperature, crying and even an unwillingness to lie down, among other issues.

Benefits of Coconut Oil for Cats

Internally, coconut oil can benefit a cat's immune system, help with hairballs, reduce arthritis inflammation, improve bad breath, and help with a healthy stomach, she says.

Can Cats Have Olive Oil? Olive oil is considered a healthy part of human nutrition, but can cats eat olive oil? Yes, although it may not be a good idea. Although olive oil isn't considered poisonous to cats, consuming too much of any fat, including olive oil, may cause your cat to experience diarrhea and vomiting.