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Grooming your cat to prevent hairballs
Why brushing comes first
Grooming can reduce the loose hair available to swallow. It is not a guarantee against hairballs or a treatment for vomiting. Discuss frequent episodes with your vet rather than adding diets or gels on your own.
How to brush, by coat
- Choose a time when your cat is relaxed. Keep the session within what the cat comfortably accepts.
- For a short coat, International Cat Care describes a bristle brush, rubber grooming pad or mitt. Brush gently in the direction of hair growth.
- For a long coat, International Cat Care describes a wide-toothed comb and careful handling around sensitive skin. Do not pull at mats or use scissors on them.
- Stop if the cat becomes tense, flicks the tail, turns sharply toward the brush, growls or hisses. End with praise or a reward the cat enjoys.
Cats who hate the brush
Build tolerance gradually without forcing contact. Ask your veterinary team about painful areas, skin changes, difficulty grooming or matting. Severe mats may need removal by the veterinary team; do not try to cut them out at home.
Track whether it's working
The hairball diary includes a prevention checklist with the grooming habit built in, and the episode log lets you see whether the pattern changes over time. If hairballs stay frequent despite real brushing, mention it to your vet - regularly bringing them up can signal more than hair - and what diet and remedies can add covers the options to raise there. If they escalate, check the red flags.