My cat vomits frequently. Are hairballs to blame?

It’s definitely not unusual for a cat to cough up a hairball, and hairballs themselves are not particularly dangerous to cats. But sometimes they’re misleading to cat owners because they mask other problems. When a cat coughs or vomits frequently, people tend to blame hairballs, when there may be something more serious going on.

For example, a vomiting cat may have eaten something it shouldn’t have, such as a button, tassel, or coin. So if you think your curious kitty has swallowed something unusual, take him to the veterinarian right away for an x-ray.

Your cat should also go in for a checkup if he is sick to his stomach more than once a week, is losing weight, or is vomiting up food, not just saliva or the occasional hairball.

– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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