Hairballs can't entirely be prevented as it's a natural process for cats to remove loose hairs with their tongues. These loose hairs end up being swallowed and then grow in a cat's intestinal tract. Ultimately, they'll interfere with the cat's ability to digest food and eliminate waste. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove a hairball that isn't brought up. Signs of a hairball blockage can include bowel movement trouble, constipation, dry cough and attempts to vomit without bringing anything up, in which case you should call your veterinarian immediately.

There are ways to reduce the occurrence of hairballs. One of the main ways is to limit the number of hairs that end up in your kitty's stomach by grooming him on a daily basis. Other remedies include natural fiber remedies, commercial fiber products, and flavored hair ball remedies. However, before you use a commercial hairball remedy or fiber product, make certain that your cat's vomiting is due to hairballs and not some other medical problem.