On a day that actually acknowledges the wonderful gifts left by our feline companions...

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I don’t know about your cats, but mine? They tend to bring their hairballs into the world just before dawn.

While I’m my most blissed-out-with-sleep self. Jack and Babs announcing with their sudden retches, through my otherwise-impermeable earplugs, that I better grab a towel right after my alarm goes off. Or let my feet do the honors of discovering them later in the day.

Even after cleaning up hundreds of them (at least) in my life, I’m still sort of grossed out by hairballs.

And also slightly intrigued. They’re not unlike owl pellets — miniature time capsules containing the remnants of what — and who — our owl friends befriended that day, or the day before? Of course I don’t spend much time examining them — hence the grossed-out reference — but hairballs do fascinate me.

Essentially, hairballs are just that — Balls. Of. Hair. Cats have barb-like features on their tongue that, while grooming themselves, “hook” loose and dead hair, which allow cats to conveniently swallow it all up. Such thoughtful creatures, right? Most of this hair will make its way through a cat’s digestive tract and be dealt with as such. But, especially in long-hair breeds, some of this hair may tend to accumulate in their stomachs. And thanks to the ingenuity of Mother Nature, a hairball is formed and, well — you know how the rest of the story goes.

Though hairballs aren’t necessarily the prettiest things you’ve ever seen, a cat’s production of hairballs is perfectly normal. However, as we find ourselves in full-on kitten season — and on this, Adopt A Shelter Pet Day - we thought it might be important to know that there are times in which hairballs could be of some concern. Samantha Bell, cat behavior expert for Best Friends Animal Society, explains:

Is Your Cat Grooming A Lot Lately?

When large amounts of ingested fur are unable to pass through a cat’s intestines the only way out is through their mouth. One way to prevent them from ingesting a large amount of fur is by brushing them regularly and getting that loose hair off them yourself. Try to make brushing a positive experience for your cat by keeping sessions short and ending with a special treat.

If you think your cat is grooming more than normal (overgrooming), it could be due to boredom, stress, or a medical issue. If increasing enrichment through wand toy playtime, food puzzles and vertical territory doesn’t help with overgrooming, then it’s time to work with your vet to find the medical reason for the overgrooming.

Is Your Cat Staying Hydrated?

Hairballs show us that food and moisture aren’t progressing through the intestines the way they should. The more hydrated your cats are the less hairballs they’ll have. To keep them hydrated be sure to increase their wet food intake, decrease their dry food intake, and make sure their water is enticing. Many cats’ instincts tell them that stagnant water isn’t safe, so they’ll be more likely to drink from a pet fountain where the water is moving.

[Note: My cats eat wet food only and I can count the number of hairballs they’ve had in 8 years on one hand. It’s only when I’ve tried giving them dry food that they’ve had hairballs.]

Is Your Cat Experiencing Other Issues?

If your cat experiences ongoing vomiting, if they keep gagging without producing a hairball, or if you notice a lack of appetite or lethargy then the hairball may have caused a potentially life-threatening blockage and it’s time for a trip to the vet asap.

So there you have it. More hairball talk than you’ve probably had in your entire life. And though you may not appreciate them any more (or less) than you did, be accepting that it’s all part and parcel of being a cat parent on what is ALSO (appropriately) Hairball Awareness Day.

I mean, can you imagine if WE coughed up hairballs? I just did — I suggest you don’t.

Photo of Sterling by @sterlingsilvercat