Furballs

Furballs are compact, often cylindrical, masses of ingested hair that cats cough up or vomit. These masses are formed when a cat grooms itself, swallowing loose hair which then accumulates in the digestive tract. While normal, frequent furballs can indicate excessive grooming or underlying health issues like gastrointestinal irritation or hair accumulation beyond normal levels. They are typically composed of matted hair, often mixed with digestive fluids.

Furballs meaning with examples

• Whiskers the cat started hacking, and a moment later, a glistening furball appeared on the rug. It was a familiar sight after his daily grooming sessions. He seemed unconcerned, quickly moving on to his next nap. Despite the mess, I was relieved it wasn't anything more serious.
• After weeks of constant shedding, Mittens' furballs became increasingly frequent and alarming. I took her to the vet, who diagnosed a minor digestive issue exacerbated by the excessive hair. We adjusted her diet and grooming, and the furballs subsided significantly.
• The Persian cat, known for his luxurious coat, produced unusually large furballs. Regular brushing helped to manage the hair and reduce the frequency. The owner noted the cat was eating more grass, presumably as a self-remedy for digestion, alongside the furballs.
• The vet suggested that frequent furballs in a younger cat could potentially signify an underlying health condition. I took notice and began making use of the cat's food bowl being closer to a specific brand to make sure the food had better nutrients for digestion and fewer furballs.
• Despite the use of hairball remedies, Spotty continued to cough up furballs weekly. The vet recommended more frequent brushing and added hairball-specific treats to his diet. I used these measures to keep him healthy and happy!