I have four cats, and not a day goes by where I'm not picking up a hairball - usually on carpet and rarely on my kitchen floor where a quick sweep of paper towel would take care of the mess quickly and easily.

As long as your kitty is in good health, hairballs do not usually cause blockages in the stomach or intestines like some people fear. I did read however, that if a cat is dehydrated, the contents can become dry and form a blockage. If a cat is dehydrated, it can be from a underlying medical issue. If you do notice that your cat is struggling above and beyond the norm, by all means bring him or her to the vet just to be safe. It's possible they may have eaten something else that is causing an issue. 

While It can be scary watching a cat trying to eject a hairball, be assured that all cat owners are watching the same thing in their own home. Did I mention it usually happens on my carpet? 

From what I've read, hairballs are made primarily of hair, some saliva, digested food, and gastric secretions. Cats get hairballs because they groom themselves with their tongues which are covered with hundreds of tiny "barbs" that remove excess hair and other debris from their fur. As the hair comes out, it is often swallowed by your kitty. The hair either passes through the body and comes out in the stool, or forms a large mass in the stomach. Once a hairball in the stomach reaches a certain size, it triggers vomiting and the hairball is expelled from the body.

One of the most effective ways of reducing hairballs is to brush your cat on a regular basis. This will reduce the amount of hair that is swallowed.

Another popular remedy is a gel, called Laxatone, which is made from petroleum jelly. This gel comes in palatable flavors such as poultry or beef. It is designed to be fed to the cat or spread on the hair where the cat will lick it off. The gel acts as a kind of lubricant and helps to ease the hair through the digestive system. It can be used a few times a week, or when unproductive retching or hacking occurs which could indicate that the cat is having trouble expelling a hairball. I have not personally tried Laxatone for my kitties, but with any new treatment or medication, please talk to your vet first.

Another remedy you can try is food made especially for hairballs. It contains certain enzymes that prevent the hair from forming a ball that causes vomiting. If the food is used regularly, the hair will pass through the system and come out in the stool. Because these food are typically higher in fiber than regular cat food, you may find yourself cleaning the litter box a bit more often. 

As noted, most of the time hairballs are harmless and can be controlled with simple remedies. If you have any questions regarding hairballs or unusual, strained behavior by your kitty, contact your veterinarian.