It’s never pleasant when your cat vomits up hairballs. Hairballs form in your cat’s stomach when she ingests too much hair, most likely when grooming herself or a companion cat. If your cat’s system can’t digest the excess hair, it forms a mass with saliva and mucus that she can throw up. Brushing your cat frequently is a good first step in preventing hairballs by removing excess hair from her coat. Consider feeding your cat a hairball formula food. This food is high in fiber and helps your cat digest the extra hair. You also use a hairball gel that your cat will lick off your finger or her paw. This gel acts as a lubricant to move the extra hair through the digestive tract. If your cat vomits frequently, seek medical attention. Don’t yell at your cat for leaving hairballs for you to clean up. Contact your Fort Collins, CO animal hospital to learn more.