Cats clean themselves better than most other animals. To do this, they use their tongue to lick foreign substances from their fur. A cat also keeps its face clean by washing it at least once a day. It licks its paw and then uses the wet paw to clean its face and head. They then use their paws to scratch their fur back into position again. Certain species of cats do not groom themselves as well as others. Long haired breeds find it especially difficult to do as much grooming as is needed.

Because of this, a cat owner often needs to help. He should brush or comb the cat’s fur every day to help the loose hairs let go and fall from the coat. This not only prevents matting and tangling, but it also aids in the prevention of hairballs.

A hairball is formed when a cat swallows the hair which it is shedding. Over time, this swallowed hair can ball up in the stomach, causing the formation of a hairball. Sometimes cats manage to rid their body of these hairballs by gagging or vomiting.
If the hairball hardens in the stomach or if the cat is unable to eject it, it may become a problem.

The cat may lose its appetite until the hairball is gone. Owners can try several different methods to help the cat in this situation. The cat may be given petroleum jelly or mineral oil. As a last resort, the hairball may need to be removed by a surgeon.

Because they can sometimes become serious, hairballs should be prevented from forming if possible. Some commercial preparations are also available for purchase to prevent the formation of hairballs. These are usually given once a week. Several manufacturers also make special formula feed to help keep hairballs from forming.