Most of the hair a cat ingests during grooming is expelled through feces, but when some hair accumulates in the stomach, it forms a hairball. While vomiting up hairballs is a common behavior in cats, it's a problem that shouldn't be overlooked. A healthy cat can digest and pass a normal amount of hair, but if beneficial microbes that increase intestinal motility are insufficient, the microbiome becomes imbalanced, and motility decreases. A cat with hairballs may be experiencing underlying issues with the fundamental food digestion process or suffering from intestinal disorders, and in severe cases, the accumulation of hairballs in the intestine can cause intestinal obstruction.

Pay close attention to the frequency and appearance of hairball vomiting in your cat. Through microbiome analysis, you can assess your pet's overall health status, and regular brushing alone can reduce the amount of hair your cat licks and swallows, thus lowering the likelihood of hairball formation.