Maine Coon Hairballs: Causes, Remedies And When To Worry

Hairballs are a common problem in Maine Coons because this breed has a thick, semi-long coat that sheds heavily and collects loose fur during grooming.

Most cats swallow some hair when they clean themselves. Usually, that hair passes through the digestive system and leaves the body in the stool. However, if too much fur builds up in the stomach, your Maine Coon may retch, gag, cough, or vomit up a clump of hair.

An occasional hairball is not unusual, especially during shedding season, but frequent hairballs should not be ignored. Cornell Feline Health Center warns that a large clump of swallowed hair can sometimes block the intestinal tract, which can become a serious veterinary emergency.

This guide explains why Maine Coons get hairballs, how to reduce them, what has helped with my own cats, and when gagging, coughing, or vomiting may mean something more serious is going on.

For coat-care help, read my Maine Coon grooming and care guide.

What Are Hairballs?

Hairballs are clumps of swallowed fur that build up in a cat’s stomach.

Cats groom themselves by licking their coats with a rough tongue. This pulls loose fur away from the body. Some of that fur is swallowed, and most of it should pass through the digestive tract naturally.

When too much hair collects in the stomach, it may bind together with mucus, food, or digestive fluid. Eventually, your cat may bring it back up.

Hairballs are often:

• Damp or dry
• Tubular or sausage-shaped
• Mixed with fluid
• Surrounded by partially digested food
• Brown, grey, or the colour of your cat’s fur
• Brought up after gagging, retching, or hacking sounds

In my house, Mika’s hairballs are often surprisingly dry or surrounded by a few cat biscuits, which is not the nicest thing to discover on the kitchen’s wooden floor first thing in the morning.

Many owners describe this as “coughing up a hairball,” but technically, the hairball usually comes from the digestive tract rather than the lungs. This distinction matters because true coughing can point to respiratory problems such as asthma, infection, or airway irritation.

Why Maine Coons Get Hairballs

Maine Coons are especially likely to develop hairballs because they have long, dense coats and often shed a lot.

Several factors can increase the problem.

1. Thick Semi-Long Fur

Maine Coons have much heavier coats than the average short-haired cat.

Their fur can include a dense undercoat, longer guard hairs, a ruff, fluffy trousers, and a large bushy tail. This means there is simply more fur available to swallow during grooming.

If loose coat is not removed with brushing, your cat has to deal with more of it themselves.

2. Heavy Shedding

Many Maine Coons shed throughout the year, with heavier shedding during seasonal changes.

During shedding periods, your cat may swallow more loose hair than usual. This can increase the chance of hairballs, especially if brushing is inconsistent.

For more help with heavy shedding, read my guide on why Maine Coons shed so much.

3. Infrequent Grooming

If a Maine Coon is not brushed often enough, loose fur builds up in the coat.

That loose fur may then be swallowed when the cat grooms. Over time, this can lead to more frequent hairballs, especially around spring and autumn when coat changes are more noticeable.

Regular grooming does not just make the coat look better. International Cat Care explains that grooming helps remove dead hair from a cat’s coat, which can reduce the amount they swallow during self-grooming.

4. Mats And Tangles

Mats can make hairballs worse in two ways.

First, matted fur traps loose hair, dirt, grease, and undercoat. Second, cats may lick or chew at uncomfortable tangles, which means they swallow even more fur.

Maine Coons often mat behind the ears, under the armpits, around the belly, at the tail base, and around the backend. These areas need regular checking because small tangles can quickly become tight mats.

For mat-specific advice, read how to remove matted fur from a Maine Coon.

5. Overgrooming

Hairballs can also increase if your Maine Coon is grooming too much.

Overgrooming may be linked to:

• Fleas
• Allergies
• Skin irritation
• Pain
• Stress
• Boredom
• Anxiety
• Compulsive grooming habits

If your cat is producing more hairballs and also has bald patches, broken hairs, scabs, red skin, or constant licking, the problem may not be the coat alone. It may be a skin, stress, or health issue.

6. Digestive Problems

Most swallowed fur should move through the digestive system.

If your Maine Coon keeps vomiting hairballs or retches without producing one, there may be an underlying digestive issue. Frequent vomiting should not be dismissed as “just hairballs,” particularly if your cat is older, losing weight, eating less, or acting differently.

A large hairball can occasionally cause a partial or complete intestinal obstruction, leading to vomiting and abdominal discomfort.

A veterinary review in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery notes that while hairballs are commonly treated as normal, they can sometimes be linked with gastrointestinal disease or obstruction.

Are Hairballs Normal In Maine Coons?

Occasional hairballs can happen, especially in long-haired cats.

Cornell describes hairballs as usually harmless, but not always, because problems can occur if the hairball is too large to pass normally.

However, “common” does not mean “always harmless.”

A Maine Coon that suddenly starts producing more hairballs, vomits repeatedly, retches without bringing anything up, or seems unwell should be checked by a vet.

The safest approach is to look at the full picture:

• How often is it happening?
• Is your cat eating normally?
• Are they passing stools normally?
• Are they bright and active?
• Is the vomiting increasing?
• Are they coughing rather than vomiting?
• Is there weight loss, pain, lethargy, or appetite loss?

A one-off hairball in an otherwise happy cat is very different from repeated vomiting or unproductive retching.

Maine Coon Hairball Warning Signs

Use this table as a simple guide.

Sign	What It May Mean	What To Do
Occasional hairball with normal appetite	Often not urgent	Improve grooming and monitor
Hairballs increasing during shedding season	More loose fur being swallowed	Brush more often
Weekly or repeated hairballs	Grooming, skin, stress, or digestive issue	Book a vet check if ongoing
Retching but no hairball	Possible cough, nausea, asthma, or blockage	Monitor closely; call vet if repeated
Vomiting food or bile	Not just a hairball issue	Contact a vet if repeated
Constipation or no bowel movements	Possible digestive blockage	Contact a vet
Lethargy or appetite loss	Possible illness or obstruction	Contact a vet urgently
Bloating, pain, weakness, or collapse	Emergency sign	Seek urgent veterinary care

Mainecooncentral.com

Hairball Or Cough: How To Tell The Difference

Many owners think their cat is coughing up a hairball when they may actually be coughing. This matters because coughing can be linked to respiratory issues, while vomiting or retching is linked more closely to the digestive system.

A hairball episode often involves:

• Hunched posture
• Retching or gagging
• Abdominal effort
• A hairball, fluid, or food coming up
• Relief afterwards

A cough may involve:

• Neck stretched forward
• Repeated dry coughing
• Little or nothing is produced
• Wheezing or noisy breathing
• Episodes that happen with exercise, dust, or stress

If your Maine Coon keeps “coughing up hairballs” but no hairball appears, try to record a video for your vet. This can help them tell whether your cat is coughing, retching, vomiting, or regurgitating.

How To Reduce Hairballs In Maine Coons

The best hairball prevention plan usually involves grooming, coat management, hydration, diet, and monitoring for health issues.

1. Brush Your Maine Coon Regularly

Regular brushing is the most important step.

Brushing removes loose fur before your cat swallows it. It also helps prevent mats, spreads natural oils through the coat, and lets you spot skin changes early.

Most Maine Coons benefit from brushing several times per week. During heavy shedding seasons, some need daily grooming.

Focus on:

• Chest
• Ruff
• Belly
• Armpits
• Behind the ears
• Tail base
• Trousers
• Backend fur

These are the areas where loose coat, grease, and tangles often build up.

For tool recommendations, read my favourite Maine Coon cat brushes.

2. Use The Right Grooming Tools

Not every brush works well on a Maine Coon coat.

You may need a combination of:

• Wide-tooth comb
• Slicker brush
• Pin brush
• Undercoat rake
• Detangling comb
• Grooming wipes for greasy areas

Avoid ripping through tangles. If the comb catches, stop and gently separate the fur with your fingers first. Pulling at mats can make your cat hate grooming and may hurt the skin.

3. Deal With Small Tangles Early

Small tangles are much easier to fix than tight mats.

Once fur mats close to the skin, brushing can become painful and unsafe. Your cat may then lick, chew, or pull at the area, swallowing even more fur.

Check mat-prone areas little and often. This is especially important for older Maine Coons, overweight cats, cats with dense coats, and cats who dislike being brushed.

4. Encourage Hydration

Hydration supports normal digestion and may help swallowed fur move through the gut more easily.

Helpful options include:

• Fresh water bowls in several rooms
• Cat water fountains
• Wet food
• Adding a small amount of extra water to wet food
• Keeping bowls away from litter trays

If your Maine Coon eats only dry food and has frequent hairballs or constipation, ask your vet whether increasing wet food would be suitable.

5. Feed A Balanced Diet

A balanced diet supports skin, coat, and digestion.

Some commercial cat foods are labelled for hairball control. These usually contain fibre to help move swallowed hair through the digestive tract. However, do not rely on diet alone if your Maine Coon has frequent vomiting, weight loss, appetite changes, or signs of illness.

Hairballs can be a symptom, not just a grooming issue.

6. Be Careful With Hairball Pastes And Laxatives

Hairball gels, pastes, and laxative-style remedies are commonly sold for cats, but they should not be used as a substitute for veterinary advice.

With Mika, we have mixed hairball paste into a Lic-e-Lix cat yoghurt. It does not stop him from getting hairballs, but it sometimes seems to help bring the hairball up. That may sound useful, but it is also a reminder that hairball paste is not really “curing” the reason he gets them. It is only helping the fur move or come back up.

Ask your vet before using hairball remedies regularly if your cat:

• Is vomiting often
• Is constipated
• Has diarrhoea
• Has kidney disease
• Is elderly
• Is on medication
• Has appetite loss
• Seems painful or lethargic

If a hairball is stuck or there is a blockage, home remedies may delay proper treatment.

7. Watch For Overgrooming

If your Maine Coon suddenly has more hairballs, ask whether they are swallowing more fur because they are grooming more than normal.

Signs of overgrooming include:

• Bald patches
• Thin fur on the belly or legs
• Broken hairs
• Red or sore skin
• Frequent licking
• Chewing on one area
• Scabs or dandruff

Overgrooming can be caused by fleas, allergies, pain, stress, boredom, or skin disease. In these cases, brushing alone will not solve the problem.

Can Hairballs Be Dangerous?

Yes, hairballs can sometimes be dangerous.

Most swallowed hair passes through the digestive system or is vomited up, but a large hairball can occasionally become stuck. Cornell warns that a large clump of ingested hair can block a cat’s intestinal tract and become a serious threat.

Seek veterinary advice urgently if your Maine Coon has:

• Repeated retching with no hairball
• Vomiting that continues
• Cannot keep food or water down
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation or no stools
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal pain
• Bloated belly
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Collapse

These signs may suggest something more serious than a normal hairball.

My Experience With Maine Coon Hairballs

My Maine Coons do not all have the same hairball problems.

Mika regularly coughs up hairballs. We have tried mixing hairball paste into a Lic-e-Lix cat yoghurt, and while it does not stop the problem completely, it sometimes seems to help bring the hairball up.

His hairballs are usually dry or surrounded by a few cat biscuits, which is not exactly a pleasant thing to find on a wooden kitchen floor first thing in the morning.

Bali, on the other hand, does not seem to have the same issue. He still has a proper Maine Coon coat, but his fur is silkier and appears to tangle less. He does not seem to produce hairballs as frequently as Mika.

This difference has made me very aware that hairball advice cannot be one-size-fits-all. Two Maine Coons can live in the same house, eat similar food, and follow similar routines, yet one may cough up hairballs far more often than the other.

Mika’s coat needs more regular attention because he is more prone to tangles and mats, especially around his backend and other friction areas. If I miss those areas, small tangles can start quickly.

Pippin also had a dense coat that could become oily around the tail base, which made grooming especially important as he got older.

For my cats, the biggest difference comes from staying ahead of the coat rather than waiting until grooming problems are obvious. Short, regular grooming sessions are far easier than trying to fix mats, shedding build-up, or hairball problems later.

When To Call The Vet

Call your vet if your Maine Coon has frequent hairballs or if anything changes suddenly.

Vet advice is especially important if you notice:

• Hairballs more often than usual
• Repeated vomiting
• Retching with no hairball
• Coughing or wheezing
• Appetite loss
• Weight loss
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Lethargy
• Abdominal pain
• Bloated belly
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Sudden excessive grooming
• Bald patches or sore skin

If your cat seems bright and produces one occasional hairball, it may simply mean you need to increase grooming. But if hairballs are becoming frequent, messy, dramatic, or linked with other symptoms, treat them as a health clue.

How To Prevent Maine Coon Hairballs

The best prevention plan is simple but consistent:

• Brush several times per week
• Groom daily during heavy shedding seasons
• Focus on mat-prone areas
• Remove small tangles early
• Keep the backend and trousers clean
• Encourage hydration
• Feed a balanced diet
• Watch for overgrooming
• Treat fleas or skin irritation promptly
• Ask your vet about repeated vomiting
• Record coughing, gagging, or retching episodes for your vet

Most hairball problems become easier to manage when you reduce the amount of loose fur your Maine Coon swallows.

Related Guides

For more help with Maine Coon coat care and health, read:

• Maine Coon Grooming And Care
• Best Brushes For Maine Coons
• How To Remove Matted Fur From A Maine Coon
• Maine Coon Health And Wellness
• Maine Coon Weird Noises

Conclusion: Are Hairballs Normal In Maine Coons?

Hairballs can happen in Maine Coons because their thick, semi-long coats shed heavily and collect loose fur during grooming.

An occasional hairball in an otherwise healthy cat is usually not a reason to panic. However, frequent hairballs, repeated retching, vomiting, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhoea, lethargy, coughing, weight loss, or abdominal pain should not be ignored.

For most Maine Coons, the best hairball prevention is regular brushing, early mat removal, hydration, good diet, and careful monitoring. If hairballs are happening often, the problem may be more than loose fur. It could point to overgrooming, skin irritation, stress, digestive trouble, or a possible blockage.

The simplest rule is this:

If your Maine Coon has the occasional hairball but is eating, toileting, and behaving normally, improve grooming and monitor them. If hairballs are frequent, unproductive, worsening, or linked with other symptoms, ask your vet for advice.