Excessive grooming
Stress, allergies, skin conditions, and boredom drive over-grooming, increasing the volume of swallowed hair and hairball formation.
Cat Condition
Cat Hairballs — Online Vet Assessment
Occasional hairballs are normal — frequent vomiting is not. Get a same-day assessment to distinguish routine hairballs from IBD, parasites, or other serious conditions.
Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Understanding cat hairballs
Expert online care for cat hairballs
Licensed vet assessment of hairball and vomiting symptoms via secure video
Same-day appointments — most seen within 1–3 hours
Prescription laxatives and dietary solutions when clinically appropriate
$65 flat fee — no memberships or hidden charges
Your cat stays comfortable at home during the consultation
Expert guidance on when vomiting signals a more serious condition
Hairballs (trichobezoars) form when swallowed fur accumulates in the stomach. Cats normally pass small amounts of hair, but excessive grooming, long coats, or slow intestinal motility can cause larger hairballs that trigger gagging, vomiting, or intestinal blockages.
Our licensed vets can evaluate the frequency and character of your cat's vomiting via video, recommend hairball remedies, and identify when symptoms suggest a condition beyond routine hairballs.
Common signs of cat hairballs we can help with
- Gagging or retching sounds
- Vomiting cylindrical hair masses
- Frequent vomiting (more than once per week)
- Constipation or dry stool
- Reduced appetite
- Lethargy after vomiting episodes
- Excessive grooming or overgrooming patches
- Bloating or abdominal discomfort
What causes cat hairballs?
Hairballs become a problem when grooming volume exceeds what the digestive tract can handle.
Long or dense coat
Long-haired breeds — Persians, Maine Coons, Ragdolls — naturally ingest more fur during grooming, especially during seasonal shedding.
Slow gut motility
Dehydration, low-fiber diets, and underlying GI conditions slow intestinal transit, allowing hair to accumulate rather than pass through normally.
How our vets diagnose it online
Our vets distinguish routine hairballs from serious vomiting through detailed symptom history and video assessment.
- Review of vomiting frequency, appearance, and timing relative to meals
- Assessment of grooming behavior and coat condition on video
- Discussion of diet type, water intake, and recent changes
- Evaluation of appetite, weight, and energy level
- Recommendations for further diagnostics if vomiting persists despite hairball treatment
Treatments we may prescribe
Based on your cat's assessment, our licensed vets may recommend:
Laxatone or petroleum-based hairball laxatives
Prescription high-fiber gastrointestinal diet
Increased water intake and wet food transition
Regular brushing and deshedding tools
Omega-3 fatty acid supplements for coat health
Anti-nausea medication (Cerenia) for frequent vomiting
Allergy or anxiety treatment if over-grooming is the root cause
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Preventing cat hairballs
Brush your cat daily — especially long-haired breeds during shedding season
Feed a moisture-rich, fiber-balanced diet to support healthy gut transit
Use hairball formula food or treats for cats prone to frequent hairballs
Address underlying allergies or anxiety that drive excessive grooming
Provide enrichment and play to reduce stress-related over-grooming
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
Related resources
Helpful reading and services from the TelaVets team.
Book a Vet Visit
Same-day online vet appointments for $65 — no membership required.
Read moreHow TelaVets Works
Learn how our licensed vets diagnose and treat pets via secure video consultation.
Read moreCat Treatment Hub
Explore cat health conditions our licensed vets treat via video.
Read moreCat Urinary Health
Expert guidance on feline urinary issues and when to seek urgent care.
Read moreExplore related care
Licensed TelaVets vets treat a wide range of conditions online.
Frequently asked questions about cat hairballs
Yes. Our licensed vets can assess symptoms of hairballs via video consultation, review your cat's history, and provide a clinical assessment with a treatment plan.
Treatment depends on severity and cause. Our vets will create a personalised plan which may include prescription medications, dietary changes, or at-home care instructions.
Same-day appointments are usually available. Most pet owners are seen within 1–3 hours of booking.
Yes. If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day, with next-day delivery to your door.
If your cat shows severe distress, inability to breathe, uncontrolled bleeding, or sudden collapse, seek emergency in-person care immediately. For other concerning symptoms, an online consultation is an excellent first step.
Get expert help for your cat's hairballs today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets