Cats swallow hair when they groom and this goes down to their stomach and forms a ball of fur. The signs of hair balls are retching, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhoea and often an air of ...

Still, even hair balls can be a sign of something more serious. "In a healthy cat population, 10% of short-haired cats and 20% of long-haired cats will have a hair ball two or more times a year ...

The best way to prevent a cat from getting matted fur is to brush them out regularly. And in some instances, like this cat's, professional help is required. This cat had the mat shaved off his back.