Why do some cats get hairballs and others don't?

Question

I have 2 long haired and 2 short haired cats. One of each gets hairballs. I'm treating them for it but I just wondered why the other 2 don't have them as well?

Answer 1

There are lots of different factors:
Their type of fur -- not just long or short, but the consistency of the fur -- cottony or stiff.
Their grooming frequency.
Their diet.
Their skin type (how much oil naturally occurs in their fur via skin).
How rough their tongue is (seriously!)
If they tend to swallow the fur or spit it out (they look like they have peanut butter stuck to the roofs of their mouths when they are getting fur out of their mouths).
If you brush them and how often.
If they have a tendency to shed a lot.
Their environment -- the weather if they are outside.

Hope this helped. Happy holidays!

Answer 2

Some cats shed more than others and when they lick themselves it goes down and comes up later as a hairball!
But it usually happens to long haired cats.

Answer 3

Even though all cats groom themselves, some cats probably do it in such a way that they get a lot of fur off them at once and swallow it. The fur rolls up into a ball and the cat has to throw it up to prevent blockage. The other cats might just not swallow as much hair at once.

Answer 4

because some of them are long haired and others are short hairs

Answer 5

I have no clue. Maybe when they lick the fur, they get a hairball.

Answer 6

some cats have longer fur and lick themselves more. they also shed more and have sensitive digestion.

Answer 7

depends on grooming, hair length, and what they eat....

Answer 8

Same reason why some people die young and some don't!

Answer 9

some groom more than others