Anyone who has a cat, or has had a cat in the past, knows that hairballs are inevitable. Cats groom themselves using the brush-like bristles on their tongue. What should we expect?
There are times when hairballs become excessive, though. There are a few steps you can take to reduce the frequency of hairballs (even though you can't get rid of them completely).
First, be sure to groom your cat on a regular basis (especially if she is long-haired). If you are not comfortable with doing this yourself, you should take a look around at the local groomers to see if any offer cat grooming. You don't have to do this often. Every six months or so is generally sufficient.
In the meantime, between those six months, you can also look into hairball products and specialized cat food for cats who are continuously experiencing difficulties with hairballs.
The specialized food formulas contain extra fiber to improve your cat's coat and reduce shedding. The specialized food also encourage hairballs to pass through the digestive system easier by integrating that extra fiber.
In addition to the specialized food, there are products available that are generally placed on your cat's paws (they lick it off) to assist in eliminating furballs properly.