libracats,

What you've described sounds EXACTLY like what my Weezie sounds like when she has a hairball. Give her some laxatone or petroleum jelly and see if it helps her either expel the hairball or pass it out the other end.

If this doesn't take care of the problem, see a vet. But her otherwise good health, clear nose, activity level makes me suspect it's just a hairball.

Dianne