Indoor cats can get into hairier situations if they don't have enough moisture in their diet so be sure your cat gets a mix of wet food with her dry food and plenty of fresh water to drink. ... He or she may recommend certain hairball medications or adding other types of fiber to your cat's diet.
Other than that, what can I feed my cat for hairballs?
A teaspoon of fish, safflower, or flax oil added to your cat's food can coat a hairball, allowing it to pass through your kitty's system. Another option is a hairball prevention jelly containing slippery elm, marshmallow, or papaya. These are usually given once or twice a week.
At any event, what to do when cat throws up hairballs? Can cat hairballs be prevented?
Brush your cat regularly. The more fur you can remove, the less is likely to end up in your cat's stomach.Give your cat hairball ointment two or three times a week. Most cats enjoy the taste and consider it a treat.Consider feeding your cat food designed to reduce hairballs.
Any way, what is the best hairball remedy for cats?
Luckily, there are plenty of great hairball remedies, medicines, and prevention tools out there. Our top pick is Tomlyn Tuna Flavor Laxatone Gel, which gently lubricates your cat's digestive tract to relieve hairball-related constipation and to prevent the formation of hairballs in the future.
What is a natural remedy for hairballs in cats?
3 Ways to Naturally Reduce Hairballs
Brushing/Hair Removal. Brushing your cat more frequently is the easiest way to reduce hairballs. ... Digestive Aids & Fiber. Adding digestive enzymes to your cat's food can help dramatically reduce hairballs. ... Fish Oil. Fish oil, such as salmon, pollock and sardine oil, is great because it fights hairballs on both fronts.
Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control, Savory Chicken Recipe, 5oz Cans, 24 Pack
- Adult cat Food that supports complete urinary
- Supports healthy skin and coat with Omega-6s and vitamin E
- High-quality protein to help your senior cat maintain muscle
- Wet food made with natural ingredients
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- #1 Veterinarian recommended
Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Hairball Control, Cans, 24-pack
- Adult cat Food with natural fiber to help comfortably reduce hairballs
- High quality protein to help your grown cat maintain lean muscle
- Made with purposeful, easily digestible ingredients Adult cats enjoy
- Scrumptious wet food made with natural ingredients
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- #1 Veterinarian recommended
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Indoor Weight Control & Hairball Control Dry Cat Food with Chicken, Turkey, and Garden Greens, 22 lb. Bag
- Contains one (1) 22 lb. bag of IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food with Chicken & Turkey
- Chicken is the 1st ingredient in this nutrient-rich cat food, formulated to help support strong muscles and provide your cat with healthy energy to play
- Helps burn fat and maintain healthy metabolism with L-carnitine
- Helps reduce hairballs before they start with with a tailored proprietary fiber blend including beet pulp
- Integral part of a balanced weight control diet and basic hairball care regimen for cats
- Provides your cat with a high quality protein meal that satisfies with 10% less fat than IAMS Healthy Adult Original with Chicken
- Nourished with the optimal Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acid ratio for soft, shiny, healthy coats
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Sensitive Digestion & Skin Dry Cat Food with Real Turkey Cat Kibble, 6 lb. Bag
- Contains one (1) 6 lb. bag of IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Sensitive Digestion & Skin Dry Cat Food Kibble with Turkey
- Helps maintain strong muscles with high quality protein (real turkey is the #1 ingredient)
- Helps support digestive health with a unique fiber blend including prebiotics and beet pulp to aid nutrient absorption
- Supports healthy, nourished skin and a shiny coat with omega-6 and -3 fatty acids
- Made in the USA using the World’s Finest Ingredients
- Helps support strong immune defenses with prebiotics and antioxidants
- Formulated for adult cats of all sizes and ages
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Hairball Control, Chicken Recipe, 7 lb Bag
- Dry kibble food made with natural fibers to comfortably reduce hairballs in adult cats
- Packed with vitamin E plus omega-3s & -6s to give your adult cat healthy skin & fur
- High-quality protein to help your grown cat build and maintain lean muscles
- Try adding Science Diet Hairball Control Chicken Entrée as a scrumptious complement
- Made with natural ingredients
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- #1 Veterinarian Recommended
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin
- A source of prebiotic fiber to fuel beneficial gut bacteria and support a grown cat's microbiome
- This adult cat food is highly digestible for optimal nutrient absorption and easy stool pickup
- Helps nourish an adult cat's skin with vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids
- Made with natural ingredients
- Made in the USA with global ingredients you can trust
- No.1 Veterinarian Recommended
Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Digest Sensitive Loaf In Sauce Canned Cat Food, 5.8 oz Can (Pack of 24)
- Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Loaf in Sauce wet cat food is formulated for cats 1 year and older with sensitive stomachs
- Highly digestible proteins help cats absorb nutrients better, while decreasing stool odor
- Helps maintain an ideal weight with specially formulated nutrition
- Precisely balanced blend of vitamins and minerals provides optimal cat health and wellness
- Perfect complement to Royal Canin Digestive Care dry cat food
NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Adult Hairball Control Natural Dry Cat Food Farm-Raised Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 14 lb. Bag
- Contains one (1) 14 lb. bag of NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Hairball Control Adult Cat Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Natural Cat Food Plus Vitamins, Minerals, & Other Nutrients
- Real chicken is the #1 ingredient in this delicious adult cat food that's rich in nutrients and full of flavor
- Natural fiber blend to help minimize hairball formation in adult cats
- Made with non-GMO ingredients* from trusted farmers and suppliers (* Trace amounts of genetically modified material may be present due to potential cross-contact during manufacturing.)
- NO corn, wheat, or soy protein, NO chicken by-product meal, NO artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors… just real food for your cat to enjoy
- Rich in omega-6 fatty acids from natural fats for healthy skin and coat for your favorite feline
- Features essential antioxidants for healthy immunity
Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food, 15 Pounds
- Royal Canin indoor adult dry cat food is formulated for healthy cats 1-7 years old
- Helps move hairballs formed while grooming through a cat's digestive system with an optimal blend of fibers
- Controlled calorie content adapted for an indoor cat’s leisurely lifestyle and big appetite, helping them maintain a healthy weight. This diet contains 3534 kilo-calories of Metabolizable Energy (ME) per kilogram or 325 kilo-calories ME per cup on an as fed basis (calculated)
- Highly digestible proteins increase the digestibility of nutrients while decreasing stool amounts (and litter box odors)
- Promotes oral health with its crunchy kibble texture and added essential minerals that slow the formation of tartar
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food, Hairball Control Chicken Recipe, 6-Pound Bag
- ENJOY A LIFETIME OF WELLBEING TOGETHER: Working with our staff of vets, nutritionists and scientists, we create each diet to deliver everything your cat needs to thrive, for a lifetime
- HAIRBALL SUPPORT: This dry grain free hairball recipe features a special natural fiber blend that helps move swallowed hair and already formed hairballs through a cat’s digestive system and is scientifically proven to help manage hairballs
- WHOLE BODY HEALTH: Crafted to support your cat’s total wellbeing including plenty of energy for playtime, a lustrous skin and coat, sound digestion and immunity, strong teeth and healthy eyes, plus controlled minerals for urinary health support
- CATISFACTION PROMISE: Wellness CORE offers a full range of wet and dry food to support your cat's specific cat preferences and needs; with dozens of tastes and textures, we are confident you will find one your feline will love
- MADE IN THE USA: using only the finest globally sourced ingredients, we prepare each of our diets in our own state of the art facility; we craft delicious natural recipes with wholesome, non GMO ingredients chosen for their nutritional benefits
12 More Questions Answered
To stop a cat from expelling hairballs, add one-half to one teaspoon Land O Lakes Butter to the cat's food once a day for a week. The butter helps push the fur through the cat's digestive system, preventing hairballs from forming.
Olive oil is a natural remedy for constipation in cats. It has a laxative effect and can contribute to curing hairballs. It is suggested that you mix one teaspoon of olive oil into your cats' food for three days as a hairball cure.
Hairballs are no fun to deal with for both cat and owner, but adding a bit of coconut oil to their diet can help reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract that can occur when your cat regurgitates hairballs. It also helps your cat pass more easily by adding moisture and bulk to the hairballs.
As to how many disgorged hairballs qualify as “normal,” the number varies somewhat among veterinary authorities. Some say a healthy cat might vomit up a wad of fur every week or two. Dr. Brunt says even long-haired breeds, like Persians and Maine Coons, “should not develop more than one or two hairballs a year.”
Can Hairballs be a Problem for My Cat? If too much hair is building up and cannot be passed in the feces or as a hairball, if may cause an obstruction in your cat's upper intestinal tract. This will cause vomiting, abdominal pain, decreased (or no) appetite, and, if not treated, serious fluid and electrolyte problems.
A large clump of ingested hair can block a cat's intestinal tract and pose a deadly threat.
Sometimes cats eat indigestible stuff (such as grass), which can cause vomiting. Spoiled food is another culprit, as is wet food that's too cold. (If you serve your cat refrigerated wet food, try letting it come to room temperature first.)
It's abnormal for a cat to vomit daily or even several times a month. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it could be from a simple issue such as hairballs. It could indicate your cat has eaten a toxic substance or has a serious illness. Whatever reason you suspect, see your vet as soon as possible.
Cats sometimes eat too much too fast. When the stomach wall expands too quickly, a signal is sent to the brain to cause regurgitation. ... “Cats that eat too quickly because they are gluttonous or stressed by food-bowl competition can regurgitate right after eating,” says Dr. Sara Stephens, a DVM from Montana.
Other hairball symptoms can include your cat nibbling on grass, as well as constipation and lethargy. If your cat doesn´t pass the hairball, and these signs last for more than two to three days, book a check-up with your vet to make sure nothing else is amiss.
Interestingly, some
cats are willing to
eat unflavored
Vaseline or generic
petroleum jelly, and this is an
acceptable substitute. We do not recommend giving
mineral oil by itself, as it is easily inhaled by the
cat as it is swallowed and can cause fatal lung toxicity.
To stop your cat from getting hairballs, place a dab of Vaseline Vaseline Jelly on one of the cat's paws. The cat will lick off the petroleum jelly, which lubricates her digestive track, allowing hairs to travel naturally out the proper end. Apply the petroleum jelly once a day for four days.