Cat Hairballs, What Are They and What Can You Do About Them

How Do I Stop Hairballs? 

Hairballs can be distressing and harmful for our furry friends. Learning how we can decrease and prevent them can have great benefits. Grooming is a natural behaviour of a cat, grooming helps decrease matts forming, keeps them clean and coats in good condition. But these good habits can cause trouble in our cat’s digestive tract.

How are hairballs formed?

If you’ve ever been licked by a cat you will know that they have a rough tongue. This is because they have little spikes covering the surface which act like a hair brush. When a cat grooms, their fur gets caught and collected. The fur is swallowed and goes to the stomach. Most of the hair is digested, however undigested fur can clump together rather than passing through forming a hairball. This hairball can then cause a blockage as hair continues to build up or the cat will expel it from the body by regurgitation. 

What can I do to help prevent hairballs?

1.Grooming:

Grooming can be beneficial for cats prone to hairballs. Brushing can remove excess fur that your cat may ingest which will lessen the accumulation of hairballs and shedding. There are ranges of combs and brushes, bristle strength and materials and sizes that are suitable for different fur lengths. For hairball reduction it is best to focus on brushes that are suited for shedding. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HdHC0pIiW4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ8HW79uuIw 

2. Food:

Royal Canin Hairball Care

• Can come as a biscuit or wet food, is a balanced diet meaning no other food is necessary.
• “Proven results: is effective after 14 days, doubling the amount of hair eliminated through faeces.”
• Helps reduce hairball formation
• Contains nutrients such as psyllium husk and seeds which help to encourage food from the digestive tract including hair to reduce hair build up and hairballs.
• Contains fish oil and other oils which improve skin and coat condition. Less shedding. 
• Not recommended for cat who suffer megacolon and obstipation 

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Hairball

• Reduces the formation of hairballs 
• Contains psyllium husk for hairball control and high fibre content and prebiotics to aid digestion.
• Helps with weight management.
• S/O index means that it restricts the formation of struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths (kidney stones). 
• Safe to be used long term
• This is a prescription diet and veterinary advice prior to purchase is recommended.

Hills Hairball Control

• Biscuits, full balanced diet
• Designed for cats prone to hairballs
• Reduces the formation of hairballs 
• Contains omega 3 and 6 and vitamin e for a shiny, healthy coat 
• It also contains taurine which is an essential component of a cats diet which helps vision and heart function 
• Not recommended for kittens or pregnant/nursing cats.

3. Supplements:

 VetriScience Hairball

• Prevents hairballs
• Focuses mainly on the skin health/hydration
• Promotes healthy skin and normal shedding to reduce the amount of hair accumulated. 
• Palatable- chicken liver flavoured
• Doesn’t lubricate the digestive tract and doesn’t have a laxative effect. 
• Supports the urinary tract
• Ingredients: Zinc, Omega 3 and 6, cranberry powder and biotin

    Dechra- Cat lax

• Helps remove existing hairballs and prevents hairballs from occurring. 
• It coats the hairball to help encourage it through the digestive system/Aids in digestion
• Laxative properties
• palatable – caramel flavour
• Helps to keep stomach settled
• Ingredients: Cod liver oil, caramel, lecithin, malt syrup, white petrolatum, 0.1% sodium benzoate, (preservative),  Vitamin E (antioxidant), purified water.

Troy- Laxapet

• Works for cats and dogs.
• Removes hairballs 
• Contains paraffin which causes mild laxative effects to help remove hairballs.
• Promotes digestive health
• Recommended to use with a vitamin supplement
• Caramel flavour
• Ingredients: Liquid paraffin 

Hale- Vitality plus

• Helps with joints and mobility 
• Encourages a healthy coat and skin
• Good for heart health and brain function
• Supports the immune system and digestive system
• Prevent and control hairballs 
• Made in New Zealand
• Ingredients: Cold pressed flaxseed oil, cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, tuna fish oil and Vitamin E 

Hydration is important for cats on a hairball diet or supplement, make sure that fresh water is always available.  If water intake is an issue for your cat then the Pro Plan Hydra Care may help to increase this for you