In an ideal situation, the minimal amount of hair your cat
ingests as part of their grooming process will exit from their
body with feces. Since hair is not digestible for cats -- or
any mammal -- once hair takes up residency in your cat’s body,
it must be removed somehow. The biggest sign that your cat has
a hairball to expel is an
extended hacking or gagging noise indicating that your cat is
vomiting the hairball.
Despite the name, hairballs are not shaped like a round ball --
rather, hairballs are cylindrically shaped masses of
clumped-together fur. If you come across one in your home, you
may think that it is your cat’s feces. However, if you dare to
investigate further, you will be able to see that it is has
less of an odor than feces, and that it also has the same
coloring as your cat’s fur.
Having one hairball about every week, or every two weeks, is
relatively normal for cats and is not problematic.
Other Symptoms to Watch For
If you hear the telltale hack of a cat trying to emit a
hairball more frequently than every few weeks, it can be a
cause for concern. Similarly, if your cat tries to release a
hairball, but is not successful, the hairball can become
problematic. While it’s not common, a hairball that won’t exit
from your cat may need to be removed surgically to prevent
damage to your cat’s stomach and intestines. Watch for signs of
your cat experiencing digestive problems, such as constipation,
in conjunction with hairballs. Constipation can reveal that
your cat’s hairball is lodged in their colon.
Other problematic symptoms to watch for include a disinterest in food, depression and
lethargy, and a poor condition of your cat’s coat. If you spot
these more serious symptoms, a visit to the vet is in order.
Your Cat Hairball Solution Guide
If your cat gets frequent hairballs, you probably do a lot more
clean up than you’d like to. Your cat is also probably doing
more hacking up than they’d like to do. Cat hairballs are a
natural occurrence and your cat will likely always have then
occasionally, but you can help reduce their frequency and give
both you and your cat a break.
Even better, cat hairball remedies can reduce the risk for
hairball-related health issues, like blocked intestines. Keep
your cat happier and healthier with these
effective products.
Cat Brushes
Get at the root of the hairball problem by getting extra hair
out of your cat’s coat. Cats naturally ingest loose hair when
they groom, so removing those loose hairs proactively through
brushing will give your kitty less to swallow.
- Up to 2/3 of the hair a cat sheds is ingested--the
Furminator reduces that amount drastically
- Reduces shedding up to 90%
- Perfectly designed for long haired cats
- Ejector button makes cleaning the tool easy
- Perfect for short-haired cats who shed a lot
- Reduces the amount of shed hair by 90%
- Easy to clean
- Perfect for cats with sensitive skin or delicate coats
- Reduces shedding and prevents hairballs
- Keeps coat healthy and shiny
- Massages cat's skin for a great grooming experience
Hairball Remedy Pastes, Treats, and Vitamins
Some hairball remedies are laxative-based products that help
your cat digest any hair in their system and pass it through
their stool. Your cat will use the litter box like usual
instead of retching up so many hairballs. Others are oil
combinations and vitamins for
cats that boost coat health, meaning less loose hair
to start with.
- Help hair pass through digestive tract to reduce hairballs
- Easy to administer--just put on your cat's paw and they
lick it off
- Given daily, it helps prevent hairball build-ups
- This tuna-flavored laxative is eagerly eaten by cats and
prevents hairballs. (You can also try Maple-Flavored Laxatone)
- Also prevent nausea and constipation
- Contains a beneficial iron supplement
- Easy-to-give delicious treat
- No added salt or artificial colors
- Contains rice bran and mineral oil to prevent hairballs
- Contains plant-based fibers for hairball prevention
- Feed as a snack or a treat
- Delicious chicken flavor
- A bled of nutrients, herbs, vitamins, minerals, and natural
oils that reduce shedding
- Gives your cat healthier, shinier fur
- Contains no petroleum-based ingredients
- Supports a health digestive tract and reduces hairballs
- Contains herbs that naturally lubricate
Cat Foods for Hairball Prevention
Perhaps the simplest way to reduce hairballs is to feed your
cat a food specifically designed for hairball prevention. The
fibers and oils in these foods help your cat digest any
ingested hair more effectively, and also boosts coat health.
- Promotes healthy digestion with premium ingredients
- Contains vitamin E and fish
oil to promote healthy hair
- Just feed your cat as usual, and they'll have fewer
hairballs!
- Hairball management specifically for senior cats
- Delicious chicken flavor
- For cats 1 to 7 years olf
- Supports a health immune system and reduces plaque while
also reducing hairballs
- While not a cat food, this natural blend of herbs and
greens will delight your kitty
- Grown easily at home
-
Cats will happily chew the
grass, a natural hairball remedy
More on Cat Health
5 Facts About Asthma and Coughing in
Cats and Dogs
Why Cats Meow:
Cat Purrs, Growls, and Other Language
Why Cats Eat Grass and Other Self-Medicating
Habits
This information is for informational purposes only and
is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or
diagnosis or treatment by, your veterinarian with respect to
your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed
veterinarian for accuracy.
