The Best Cat Hairball Remedies in 2022

Occasional hairballs with your cat are generally nothing to worry about, though it can help to recognize when they are attempting to rid themselves of a hairball. Hairball control for cats tends to be the 'cough-gag-retch' sound, followed by a hairball. However if you notice that your cat seems to be doing this every few weeks, or if they are retching for longer than 48 hours with no success, it is worth seeking a hairball remedy to help them clear the hairballs away.

Your lovely kitty may be over-grooming, which is common in cats that experience an irritating skin condition, this can be the result of an allergy to something, and so if they seem to be grooming excessively or have any bald spots, it would best to approach your veterinarian to check for allergies.

In the rare case that an older cat is struggling from severe constipation caused by hairball buildup in the gi tract, it can lead to complications. Constipation can proceed to become obstipation, this is the build-up of more severe and stubborn fecal impaction in the digestive system, this can lead to your kitty being hospitalized and undergoing elaborate therapy, including the manual removal of the blockage under anesthetization. If left untreated, severe constipation can prove fatal, therefore keeping on top of hairball control is very important. Take a look at our review of cat food for constipation for more options.

Hairball prevention is important to keep on top of so that you can avoid a trip to the vets. Should the problem of hairballs becoming an intestinal blockage arise, it may be worth contacting your veterinarian, to request that they take a look. Your kitty may end up needing an experts opinion and prescribed medication in order to clear out the blockage. Also, if your cat is bringing up bile, or anything else with its hairball it could be a sign of pancreatitis, so if this continues for longer than 3 days it would also be advisable to seek veterinary help.

Hairball medicine for cats is quite a rare requirement and is predominantly needed for older cats, who are not able to digest as quickly and easily as a younger cat may be, and because they are less active their body is more likely to build up a blockage in the intestinal tract. Constipation often occurs due to blockage and can lead to further health problems. It can also happy with cat parents that spend a large amount of their time grooming their kittens. Although, cat parents are younger and more capable of digesting the hair that they ingest. For further information, it would be worth looking more closely into hairballs and cat health.

Generally speaking, a diet that is high in fiber, with a good range of fiber sources, can help to minimize the issue of shedding, and therefore reduce the risk of ingesting fur, and of hairball formation. Fiber may not necessarily be all that your kitty needs, however, and the addition of just a teaspoon of olive oil added to their food for a few days can help to lubricate their stomachs and coat the ingested hair.

Olive oil also has a laxative effect, and so it is recommended to watch your cat for any signs of intestinal distress, if they appear to be finding the treatment difficult then discontinue and consult your vet if the hairball problem has not been resolved. Olive oil is an easier option to help your cat to pass hairballs, as it is easier on digestion than petroleum-jelly, and mixing it with their cat food makes the entire experience much easier.

In short, yes it certainly can. Canned cat food is so high in moisture content that it is much easier to digest, and as a result passes through the body quickly and easily. When the body doesn't have to spend as long digesting, it stops it from having time to form hairballs. It is actually noted that cats that are on canned food diets will have a much-reduced risk of developing a hairball problem, if at all.

In fact, studies over time have found that there are certain canned cat foods that don't only help to reduce hairballs developing but are also better for your cat's urinary health overall. On top of this, wet food is seen to be better for a cat's health in general, this is owing to the ingredients involving a strong mix of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, which help with body development, digestion support, and healthy skin and coat.

If your cat continues to struggle with the odd hairball, you can add one of the above hairball treatments to the mix, providing that your vet is in agreement.

If you have long-haired cats or one that malts constantly, it is a good idea to brush them on a regular basis, ideally a daily grooming session depending on how severe the shedding is. If your cat is short-haired, brushing your cat once a week would suffice for hairball prevention. If your cat is prone to developing hairballs, some pet food manufacturers have developed hairball control food that helps them to pass ingested hair. Or if their tendency to hack up hairballs isn't controlled using special cat food, you may want to consider hairball treats for cats or other cat hairball treatment. These foods, treats, and supplements often yield great results but containing vitamins, oils, and minerals that improve the condition of your cat's fur, helping it to shed less.

If you continue to use hairball preventing foods and supplements on a regular basis, as recommended, you will find that the issue of hairballs will come up far less, if at all. The use of fiber in these foods also helps to 'sweep' the excess fur out of the body via the digestive tract.