Best Cat Food To Prevent Hairballs

Your feline friend will probably throw up a hairball if it swallows a lot of fur while grooming. Hairballs are not enjoyable for cats or you since you will have to clean it in the long run. The best thing to do is give it hairball prevention food that will help pair pass freely through the digestion system. Diet is one of the most important ways to prevent any issues with pets. There are many foods in the market and choosing can be a problem. All of them claim to prevent hairballs and vomiting, but which is the best one. Read on to find out all about hairball control cat food or trust our selection and pick one from the list below.

Our selection of Cat Food For Hairballs – Top 3

Cat Food Fiber Get This Cat Food
Purina ONE Hairball Formula 4.5% Check Price
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Hairball Control 5% Check Price
Hill’s Science Wet Hairball Control Cat Food 9.9% Check Price

Cat Food For Hairball Control – What You Need to Know

Indoor cats are prone to getting hairballs, especially if you have long-haired breeds. This is because they spend most of their time grooming and can lead to swallowing of a lot of fur. The hair will come out in a messy manner of it can’t pass through the digestive system. This is why many cat parents are interested in indoor hairball control.

The best cat food can’t fully prevent hairballs but it can significantly reduce them. Below are factors to consider when buying dry cat food or wet cat foord to control hairballs?

Natural Ingredients

Natural fibers are effective in moving fur through the digest system. Proper food that helps regulate digestion to help with hairballs should contain natural fiber. However, note that excess fibers can cause digestive problems. Therefore, choose cat food brands that you trust.

Naturally, cats are a carnivore, and the food should contain proteins. Your cat needs a balanced diet apart from hairball prevention foods for health. The food should have digestible carbohydrates and fatty acids such as Omega 6 and Omega 3. Fatty acids are great for the skin and coat.

Your cat should cough hairballs and not vomit. Vomiting is a sign of grain allergy. Also, note that some cats can digest carbohydrates better than others. Therefore, talk to your veterinarian on whether grain-free food with is easy on sensitive stomachs and healthy to your cat. It’s easy to confuse grain allergy with hairballs, and you should be very keen on the symptoms.

As always, make sure your feed your cat food with taurine and other essential amino-acids.

Taste

A hairball control food is of no value if your cat can’t eat it. Fortunately, there are different flavors in the market, and you won’t miss one that suits your cat.

You can find dry or wet cat food to help reduce issues caused hairballs. You are the only one who knows your cat’s preferences, and you won’t struggle to find the best hairball control food for your feline friend.

What to avoid

It’s best to avoid preservatives and artificial flavors when buying cat food for hairball control. Such foods serve the purpose but contain unnecessary chemicals. Some of the chemicals include BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin.

Also, avoid any food that contains a lot of starch or other fillers. For instance, cornmeal is a common ingredient but doesn’t have any nutritional value. Cornmeal is fine when you moderate it since it holds the kibble together. However, too many carbohydrates are not healthy for your cat.

Wheat gluten is also not good since some brands use it as substitute to whole grains or muscle meat proteins. Sometimes, wheat gluten contains melamine that causes kidney failure. Food colors are the worst since they are only meant to appease buyers. Your cat doesn’t care about the color of food he eats

How to Help Control Hairballs

You can’t totally prevent hairballs, but you can reduce it. Below are ways to reduce the frequency of hairballs in your cat.

Groom your cat regularly

Less fur will enter the cat’s digestive system if you groom her regularly. Brushing and combing your cat daily is an effective way if reducing hairball and it’s a good way of bonding with your little feline. Ensure that you give the cat a haircut every month, even if it means going to a professional groomer.

Discourage compulsive grooming

You should train your cat not to lick its coat if the hairballs are as a result of compulsive grooming. There are other activities that your cat can do, such as playing a new toy or any other fun activity.

Use natural products for indoor hairball control

The amount of fur that cats shed depends on the season, breed and overall health. There are different ways of lowering the amount of fur that cats shed. For instance, vitamins and supplements can reduce shedding by strengthening fur and boosting skin health. Also, coconut oil can help with indigestion, although it has several downsides. Find the best cat food to help with shedding.

Also, cat grass has many benefits when it comes to hairball control

The risks of Hairballs in Cats

Hairballs have many health risks. Below are some of the risks of hairballs.

  • Vomiting
  • Indigestion
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Loss of appetite leading to malnourishment
  • Dehydration

All these hairball risks can ruin your cat’s health. Hairballs are common but should not be disregarded. The hairballs can block the pet’s digestive system, leading to serious problems.

What are the Symptoms of Hairballs in Digestive Tract?

It is very hard to see where is the difference between true issues caused by hairballs and the regular vomiting the cats usually do. As always, one must consult a veterinary. Here are some signs your cat might have trouble with hairballs.

  • Blood in stool
  • Gagging
  • Constipation
  • Eating grass
  • Constant vomiting
  • Lack of appetite
  • Consistent coughing
  • Swollen abdomen

Diarrhea can be as a result of diet change. However, persistent diarrhea, bloody stools or vomiting can indicate hairballs.

How Cat Food Prevents Hairballs?

Hairball control cat food contains fibers that boost the functioning of the digestive tract. It can help pass the hair out of the cat’s body before it accumulates. Also, some cat foods are grain-free because cats have a problem digesting grains. Some cats may frequently vomit if the ingest grains. the best thing to do purchase foods with high protein content and fewer carbohydrates. Make sure that you buy the best cat food to prevent hairballs if you want to minimize it.

Best cat food to prevent hairballs

7. Purina ONE Hairball Formula

Purina ONE Hairball Adult Formula Dry Cat Food

Purina has a reputation for manufacturing quality cat food. They produce different foods to cater for all your needs. Purina One has natural formula combined with nutrients, vitamins and that will boost the skin’s digestion and coat health.

Chicken is one of the ingredients, which is good for felines. The presence of chicken indicates that the food is of high quality and a great protein source.

The food doesn’t have any filler and is easily digestible. Fillers can damage the cat’s digestive system and cause serious health problems. The food contains high amounts of natural fiber that can help your feline friend pass food with ease. Note that the formula is not ideal for sensitive stomachs.

6. Hill’s Science Wet Hairball Control Cat Food

Hill's Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entree Canned Cat Food

This cat food is ideal for people who want something specialized.

The food is not only great for reducing hairballs but has other benefits too. It has an easy to digest formula that will enable your cat pass hairballs easily.

The other benefits of cat food are an added advantage. Chicken is the major ingredient and is ideal for cats that prefer wet foods.

5. Blue Buffalo Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball & Weight Control Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

This cat food is specially formulated with high protein content and wholesome fruits and vegetables. The natural fiber in the food can help promote the food movement through the cat’s gut.

It facilitates the ejection of hairball from the digestive tract instead of vomiting. It also features antioxidants and phytochemicals that boost the skin and coat health.

It can help minimize shedding, which is the main cause of hairballs. The formula has wholesome fruits such as cranberries, whole carrots parsley and sweet potatoes.

4. IAMs Proactive Cat Food

Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

IAMs cat food is a good option for cats that either pass hairballs through the digestive tract or regurgitate. It comes with essential fatty acids and prebiotics that promote skin and fur health.

These nutrients reduce shedding to ensure that your cat has no hair to swallow. The food also has natural fibers blended with beet pulp and other ingredients. Probiotics are known to improve the health of the gut even in humans.

The food features a real chicken source to satisfy the high protein requirement of your feline friend.

3. Purina Pro Plan Wet Cat Food

Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Indoor Care Salmon & Rice Entree in Sauce Canned Cat Food

Purina Pro is an alternative for cats that don’t prefer dry foods. It has omega fatty acids that are effective in improving the health of your cat’s skin and coat. It has meat as the major ingredient combined with other ingredients such as rice.

The minerals and vitamins in this formula will satisfy your cat’s dietary requirements. The ingredients will prevent the formation of hairballs and boost the removal of hairs through the gut. However, note that the food contains corn and wheat gluten, and you should not purchase it if your cat is allergic to gluten.

2. Royal Canine Cat Food

Royal Canin Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

Royal Canine has both dietary and insoluble fiber as natural ingredients, which are effective for digestion. Insoluble fibers boost the absorption of nutrients while dietary fibers push hairballs down the tract, this important for your cat since it improves the skin and fur. It also has a high protein and fat content, which are the building blocks for skin and fur issues.

It contains corn and wheat and is not ideal for people who are concerned about these ingredients.

1. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Hairball Control Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Indoor Hairball Control Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

The main factor that separates this formula with other cat foods is that it contains five strands of beneficial bacteria.

The addition of prebiotics in the formula is fantastic since it improves the health of the digestive system. It makes it easy for your cat to pass the hairball down the gut.

The proteins in the formula come from chicken, turkey and pea.

Conclusion

Hairballs can lead to serious health risks if disregarded. Since you can’t prevent hairballs completely, it’s crucial that you come up with ways of reducing it. Buy the best cat food for hairballs to reduce the risks.

Cat Food For Hairball Control FAQ

What should cat food for hairball control contain?

Natural ingredients and a lot of dietary fiber. However, make sure to get only tested brands since not all fiber is the same nor every amount of fiber is always good.

Can I prevent indoor hairballs with cat food?

You cannot really stop hairballs, but you can control it with food and other actions, like regular grooming. Check the list in the article for complete steps.

Can hairballs be dangerous?

They can cause issues like blood in stool, gagging, vomiting so make sure to watch for the symptoms and to feed your cat the best food that will help them reduce discomfort caused by hairballs.