In other words, a right balance of fiber blend helps your cat push hairballs … For older cats who struggle with hairballs. Different types of fiber perform different digestive roles. Packed full of healthy and natural … By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Undiagnosed food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease often play a role in the formation of hairballs. High-Fiber Cat Food for Hairball Control. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My 10 year old cat will only eat dry food, I have tried in vain to introduce quality handmade “wet” food into her diet with absolutely no interest on her part, she will skip eating if there is wet cat food presented, even if it is mixed with her dry food in a small introduction. In fact, switching your cat to a wet food diet could serve as a natural hairball remedy for cats. Thanks for the comment! Hope you find a great product that both you and your cat love! Pumpkin contains fiber that may help your cat pass the hairball. Several pet food manufacturers have added fiber to their formulations to create “hairball” diets that work well for some cats. Hairball fixes for your cat. Too much fat supplementation could bring your cat a whole new set of digestive problems. If your cat has been eating a typical commercial cat food with ingredients like brewers yeast, wheat middlings, and dried beet pulp, they’re already getting more indigestible plant matter than any cat needs. Do not give your cat a flavored hairball lubricant if you are also feeding a limited ingredient diet. If your kitty is suffering from the persistent hairball problem then feed a hairball formula food. Required fields are marked *. Nutrition is really important so your cat’s digestive system is able to pass hair they swallow flawlessly. Since your cat insists on dry food only, I’d recommend upgrading to Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein, Ziwi Peak, or Wellness CORE air-dried cat food. Hairballs—also known as trichobezoars (pronounced trike-oh-bee-zohrs)—are considered a normal quirk of being a cat, but they say more about your cat’s digestive health than you might expect. Since chronic hairballs can indicate digestive issues, it’s a good idea to choose foods with a positive reputation among cats with GI problems. Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast, Chicken Liver, Green Beans, Peas, Water sufficient for processing, Chicken Heart, Kale, Vegetable Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Choline Bitartrate, Salt, Taurine, Magnesium Gluconate, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Ascorbic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Gluconate, Ferrous Gluconate, Niacin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin A, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Selenium, Dried Kelp, Biotin, Vitamin B12. Food for treating hairballs has a high amount of fiber, and this special formula makes the gastrointestinal tract move smoothly, which helps cats pass out the accumulated hairballs in their stomachs. Because it’s so common in cat food, chicken is one of the top food allergens for cats. Cats bring up hairballs frequently enough that it’s easy to think of them as being normal, but, in fact, they are a symptom of a problem. You will need to feed one of these foods (and nothing else!) Hairball relief products act as a laxative to help pass the hairball through the cat’s digestive system. Top Recipe: Smalls Fresh Kills Fresh Minced Chicken. Again, every time that a hairball “comes up” in this manner, it’s indicative of an anomaly in the digestive process. A high-fiber diet will also help some cats with hairballs. As a cat licks itself clean, it inadvertently swallows loose hair. Why Your Cat Is Itchy and What You Can Do, Dog Nutrition: Guide to Dog Food Nutrients. Since most cats don’t eat rabbit on a regular basis, it’s not one of the top allergens and is unlikely to stir up any allergy issues. Green beans, peas, and kale are the only carbohydrate ingredients and they are naturally grain-free and rich in nutrients. First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Chicken, Turkey Liver, Turkey Broth, Tuna. ©2020 Cliverse Media Ltd. Supports the health of the whole urinary system. While most of these hair strands are passed out of the system some remain in the stomach and can cause immense discomfort. This limited-ingredient food is made with a single source of animal protein. The morsels are primarily composed of rabbit meat and bones. They coat hair in the GI tract and prevent it from forming clumps. Most foods sold for hairball control are high-fiber products. I know you’ve tried adding wet food to her dry kibble, but have you tried adding a little warm water to acclimate her to the idea of food that doesn’t crunch? This bare-bones recipe from Tiki Cat has several qualities that may help your hairball-prone feline. Be choosy in selecting a high fiber cat food as not all of … After learning more about feline nutrition, King switched her two cats Amber and Buckley to a grain-free canned diet. – Wet cat food does not cause hairballs. This chicken and turkey pate from Nulo has that kind of reputation. One of the main causes of hairball in your cat is wet cat food. The remaining 10% of calories can be provided by treats. Two canned food choices for kitties who prefer canned food or who are on a blended wet-dry food routine. Egg yolks contain two micronutrients that can help to minimize hairball problems. Mix a 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) or so into the cat's wet food. It contains small amounts of organic collard greens, squash, celery, cranberries, and traces of other fruits and vegetables. Because this food contains dried egg, it’s a source of the choline and lecithin that help to prevent hairballs. In addition to being high in protein and low in carbohydrates, this formula is rich in moisture which helps support digestion as well as healthy skin and coat. And don’t forget this simple, non-dietary hairball remedy: brush your cat (assuming it’s a pleasant experience for the two of you). No fruits or vegetables were used in the making of this food. These freeze-dried nuggets are primarily composed of turkey muscle meat and organs. Because 96% of the protein in this recipe comes from animal sources, you know that it’s highly-digestible and nourishing for your cat. Lubricant gels that contain petroleum jelly, waxes, or oils are also options for hairball control. If you’ve tried a couple over-the-counter, limited-ingredient foods with little success, talk to your veterinarian about prescription diets. As a fiber source, pumpkin helps to carry hairs through the body. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. A complete work-up for chronic or severe hairballs starts with a patient history and physical exam and may include: Possibly, biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract or skin. They also recently started selling millet and silica cat litter. The two torties were raised on raw food and, when Ingrid wrote on the topic in 2012, had never vomited a hairball. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Along with pinches of other plant ingredients, the food contains pumpkin, which is a commonly-recommended treatment for hairballs. Diets that are somewhat hypoallergenic are available over the counter through many pet food retailers. For cats that prefer wet food, this Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Formula Wet Food is a great option to help reduce the formation of hairballs. The great majority (90% or more) of your cat’s diet should be made up of nutritionally complete and balanced foods. Due to the risk of aflatoxin mold growth, this can be a little risky when feeding a grain-inclusive food, but mold is less of a concern if you’re feeding your cat a low-carbohydrate, meat-based food. Because it’s built according to what the company calls a paleolithic feeding model, this food is particularly popular among cats with IBD and other digestive issues. First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Dried Egg, Tricalcium Phosphate. It’s important for cats to eat have moisture in their diet, ideally a mix of wet food and dry food … Cats need a decent dose of proteins, fibers, and moisture to prevent hairball … Most of the treatments mentioned above can be mixed into your cat’s wet food. If the hairballs persist, then you might try adding a small amount of fiber. Rule out any health conditions that could contribute to excessive shedding. In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. This variety of protein sources might make this food a problematic choice for cats with allergies or sensitivities, but for those who can handle it, this food does well in taste tests and seems to soothe the digestive tract. Most frequently, a cat owner becomes aware of an issue when the cat vomits a long tubular mass of hair a hairball. Hairballs may be disgusting, but they develop as a result of your cats healthy and fastidious grooming routine. The most common issues behind hairballs are gastrointestinal dysfunction or skin diseases that cause excessive self-grooming and/or hair loss. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Swallowing hair when they do so is a normal occurrence. This bare-bones recipe from Tiki Cat has several qualities that may help your hairball … Other fiber options you can try include wheatgrass powder, coconut fiber powder, or psyllium seed husk powder. Each time you make a purchase through one of our independently-chosen links, we’ll receive a percentage of the proceeds. The choline component acetylcholine helps to increase contractions in the muscular layer of the GI tract, propelling food and hair down and out. Or for greater effect, try combining hairball treats with a hairball diet. The same applies for other powdered fiber additives. Your subscription will be based on your cat’s calorie needs, and you can adjust it as needed by contacting the customer care team. Your email address will not be published. If you use slippery elm bark powder, you will want to mix the dry powder with water to create a thick slurry before adding it to your cat’s food wet Fancy Feast. A study by the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that 10% of short-haired cats and 20% of long-haired cats, threw up a hairball once a month.. Cats use their rough-textured tongues to dislodge dirt and remove hairs that are in the resting phase. Chronic hairballs occurring more than once or twice a month are associated with poor diet and digestive problems. But hairballs don’t have to be a regular part of cat ownership. These lubricants coat the hair in the digestive tract, helping it to pass through the system. All are low in carbohydrates and contain primarily meat ingredients. Add one or two tablespoons of canned pumpkin to the cat’s food … It’s a highly-digestible, species-appropriate food that helps to keep your cat’s digestion running smoothly. Because cats are inherently carnivores, indoor cats dependant on cat food need should get ample fiber and other key elements of a balanced diet to prevent hairball problems. Chicken, Chicken Broth, Sunflower Seed Oil, Dried Egg, Tricalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Biotin, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Potassium Iodide, Folic Acid, Vitamin K3 Supplement. If you see your cat struggling with hairballs, consider adding a bit of olive oil to his or her food. These conditions cause the gastrointestinal tract to become inflamed, and that inflammation interferes with a cat’s natural ability to deal with hair that is swallowed (in other words, keep it moving in the right direction). Grooming your cat more often and increasing the fiber content of his diet can help with this particular problem. Fresh food made with human-grade ingredients, High in protein and moisture, very low in carbs, Tiki Cat Koolina Luau Chicken with Egg in Chicken Consomme, Contains pumpkin, which may help reduce hairballs, Hound & Gatos Turkey & Turkey Liver Canned Cat Food, Made from turkey, which is a good alternative to chicken, Free from commonly irritating ingredients, Stella & Chewy's Freeze-Dried Raw Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels, Rabbit is a novel protein - ideal for allergic cats, A Free from common allergens and irritants, The 6 Best Cat Foods For Hairball Control. After the transition, yakking up a hairball became a rare event. You can mash dry psyllium husk powder directly into your cat’s food. Typically, this triggers retching, which forces the mass through the esophagus and up out of your cat’s mouth. Let me share with you what I have learned about feline nutrition to help you make an informed decision on what diet you should feed your cats. If you are looking for a way to add fiber to your cat’s current food, try mixing in a little canned pumpkin or unflavored psyllium. The recipe is is one of the simplest on the market, containing turkey meat, organs, and broth, along with binders and supplements. While there’s evidence that indigestible matter can aid in the feline digestive process, a daily regimen of pumpkin, beet pulp, and cellulose isn’t necessarily what your cat needs. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Always mix wet food with dry food, you can also add some fresh milk to this mixture to minimize intake of hairballs. This means feeding your carnivorous cat a diet consisting primarily of meat and as few plant ingredients as possible. Canned food may also provide enough hydration to help keep the digestive system moving properly, reducing the risk of hairballs. Some people have also had success adding small amounts of canned pumpkin to their cat's … Turkey, Turkey Necks, Turkey Hearts, Turkey Livers, Organic Collard Greens, Organic Squash, Organic Celery, Cranberries, Blueberries, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Montmorillonite Clay, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Sardine Oil, Taurine, Organic Quinoa Sprout Powder, Dried Organic Kelp, Organic Cilantro, Organic Coconut Oil, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Ginger, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Natural Preservative). To Dog food nutrients to our terms of use and privacy policy and hair... Most common issues behind hairballs are gastrointestinal dysfunction or skin diseases that cause excessive self-grooming and/or hair.. Use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the.. Contain two micronutrients that can help sweep hair through the system some remain in digestive! Turkey isn ’ t have to be significantly less allergenic not give your is! 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A natural hairball remedy for cats and a good reason to consider it when shopping for website! Little success, talk to your cat ’ s Science diet is the 1...