Four Ways To Eliminate Cat Hairballs

• Posted on 20 April 2020
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in hairballs in cats, treatment for hairballs
• 0

If your feline roommate is hacking up hairballs monthly, weekly, or daily, this should be considered a health issue and is NOT normal. Consider these simple solutions.

Four Ways To Eliminate Cat Hairballs

Did you know, your cat should rarely or never vomit hairballs?

If your feline roommate is hacking up hairballs monthly, weekly, or daily, this should be considered a health issue and is NOT normal. We often become so accustomed to the habit that we begin to feel like it is part of daily life and becomes our new norm. If this is the case in your household, there are a few areas you should consider.

Cat Grooming

While it is instinctive for felines to groom themselves often, they may need some help. If you have a medium or long-haired cat, you should also be brushing your cat daily or weekly to help with the coat, hairballs, and matting. 

Cat Nutrition

The constant or occurring hairballs may be a secondary cause of poor nutrition. If your cat is shedding and overgrooming this can produce a large consumption of hair. Your cat should be grooming but not swallowing large amounts of hair. When a poor quality food is being fed, your cat may not be up to taking nutrients and omegas that support the skin and coat. However, this can also happen with short-haired cats as well based on excessive shedding issues. You may also notice that your cats vomit may be mixed with food. If that is the case, then a new food choice might be in order. If you are ready to switch diets and you have a picky kitty, we have sample packages of cat food that are a great starting point in trying a variety.

Cat Supplements

Our feline friends tend to refuse supplements faster than our canine friends. However, there are a few great supplements that are typically not offensive to our cat's palette. The following recommendations are easy to disguise in canned or raw food if your cat is willing to eat these options. If your cat only eats dry food, we still have some options for you! 

Digestive Enzymes

There are a few variations of digestive enzymes ranging from fermented goats milk to powders. Since hairballs end up being an undigested protein the enzymes can help break down the hair and move it through the digestive tract with stool rather than being vomited. Another reason I love digestive enzymes is because this also helps support healthy skin and coat while reducing the amount of shedding. If your cat is also having additional digestive issues such as vomiting food, you could introduce an enzyme blend with herbs that support and settle the stomach.

Herbal Tinctures

Marshmallow root is one of my favorite single herbs to use with hairballs. If you have nutrition dialed in but your cat still has hairballs then marshmallow root might be a good choice. This herb is considered mucilaginous. This means that her herb has a slippery component as well as anti-inflammatory support.

Cat Veterinary Support

If you have made changes to your cat’s diet and routine and their vomiting hairballs are still constant, you should have them assessed by a veterinary professional. If you see anything unusual such as severe weight loss, blood, pink liquid, then those would all be of concern to seek diagnostic testing from your veterinarian. 

In Conclusion

While hairballs may have been normal in the past for your kitty, we know that cat hairballs can often be solved with many of the simple solutions listed above. Let us know if we can help you with any feline diet, nutrition, and health questions, we love to assist any way we can.