Some cats solely have hairballs a couple of times a 12 months, however others — particularly cats with lengthy coats — might cough up these slimy clumps of hair frequently. In case your cat has frequent hairballs, you could wish to think about switching them to a hairball management cat meals to assist alleviate their signs. Right here’s what it’s good to find out about these particular cat meals formulation.

Cat Meals for Hairballs: Our High Picks

6 Finest Hairball Management Cat Meals 

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In case your cat has an issue with hairballs, switching to a hairball management meals is commonly an efficient preventative measure. Right here’s a choice of one of the best cat meals for hairballs which you can purchase at the moment:

Total Finest Hairball Management Cat Meals

Our decide: Purina ONE Indoor Benefit

Dr. Butzer’s high decide for a hairball management cat meals is the Purina ONE Indoor Benefit, which can be designed to help a wholesome weight for indoor cats. The dry cat meals has a fiber-rich method and omega-6 fatty acids to assist stop hairballs, and it additionally accommodates 4 antioxidants to help a powerful immune system.

This specific method has 10 p.c much less fats than different Purina ONE meals, making it a best choice for indoor-only cats, and it’s free from synthetic flavors, preservatives, and fillers. Plus, actual turkey is the primary ingredient, and the crunchy kibble items have a tasty scent that the majority cats appear to like.

Professionals

• Designed particularly for indoor cats
• Excessive fiber and fatty acids assist stop hairballs
• Decrease fats method to take care of a wholesome weight
• No synthetic flavors, preservatives, or fillers
• Made within the USA

Cons

Finest Prescription Cat Meals for Hairballs

Our decide: BLUE Pure Veterinary Weight loss plan GI Gastrointestinal Assist Dry Cat Meals

In case your cat has a delicate abdomen, Dr. Butzer additionally recommends this prescription food plan that she says may also help with hairballs. The grain-free dry meals is made with simply digestible substances for improved nutrient absorption, and it additionally accommodates nutritional vitamins E and C, in addition to different antioxidant-rich substances for immune system well being. A excessive stage of prebiotic fiber helps help your cat’s digestive well being and handle hairballs. Simply remember that you’ll need a prescription out of your veterinarian to buy this meals, and it’s costlier than over-the-counter cat meals for hairballs.

Professionals

• Straightforward-to-digest dry meals
• Excessive ranges of prebiotic fiber
• Grain-free method
• Deboned rooster is the primary ingredient

Cons

• Dearer than over-the-counter meals
• Not particularly designed for hairball management
• Will need to have a prescription to buy

Finest Moist Hairball Management Cat Meals

Our decide: Hill’s Science Weight loss plan Hairball Management Grownup Moist Cat Meals

For kitties preferring moist meals, the Hill’s Science Weight loss plan Hairball Management Moist Cat Meals is a well-liked cat hairball treatment. The method is available in 3-ounce cans and has a savory rooster taste with a minced consistency. It’s fortified with vitamin E and omega fatty acids for wholesome pores and skin and fur. Plus, it’s manufactured within the U.S. and exceeds trade requirements for purity and nutrient content material.

Professionals

• Savory rooster taste
• Contains vitamin E and omega-3 and -6 fatty acids for hairball prevention
• Many shoppers mentioned that that this meals helps with hairball management
• Made within the USA

Cons

• Not really useful for kittens and pregnant/nursing cats
• Bigger cats might require a number of cans per day

Finest Worth Hairball Cat Meals

Our decide: IAMS Proactive Well being Grownup Hairball Care Dry Cat Meals

Whenever you have a look at the worth per pound of meals, this feature from IAMS is among the finest values accessible. The dry cat meals accommodates a mix of fiber and prebiotics to assist cut back hairballs, in addition to omega-3 and -6 fatty acids to advertise pores and skin and coat well being. Actual rooster is the primary ingredient within the dry kibble, and its crunchy texture may also help cut back plaque buildup.

Professionals

• Inexpensive worth
• Fiber and prebiotics assist management hairballs
• Fatty acids help coat well being
• Over 7,000 5-star buyer opinions
• Made within the USA

Cons

• Some pet house owners say their cats don’t just like the style

Finest Hairball Cat Meals for Lengthy-Haired Cats

Our decide: Royal Canin Persian Breed Grownup Dry Cat Meals

Lengthy-haired cats like Persians are extra liable to hairballs, and the Royal Canin Persian Grownup Dry Cat Meals is a extremely rated dry meals for these breeds. Although it’s on the upper finish of the worth spectrum, this kibble is designed to assist preserve a shiny, wholesome coat in long-haired cats whereas controlling hairballs and supporting wholesome digestion. It accommodates amino acids, nutritional vitamins, and omega fatty acids for wholesome fur, in addition to a mix of fibers to assist cats move ingested hair. Plus, the kibble itself is almond-shaped, which is simpler for Persian cats to eat on account of their shortened jaws.

Professionals

• Formulated for cats with lengthy hair
• Fiber mix helps move hairballs
• Mix of vitamins, together with omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, promotes pores and skin and coat well being
• Particular kibble form is right for Persian cats

Cons

Finest Grain Free Cat Meals for Hairballs

Our decide: Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Hairball Management Cat Meals

In case you desire to offer your cat grain-free meals, Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Hairball Management Cat Meals is a best choice on this class. The dry kibble is freed from grains, wheat, corn, and soy, in addition to synthetic colours, flavors, and preservatives; as an alternative, it’s made with entire meals like actual deboned rooster, candy potatoes, and different simply digestible carbohydrates. Pure fiber helps with hairball management, whereas omega fatty acids help your cat’s pores and skin and coat.

Professionals

• Pure fiber for hairball management
• No grains, wheat, or, corn
• Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids help pores and skin and coat well being
• Nice for indoor or outside cats
• Made within the USA

Cons

• Some pet dad and mom report their cats don’t just like the style

What’s Hairball Management Cat Meals?

Hairballs are one thing that the majority cat house owners will take care of at one level or one other. “Hairballs are a results of cats doing their common grooming and never all the hair making it into their stomachs however getting caught on the liner of the esophagus,” explains Dr. Lindsay Butzer, DVM. “When this hair builds up loads, it creates a wad of slimy hair that will get vomited up.” Whereas any cat can get a hairball, they’re extra generally a recurring drawback in these with longer hair.

Along with common brushing to take away free hair, some cat house owners additionally feed their pets hairball management meals, which might each assist reduce the quantity of hairballs and/or assist hair move via your cat’s digestive system extra easily. “They’re made with additional substances that assist help your cat’s pores and skin, haircoat, and intestine [and] additionally assist cut back hairballs, resembling elevated fibers and elevated oils [like] fish oils and vegetable oils,” explains Dr. Butzer. These meals might not stop hairballs altogether, however they’re usually efficient at lowering the frequency of them, particularly when used along side grooming.

Is Hairball Cat Meals Advisable by Veterinarians? 

For cats who battle with hairballs, hairball management cat meals is a vet-approved possibility. “Hairball management meals may be fed day by day and for your complete lifetime of your cat,” says Dr. Butzer, and he or she additionally notes that these meals are appropriate for any sort of cat.

Whereas hairball management cat meals may be given day by day, Dr. Butzer explains that different hairball therapy merchandise must be used solely as wanted. “Merchandise resembling Laxatone or mineral oil, which you’ll be able to put in your cat’s nostril or paws to lick off, ought to solely be given when your cat is experiencing day by day vomiting of huge hairballs.”

How We Selected Our Picks

Along with suggestions from Dr. Butzer, we took the next elements into consideration when choosing our greatest hairball management cat meals.

Formulation. We paid shut consideration to every meals’s method, calling out substances that may be useful to controlling or stopping hairballs.

Critiques. We checked out what different pet dad and mom had been saying about every possibility, noting what they favored/didn’t like.

Worth. Whereas among the alternatives on our record are a bit pricier, we tried to incorporate quite a lot of meals to suit most any finances.

Cat Meals for Hairballs: Purchaser’s Information

Earlier than clicking “add to cart,” right here are some things to contemplate whereas buying cat meals for hairball management.

Worth could make a distinction. Whereas we all know that cat meals can get expensive, in case your cat is fighting frequent hairballs, Dr. Butzer recommends avoiding cheap cat meals, which regularly have excessive ranges of sugars and salts. “This could result in a dry esophagus and hairball formation,” she says. (And keep in mind, we did embody an awesome worth possibility on our record!)

Substances matter. You’ll wish to search for higher-quality formulation that comprise extra fiber. Common cat meals usually has 1-2% crude fiber, whereas hairball management formulation might have 5% or extra. Substances like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are additionally widespread in hairball management meals, and as all the time, it’s vital to pick out a meals that meets AAFCO requirements as an entire and balanced supply of diet to your cat’s life stage.

Have a backup plan. Whereas cat meals for hairballs may be given to any kitty, there are some potential negative effects to maintain a watch out for. “Since hairball management meals might have elevated oils, this may occasionally trigger diarrhea or free stool in your cats,” says Dr. Butzer. “In case your cat will not be tolerating a selected hairball management food plan model, attempt a gastrointestinal model formulated for delicate stomachs and see if the fiber within the meals alone will assist with hairball management.”