- How do you know if your cat has a hairball blockage?
- Best cat food for hairballs and vomiting
- What ingredients in cat food helps with hairballs?
- Does wet food help with hairballs?
- What is the best hairball control aka prevention cat food?
- Where to find the best wet-food for your cat's hairball woes?
- What is the best hairball treatment for cats?
- Conclusion
Have you ever wondered what goes into the body of your cat when it licks itself while grooming? Gross as it may sound, a collection of yucky dead hair and digestive juices known as a cat hairball is formed inside. Contrary to popular belief, a cat coughing out hairballs is a natural way for a cat to rid herself of hair that gets stuck in her stomach. Hairballs are also the product of a cat’s good cleaning habit. However, a large clump of ingested hair can block its intestinal tract and pose a deadly threat.
So, what is the best hairball remedy for your cat’s hairball woes? This situation calls for the right diet and nutritional needs. For example, a diet rich in fiber such as hairball control cat foods, pumpkin, or small bits of fruits and veggies such as apples, carrots, or sweet potatoes.
Studies have shown that cats fed according to their hairball conditions can improve their vital health. So whether your cat vomits non-stop or produces an annoying hacking sound, read on our Top Hairball Control Cat Food To Ease The Tummy!
How do you know if your cat has a hairball blockage?
You can hear your cat eliminating a hairball from far away. Disturbing as it may be, some common hairball symptoms include hacking, gagging, and retching. For example, you can hear the pesky sound of a cat both coughing and vomiting at the same time as if it is clearing the airways by pushing air out of its lungs.
Below are the following hairball symptoms that you need to contact your veterinarian immediately:
- Repeated vomiting - Hairballs are one of the most common causes of vomiting. You can also see your cat throwing up food but acting normal. For example, the types of cat vomit include vomiting yellow liquid. However, vomiting immediately after eating can also be a sign that your cat swallows too quickly or perhaps your cat is allergic to dry food in contrast to canned.
- Abdominal pain and discomfort - Your cat may feel abdominal pain or discomfort after swallowing a hairball. This is because it may cause an intestinal blockage which can be a serious health problem for your cat. For example, your cat will be twitching and rolling in pain on the ground.
- Lethargy - Since cats are normally active creatures that enjoy roaming and prancing about, the hairball stuck in its stomach may cause it to be tired and lethargic all the time.
- Constipation - Sometimes, you may find that your cat is not eating. This is probably due to constipation.
- Diarrhea - Your cat may experience diarrhea more than several times a day until its body becomes weak and fatigued.
Best cat food for hairballs and vomiting
- Higher fiber content - Fiber is essential for healthy and regular digestion. Due to that, you can choose a high-fiber cat food so that you can help improve your cat's digestion and it can pass hairballs instead of vomiting.
- Increased Moisture Level - Many cats are not too keen to drink H20 due to their feline nature. Due to that, they get dehydrated and therefore suffer from more digestive issues. To combat this, you can increase the moisture content in your cat's diet to improve its digestion. Supplement your cat's meal with bone broth for cats - they will slurp it up for sure - while helping its digestive system to pass ingested hair.
- Digestible Ingredients - It is a chore to choose a cat food with extra moisture and fiber that can upset your cat's stomach with inferior quality or indigestible ingredients. So pick a cat food that emphasizes premium animal protein aka digestible carbohydrates.
- No Artificial Additives - Artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives provide zero nutritional value for your cat. Not only that, they also interfere with your cat's digestion. So make sure your cat gets the freshest and the least processed of cat's food.
What ingredients in cat food helps with hairballs?
- Hypoallergenic diets - Hypoallergenic diets provide plenty of nutrients without giving you allergy issues. It also helps to reduce vomit and hairballs and makes your cat's coat shine.
- High fiber cat food for hairball control - When you are looking for food to help with hairball control, you want to find something high in fiber. Fiber helps to improve the digestive tract.
- Hairball control treats - Hairball control treats contain high amounts of fiber as this food contains specific enzymes to keep hairballs from forming.
Does wet food help with hairballs?
Yes, they do. Wet food aids in the passing of hair through the tract because it's easy to digest, which means it passes through the body quickly, not allowing hair time to form a ball. Therefore, cats that are on a diet of just wet food will have reduced hairballs.
Studies have found that certain canned wet food can not only help to reduce hairballs but also help your cat's overall urinary health. Since it is made with a good mix of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, the wholesome natural ingredients in it also make this a great food for your cat's overall health.
What is the best hairball control (prevention) cat food?
- Tuna - Fish such as tuna is a substantial source of protein for cats, and when eaten in moderation is fine as a treat or occasional diet.
- Salmon - Salmon is rich in healthy oils such as Omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Salmon is not only a delicious treat for cats, but properly cooked salmon can help your cat to control hairball.
- Chicken - Chicken is a common diet for cats. It is also rich in protein and gives your cat a strong heart, an excellent vision, and a healthy reproductive system.
- Beef - Cats are carnivores and need meat such as beef. A well-balanced diet of beef and rice is a delightful treat for your cat as long as you follow the proper instructions on how to cook it.
- Venison - Venison is an excellent source of protein for your feline friend. Since cats are like dogs, we can feed them novel proteins such as venison, kangaroo, duck, and rabbit.
- Kangaroo - You can feed fresh kangaroo meat to your cats as long as they are well-prepared, contain no preservatives and unwanted ingredients. For example, raw kangaroo mince-meat are great for your cat.
Where to find the best wet food for your cat's hairball woes?
Fret not, as the best wet food products for your cat's hairball woes are available at Petcubes Singapore. Our cat variety pack is conveniently packed with a wide range of high quality meat variants such as chicken, beef, duck, lamb, venison, and kangaroo.
With so many flavors to choose from, you can rotate the food time by time, following your cat's mood.
What is the best hairball treatment for cats?
- Groom your cat regularly - You can remove fur from your cat by combing or brushing its hair daily to get rid of hairballs. Other than helping to minimize the risk of hairballs, it is also a fun way for you to bond with your cat. If you do not have time to groom your cat personally, at least bring her to a professional groomer for grooming or a haircut.
- Give your cat a custom made hairball formula cat food - Hairball reductions pet food manufacturers are all the rage now. They use specially designed high-fiber formulas to help improve the health of your cat's coat, helping to minimize the amount of shedding thus encourage hairballs in cats to go through the digestive system.
- Use a hairball product or laxative - Hairball products or laxatives are a dime of a dozen on the market today and many of them are mild laxatives that help hairballs pass through the digestive tract.
- Reduce excessive grooming - Try to steer your cat away from compulsive grooming and instead encourage him or her with a new interesting activity, or toy that he or she can play with together.
Conclusion
When it comes down to the best cat food for hairballs, there is surely one that suits your cat's needs the most. Is the problem just hairballs, or is your cat vomiting too? Or does it suffer from coat, hair, and skin problems as well? If so, the problem lies in your cat's diet.
As an owner, take into consideration whether your cat is active or lazy. For active cats, they may need a diet that is more varied and rich while a lazy cat may need something more subtle.
So, if you notice your cat behaving rather abnormally, take them to the vet pronto. For sure, your cat will thank you for giving it all the tender loving care that it needs!