The Best Cat Foods For Hairballs : What You Need To Know
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Cats are wonderful pets that will provide you with a lot of love and entertainment. If you have a cat for a long time, you're bound to find a hairball in your bed, your shoe, or on the floor.
Although many people regard hairballs as a necessary evil of cat ownership, this does not have to be the case.
In fact, hairballs can be a sign of a variety of health problems, including skin diseases and digestive problems.
If your cat has a lot of hairballs, read BestForPets' (bestforpets.org) reviews for the best cat foods for hairballs to help you deal with this annoying condition.
Reviews
Best Value Wellness Natural Hairball Control Dry Cat Food
Recipe for Wellness Natural Hairball Control Chicken Meal & Rice Dry Cat Food is the most cost-effective cat food for hairballs.
This dry cat chow is specially created for hairball prevention, with a protein-rich composition that helps hair pass through the digestive system gently and painlessly.
The recipe also includes a plethora of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote skin and immunological health.
Wellness Natural Hairball Control contains no wheat, corn, soy, or fillers and contains enough of natural, species-appropriate fiber sources to help hair digest quickly and avoid hairballs in the future.
Wellness Natural Hairball Control Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food is an excellent alternative for a balanced, high-quality hairball control cat food on a budget.
Pros
- Specially designed for hairball prevention and control.
- There are no fillers or byproducts.
- Nutritional balance
Cons
- Some cats dislike the flavor.
Dehydrated Cat Food from Honest Kitchen
Grain-Free Chicken Recipe from The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Cat Food is an excellent source of high-protein, human-grade nutrition.
This dried food is packed with 70 percent free-range chicken and has no grains, wheat, soy, corn, or GMOs.
Because Honest Kitchen’s feeds use minimally processed and whole food ingredients, your cat can receive appropriate nutrition without experiencing stomach troubles.
While this is a premium brand, it does need a little more effort than dried or tinned food. For feeding, the dried meal must be combined with warm water, which can add time to your feeding regimen.
Dehydrated food, on the other hand, is small and easy to store.
Pros
- Whole-food, minimally processed components
- There are no fillers, byproducts, or grains.
- Nutritional balance
Cons
- Preparation takes time.
- Some cats dislike the taste.
Grain-Free Wellness CORE Dry Kitten Food – Best for Kittens
Cats may not develop hairballs as commonly as adults, although it can happen. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food is an excellent hairball management cat food for kittens.
The main ingredients are deboned turkey and whitefish, as well as antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Salmon oil containing DHA omega-3 fatty acids promotes healthy development as well as skin and coat health.
This Wellness CORE mix contains a patented substance – ActiCoat – to help with hairballs. This probiotic coating promotes healthy digestion, allowing hair to pass more readily through the digestive tract.
No fillers or by-products such as wheat, soy, or gluten ensure that your cat receives a nutrient-rich diet for health and vitality.
Pros
- Growth and development nutritional support
- Formula for hairball prevention
- There are no fillers or byproducts.
Cons
- Some cats dislike it.
- This product may induce stomach distress.
Canned Solid Gold Chicken & Coconut Oil Cat Food
Solid Gold Tropical Blendz with Chicken & Coconut Oil Pate Grain-Free Canned Cat Food is a tasty and healthful wet, canned food solution.
Most cats adore pate, and this mix combines chicken, nutritious vegetables, and coconut oil for complete nourishment.
Coconut oil not only contains good fats for healthy skin and coat, but it also aids in the passage of tough hairs through the digestive tract before hairballs form.
This canned meal can be fed alone or as a supplement to dry food. Solid Gold Tropical Blendz is suitable for all life stages, including kittens and geriatric cats, due to its well-rounded nutrition.
Solid Gold Tropical Blendz includes no soy, gluten, wheat, maize, carrageenan, animal by-products, or artificial preservatives, unlike many canned goods.
Pros
- Nutritional balance
- Meat and good fats are abundant.
Cons
- Some cats dislike the flavor.
Dry Cat Food Chicken Soup for the Soul
Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul Recipe for Indoor Chicken with Brown Rice Another excellent cat food for hairballs is dry cat food.
This dry food is designed for indoor cats and contains powdered cellulose to help transport hair through the digestive tract and avoid hairballs. This formula has no by-products, wheat, maize, or soy, providing high-quality nutrition for your cat.
This cat food also contains a high concentration of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, as well as prebiotic fiber for healthy digestion.
Chicken Soup for the Soul cat chow contains immune-boosting superfoods like spinach and cranberries.
Pros
- There are no fillers or byproducts.
- Digestive and skin-healthy ingredients
Cons
- Some cats have stomach problems.
Guide to Choosing The Best Cat Food for Hairballs
How to Choose the Best Hairball Cat Food
Many hairball control cat diets on the market contain hairball-control formulae or substances that aid in hairball prevention and management.
Here are some things to think about when shopping for food.
The Fiber Content
Many cats with hairballs benefit from a high-fiber diet because it aids digestion.
To move hair through the digestive tract, different meals provide different forms of fiber, such as lignins, hemicelluloses, and cellulose.
Chicory, fructooligosaccharides, psyllium, oats, barley, beet pulp, and fruits and vegetables are all good sources of these fibers.
You should aim for a dry diet with a crude fiber ratio of 8-10%. Canned meals should have 2-4 percent fiber.
However, crude fiber does not reveal the insoluble fiber level, which is what moves digestion, therefore look for different forms of fiber in the ingredients.
Alternatively, you can enhance your cat’s fiber intake by adding psyllium or small amounts of canned pumpkin to its meal.
Essential Fatty Acids
Healthy skin and silky, glossy coats require omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Your cat will require less grooming and will be less prone to take in a lot of loose hair if it has healthy skin and a healthy coat.
There are no fillers or byproducts
Fillers and byproducts provide your cat with empty nutrients and can cause skin or health problems, increasing existing hairball difficulties.
When shopping for foods, search for minimal or whole food ingredients that contain no soy, corn, wheat, or byproducts to ensure your cat’s nutrition is well-balanced.
Alternatives for Hairball Prevention
In addition to a nutritious diet, you may help your cat reduce hairballs in a variety of ways:
- Brush your cat on a regular basis to remove any loose hair.
- Hairball-controlling treats, vitamins, or gels should be included in your cat’s diet.
If you’re still having frequent hairballs after changing meals, adding vitamins, and grooming your cat, it’s time to see a vet.
Your veterinarian can undertake an assessment to rule out health issues such as mites, ringworm, infection, or underlying disorders.
Conclusion
Hairballs are not only uncomfortable for your cat and you, but they might also signify a health issue. Hairball control cat food is widely available to aid in hairball control and management.
Smalls Human Grade Fresh Cat Food is the overall best choice for cat food since it provides a lot of nutrition and support for a healthy coat and digestion.
Wellness Natural Hairball Control Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Meal, a specially made food for hairball management, is the finest value.
Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is the top selection. Dehydrated Cat Food, a premium dehydrated food made from all-natural components.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes that our list of the best cat foods for hairballs has been helpful in your search for the top option for your pet!
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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