The 19 Best Cat Hairball Remedies

Reviews

Chewable Tablets for Vets Best Overall Cat Hairball Control Supplement
 

• Chewable tablet as a supplement
• Container Quantity: 60 count, 180 count
• All-Natural?: Yes
• Is NASC Approved?

Vet’s Best Chewable Tablet Hairball Control Supplement for Cats was our best hairball treatment for cats. Natural components in these chewable pills help digestion and make it simpler for your cat to pass hairballs out of “the other end.”

The pills are chicken-flavored to boost palatability and make it simpler for your cat to swallow them without fuss. To assist soothe and lubricate the digestive tract, they contain apple fiber, papaya extract, psyllium seed, marshmallow root, and slippery elm.

The National Animal Supplement Council has also approved Vet’s Best Hairball Control Supplement. It makes sense because this medicine is manufactured and recommended by veterinarians all over the world!

Pros

• All-natural
• Veterinary recommendation
• NASC certified

Cons

• Pregnant animals should avoid using it.

 

CatLax Cat Hairball Prevention Supplement – Best Value
 

• Paste as a supplement
• 2 ounces in a container
• All-Natural?: No
• Is NASC Approved?

CatLax’s Cat Supplement was our pick for the finest cat hairball cure for the money. This supplement isn’t all-natural or NASC-approved, but it’s reasonably priced.

It contains typical anti-hairball additives such as petroleum, which lubricate the digestive tract and allow built-up hair to flow smoothly through the digestive system.

Unlike some hairball cures, CatLax only has to be delivered 2-3 times per week to be successful, reducing the amount of time pet owners have to spend attempting to convince their cats to take their prescription.

Simply place a 1-inch ribbon of CatLax on your cat’s paw or in their food to assist them in passing any hairballs that may be forming!

This supplement also includes cod liver oil and vitamin E, all of which enhance coat health and keep your cat’s coat lustrous and velvety!

Pros

• Affordable
• Supplement for simple application

Cons

• NASC not approved

 

Hairball Control Cat Chews by Pet Naturals – Best Premium
 

• Soft chews as a supplement
• Container Quantity: 30 count, 160 count
• All-Natural?: Yes
• Is NASC Approved?

Hairball Cat Chews by Pet Naturals are our pick for the finest premium hairball cure for cats.

These are more expensive than the ordinary hairball cure, but they include a variety of fantastic vitamins that can help your cat pass hairballs effortlessly and live their best life!

These soft chews are NASC certified as all-natural, so pet parents who are concerned about what they are feeding their cats need not be concerned about the safety of this option.

Pet Naturals Hairball Cat Chews also include omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, biotin for healthy skin and fur, zinc for keratin and collagen development, and cranberry powder to aid your cat’s urinary tract.

Pros

• Developed by a veterinarian
• Additional supplements are included to keep your cat healthy.

Cons

• It may be costly.

 

Hairball Control Cay Supplement Tomlyn Laxatone Tuna-Flavored Gel
 

• Supplement Form: Gel
• 2.5 oz and 4.25 oz containers
• All-Natural?: No
• Is NASC Approved?

Tomlyn Laxatone Tuna-Flavored Gel Hairball Control Supplement for Cats is an excellent choice for cat owners looking for an efficient hairball treatment. This cure is based on Laxatone, a mild lubricant that aids in the removal and prevention of hairballs.

Because Tomlyn Laxatone Gel is so mild, it’s safe to use on a regular basis if your cat suffers with hairballs. Regular application of this hairball cure coats the hair in the stomach, allowing your cat to expel it into the litter box rather than on the floor.

This supplement is NASC-approved, so pet parents need not be concerned about its safety. It’s also available as an easy-to-apply gel, making medicating your cat straightforward and pleasant.

Pros

• NASC certified
• Developed by a veterinarian

Cons

• Not entirely natural

 

Hairball Control Supplement for Cats with Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna Flavored Gel
 

• Supplement Form: Gel
• 2.5 oz and 4.25 oz containers
• All-Natural?: No
• Is NASC Approved?

Vetoquinol Laxatone Supplement is identical to Tomlyn’s, however it lacks the NASC stamp of approval.

Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna-Flavored Gel Hairball Supplement for Cats, like Tomlyn’s gel, contains a palatable and tasty paste that will lubricate and help pass hairballs in your cat’s digestive system.

To use this gel, apply a small amount of it on your cat’s paws or nose to encourage them to lick it off. It shouldn’t be too tough to persuade them to eat it because it’s so delicious!

Once the Laxatone is in your cat’s system, it will help them expel hairballs in a less stressful manner while also keeping your flooring clean!

Pros

• Tuna flavoring added for taste
• Hairballs are reduced.

Cons

• NASC not approved

 

Richard’s Organics Chicken Flavor Cat Hairball Remedy
 

• Gel as a supplement
• 4.25 ounces in a container
• All-Natural?: Yes
• Is NASC Approved?

Richard’s Organics provides a chicken-flavored hairball cure for sensitive diners, especially those who loathe fishy flavors.

Unfortunately, although being all-natural, this supplement has not been authorized by NASC. Pet parents who are concerned about the seal will have to pass on this one.

This is formed into a gel similar to Tomlyn and Vetoquinol’s gels, except it does not include petroleum. This is produced with lecithin and beeswax, which, like petroleum, lubricate the hair in the intestines.

They allow hairballs to move through the digestive system smoothly and eliminate in the litter box. This gel is also delicious. So getting your cat to eat it won’t be difficult.

You can sprinkle this gel on top of your cat’s regular kibble, mix it into their wet food, or simply serve it as a treat!

Pros

• Petrol-free
• All-natural

Cons

• NASC not approved

 

Cats Nutri-Vet Chicken-Flavored Gel Hairball Control Supplement
 

• Gel as a supplement
• 3 oz. in a container
• All-Natural?: Yes
• Is NASC Approved?

The hairball gel from Nutri-Vet is comparable to Richard’s Organics’, except it is NASC approved. This is produced with vegetable oil and omega-3 fatty acids, which lubricate the digestive track and allow hairballs to flow through.

This hairball gel also contains soybean oil, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, which support good skin, as well as fiber, which aids in general digestive health.

These supplements also assist to reduce excessive shedding, and when used in conjunction with normal grooming procedures, they should help your cat vomit up less hairballs overall.

Pros

• Everything is natural.
• NASC certified
• Vets created it.

Cons

• Bottle is smaller than other alternatives.

 

Hairball Remedy Plus Salmon Paste for Cats & Kittens by Hartz
 

• Gel as a supplement
• 2.5 ounces in a container
• All-Natural?: No
• Is NASC Approved?

Hartz Hairball Remedy Plus is a salmon-flavored paste for cats and kittens that aids in the passage of hairballs. To support a healthy coat and skin, the paste contains omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 oils, as well as vitamin E.

This isn’t an all-natural paste, but it will assist lubricate the gastrointestinal track, allowing hairballs to pass through, and consistent usage of the paste has been proved to prevent hairball development in the long run.

Unfortunately, this gel is only available in 2.5-ounce bottles, which is significantly smaller than the other alternatives on our list.

However, because it is suitable for both cats and kittens, it is an appealing solution for any pet parents with hairball-producing kittens.

Pros

• Other vitamins your cat requires to flourish are included.
• Salmon-flavored for taste

Cons

• NASC not approved

 

Cat Supplement 21st Century Essential Pet Hairball Support Soft Chews
 

• Soft chews as a supplement
• Container Quantity: 100
• All-Natural?: No
• Is NASC Approved?

Pet Hairball Support in the Twenty-First Century Soft Chews are veterinarian-formulated to help your cat pass hairballs through their intestinal tract and, in the long run, reduce hairball buildup.

It’s a NASC-approved supplement with a tasty chicken and cheese flavor that will easily capture your cat’s interest.

These supplements are also completely wheat-free, so pet parents searching for a wheat-free choice to assist their cat in passing hairballs need look no further.

Furthermore, they are manufactured in the United States and lab-tested to assure that each chew is of the highest quality!

Pros

• Cats love the flavors of cheese and chicken.
• Made in the United States
• NASC accredited

Cons

• It is not listed as all-natural.

 

NaturVet Hairball Aid Plus Pumpkin Soft Chews Cat Supplement for Hairball Control
 

• Soft chews as a supplement
• Quantity per container: 50, 60, and 100
• All-Natural?: Yes
• Is NASC Approved?

NaturVet has also created a hairball remedy to add to its line of pet vitamins. These all-natural soft chew supplements are NASC-approved, wheat-free, and enriched with vitamins and minerals that your cat requires to flourish.

The chews assist your cat in pleasantly eliminating hairballs by using pumpkin as a natural fiber source to drive the hairballs through the digestive tract with ease.

They have also been demonstrated to minimize the formation of hairballs when taken on a regular basis.

You should give your cat two chews per day, so the 50-count container is an odd choice because it doesn’t contain a full month’s worth of chews.

Still, it’s an alternative if you’re just getting started or if your cat doesn’t require two chews every day.

Pros

• NASC certified
• Wheat-free
• Cats find them delicious!

Cons

• Strange container sizing decision

Finding the Best Hairball Remedies for Cats: A Buyer's Guide

What Exactly Are Hairballs?

The grooming habits of your cat cause hairballs. When your cat licks their fur to groom it, they consume hair that has shed from their body and into their mouth.

While the fur in the stool is usually harmless, the fur in the stomach can accumulate to the point where it cannot readily transit through the digestive tract.

When the amount of hair in the cat’s system becomes too great for it to pass through the digestive track, it will vomit it up.

Even if they consume a large amount of fur, they are unable to digest it. When hair does not travel through the digestive tract quickly, it manifests as a hairball.

How Do Hairballs Appear?

Contrary to popular belief, hairballs are not round. A hairball is typically an elongated tube or mucus-covered grossness that is somewhat darker than your cat’s normal fur color by the time it reaches your floor.

The color change is caused by digestive secretions in the stomach, which continue to colour the fur even if they are unable to break it down into nutrients.

A hairball can be little or several inches long, depending on your cat’s fur length and how long the hairball has been developing.

Are Hairballs Harmful?

Hairballs are seldom hazardous. If your cat is passing a lot of hairballs on a regular basis, it might be an indication that something is amiss inside. It is uncommon for a hairball to be symptomatic of anything odd.

However, if hair accumulates in the stomach to the point that it cannot be expelled or purged, a hairball will form, obstructing the digestive track and potentially making your cat extremely unwell.

Hairballs can obstruct the digestive tract or induce constipation if your cat has an excessive quantity of hair buildup in its stomach or intestines.

If this is the case, you will notice your cat retching, unproductive dry heaving, vomiting but without hair in the vomit, and overall being sluggish.

Is Hairball Medicine Effective?

In general, hairball therapies are effective at reducing hairballs. Most hairball cures contain something that lubricates the digestive tract and helps your cat move hairballs via the intestines.

They generally include a mild laxative to help speed up the digestive process and push hair through faster, minimizing the amount of hair that accumulates in the stomach before being passed.

Hairball Treatment Options

Over-the-counter hairball medications for cats are available in a variety of forms. They all operate in the same way, but the diverse application strategies can assist pet parents with picky cats in finding a drug that their cat tolerates well.

Tablets

Pet medication pills are often chewable, allowing your cat to eat them like a piece of food without compromising the treatment’s potency.

Chewy Treats

Because soft chews resemble treats, some dogs may mistake exceptionally sweet soft chew medications for goodies. They’re similar to pill pockets and other sweets, except the medicine is baked right into the chew delight!

Gel

Gel medications may be applied to food, paws, or the mouth directly with your finger. Some people even suggest placing the gel on the cat’s nose to get them used to licking the gel up themselves.

Conclusion

Never fear if you suffer from everyday hairballs! There are several hairball cures available for you to try.

The Vet’s Finest Chewable Tablets were our pick for the best overall hairball cure for cats.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider CatLax’s Cat Supplement. If you have some extra cash, Pet Naturals Hairball Cat Chews are a great way to control your hairball problem!

Please share BestForPets‘ (bestforpets.org) guide to the best cat hairball remedies on Facebook and Twitter if it has helped you and your cat’s issues.