If cats are your company, you may conflict with the hairballs that damage the health of your little friend, today we share 4 things you can do to help him.
Hairballs don’t have to be a regular part of your cat’s everyday life. Cats pick up hairballs so often that it’s easy to think they’re normal, even though they’re a symptom of a problem. You can think of hairballs in the same way you might think of diarrhea, both of which happen from time to time, but they are still symptoms of a health problem.
The most common problems behind hairballs are:
- gastrointestinal dysfunction
- skin diseases that cause excessive self-esteem and / or hair loss.
Here’s what you need to know about when hairballs are a bigger problem and how you can help control hairballs through your cat’s diet.
1. Go to the vet if you see frequent hairballs
If you find hairballs more often than once a month or so, it’s time to make an appointment with your vet to look for an underlying problem.
A complete exam for chronic or severe hairballs begins with patient history and physical exam and may include:
- Skin scrapings to look for mites
- ringworm tests
- Cytology to rule out skin infections.
- abdominal imaging
- blood test
- Urine analysis
- fecal exams
- Possibly biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract or skin.
2. How to feed your cat occasional hairballs
If your cat only has occasional hairballs and is otherwise healthy, diet control is your best option.
Hypoallergenic diets: Undiagnosed food allergies or inflammatory bowel disease often play a role in hairball formation.
These conditions cause the GI tract to become inflamed, and that inflammation interferes with a cat’s natural ability to treat swallowed hair (in other words, keep it moving in the right direction).
Hypoallergenic diets can help in this case.
Suitable cat food for a hypoallergenic diet: Look for products that contain only one significant source of protein that your cat has never eaten before.
These diets are often advertised as “limited ingredients,” but read the label carefully to determine what’s included.
Hypoallergenic diet exclusively for 8 weeks: You can choose to supply a hypoallergenic diet for 8 weeks to see if it is working or not.
If you’ve tried a couple of over-the-counter and limited-ingredient foods with little success, talk to your vet about prescription diets. These are prescribed by veterinarians and tend to be significantly less allergenic.
High Fiber Cat Food: Different types of fiber perform different digestive functions. Insoluble (non-digestible) fiber sources such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignins can help sweep hair through the intestinal tract.
Sources of soluble (partially digestible) fiber, including chicory, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, pectins, psyllium, vegetable gums, oats, barley, beet pulp, and some types of fruits and legumes, perform a similar function and also promote gut health in general.
Bacteria that live in a cat’s large intestine partially break down soluble fibers, producing short-chain fatty acids that are important sources of energy for the cells lining the large intestine.
Choosing a High-Fiber Cat Food: Several pet food manufacturers have added fiber to their formulations to create “hairball” diets that work well for some cats.
Look for dry diets with a crude fiber percentage of around 8-10% and canned options in the 2-4% range, but keep in mind that crude fiber does not take into account insoluble fiber sources.
If you’re looking for a way to add fiber to your cat’s current food, try mixing in some canned pumpkin or plain psyllium.
Hairball Control Treats: The vast majority (90% or more) of your cat’s diet should be comprised of nutritionally complete and balanced foods. The remaining 10% of calories can be provided by treats.
If your cat has a mild hairball problem, increasing her intake of soluble or insoluble fiber may help. Or for added effect, try combining furball treats with a furball diet.
3. Gels
Lubricating gels that contain petroleum jelly, waxes, or oils are also options for hairball control. They coat the hair in the gastrointestinal tract and prevent it from clumping.
Cats should not be forced to eat a hairball lube because the stress and mess outweigh any potential benefit, but you can try adding it to your cat’s food or putting some on your cat’s paw for him to lick.
Don’t give your cat a hairball-flavored lube if you’re also feeding a limited-ingredient diet.
4. Brushing your cat can also help reduce hairballs.
And don’t forget this simple, non-dietary remedy: brush your cat (assuming it’s a pleasant experience for both of you).
