12 Cat Hairball Remedies That Really Work
Cat hairballs – if you’ve ever lived with a cat, chances are that at one time or another, you’ve come across (or even stepped on) one of these gooey, tubular masses of grossness.
Needless to say, we’d much rather spend our time cuddling with our cats than cleaning their hairballs off of our floors or feet.
Here are 12 tried and proven ways to manage your cat’s hairballs.
12 Cat Hairball Remedies You Can Use At Home
1. Brushing
Of course, one of the most effective ways to deal with hairballs is to prevent them in the first place.
Regular brushing is a natural hairball remedy for cats since it removes much of the excess fur that would normally be swallowed and regurgitated. It also provides a special opportunity for some bonding time with our kitties.
While some cats just love being brushed, others may not be quite so enthusiastic. Introducing grooming time gradually may help them to adjust with as little pain (for cat or cat parent!) as possible.
Start with one or two strokes with a grooming glove from HandsOn® Gloves and follow up with special treats so your cat associates this time with something positive.
Another paw-some tool I’ve dug up for kitty grooming is the Furminator. It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and it’s a great way to gently remove excess fur that could lead to hairballs.
You can gradually increase the time spent brushing as your kitty learns to tolerate, and hopefully enjoy, this quality time spent together.
Brushing doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process. Just a few minutes each day is usually enough for long-haired cats, and short-haired cats may only need to be brushed a few times each week.
2. Bathing
After you’ve brushed your cat, take hair removal to the next level by giving your cat a bath.
Giving your cat a bath can help prevent hairballs since you’re removing the loose fur for her. While most cats prefer to groom themselves, if your cat is prone to hairballs, you may have to take matters into your own hands.
3. Wipes
After brushing your cat, or after your cat is dried off from their bath, take a pet wipe and gently pat your cat with it, collecting any loose fur.
Make sure to use a wipe that’s safe for cats like this cat wipe. Or you can simply wet a paper towel and use it to collect the loose fur from your cat’s coat.
4. Pumpkin Powder
Pumpkin powder contains lots of fiber that helps move the hairball through your cat’s digestive tract and most cats love the taste.
Sprinkle a little pumpkin powder on their food to provide fiber and nutritional value.
5. Carrots
Carrots are another good source of fiber and can help move a hairball along. They’re generally considered safe for cats as long as they’re cooked until soft.
You should never give your cat raw carrots as it can lead to further digestive issues.
6. Hairball Control Treats and Food
Temptations Hairball Control Treats
I love these hairball control treats not only because they help eliminate hairballs, but also clean your cat’s teeth! You can use them as a low-calorie treat or as a meal topper.
The chicken flavor tastes good to most cats, so you won’t have to convince them to take their cat hairball “medicine.”
Nulo Freestyle Hairball Management Food
One reader of Facebook commented, “I’ve not had to use anything extra since switching them all to Nulo Hairball Management.” We love to hear about things that work for real pet parents!
This food contains miscanthus grass, which is loaded with fiber to help your cat pass hairballs, as well as essential fatty acids to keep your cat’s digestive tract lubricated.
Purina One Hairball Formula
Another reader swears by Purina One, saying, “I’ve used Purina One Hairball control dry mixed into their dry food. No hairballs for years.”
This formula is also loaded with fiber but is high in protein as well.
Whatever food or treats you decide to use should contain plenty of fiber to help your cat pass hairballs with ease.
7. Tomlyn Hairball Remedy
8. Olive Oil
Olive oil is a natural lubricant, but a little goes a long way! A teaspoon over the course of a week is fine for most cats and will help them pass a hairball naturally.
9. Fish Oil
This might be your cat’s favorite hairball remedy! Small canned fish like sardines, as well as tuna, are usually packed in oil.
Give your cat a treat and sprinkle a little oil on their food. The lubrication will assist your cat to pass the hairball without discomfort.
10. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is another natural lubricant that is effective and inexpensive. Just a small amount added to their food usually does the trick.
11. Water
If a cat’s diet isn’t providing enough moisture, her digestive tract is working harder than it should, which may make her hairball problem worse.
Most cats actually prefer to drink moving, running water. That means even if your cat has constant access to a nice clean bowl of water, she may not be drinking enough. A water fountain is a perfect way to entice your kitty to drink more.
Our Pet Living cats love cat fountains and they drink to their heart’s content!
Drinking water is important, but your cat can also get hydration from her food. A cat who eats a diet composed of mainly dry kibble may not be getting the moisture that she needs.
Gradually introducing canned food will increase her water intake. Thus, it will help her digestive tract to move all that hair and debris through instead of sending it back up where it came from.
12. Cat Grass
One Pet Living reader said, “We always have 5-10 cups of organic cat grass growing for them as well as brushing them daily.”
Cat grass is high in fiber and it even looks pretty in your home!
We love this kind since it’s organic and comes in BPA-free containers.
How to Clean Up Cat Hairballs
When your cat coughs up a hairball on your floor, it leaves a mess! Because they contain biological material, they can stain and even smell bad, so it’s important to clean them up properly.
Here’s how to clean up cat hairballs the right way.
1. Scoop it up
Scoop up as much of the mess as you can with a paper towel and throw it in the trash.
2. Saturate the area with an enzyme cleaner
This step is critical. An enzyme cleaner like this one will eat the organic material in your cat’s hairball mess.
The surface, whether hard or soft, needs to be saturated with the cleaner so it can get in all the nooks and crannies and eat the odor and stain-causing bacteria.
But it only works if you follow this next step.
3. Allow time for the formula to work
After you’ve saturated the area, place a clean cloth on top and allow it to set overnight. The biggest mistake we see when pet parents are cleaning up pee, poop, or vomit is to spray the area with cleaner and then wipe it away quickly.
Enzyme cleaners need time to work. Allowing it to set overnight gives the enzymes time to eat the bacteria.
FAQs About Cat Hairballs
Cats are meticulous groomers, and they use their tongues to get the job done. They much prefer bathing themselves over their humans bathing them.
Cat parents who have enjoyed the occasional affectionate tongue bath from their kitties will be familiar with the rough tongues our furry friends have.
According to Cornell University, the reason why their tongues are so rough is that they’re actually covered by tiny barbs, or papillae, which are perfect for removing dirt and other debris from their coats. They’re also perfect for grabbing excess fur and loose hair, which they then swallow.
Much of the time, this fur can pass through the stomach and intestines and come out the other end with no trouble.
However, when a large amount of fur becomes trapped in a kitty’s stomach, it gets regurgitated back up in the form of a hairball, or a cat furball.
The tell-tale cat hairball symptoms are all very familiar to most cat owners.
They often include coughing, gagging, retching, and hacking.
Most of the time, these sounds signal your cat is about to expel a hairball. So if you’re thinking, “my cat keeps throwing up, but seems fine,” it could be that she’s just passing hairballs.
Yes, hairballs are potentially dangerous to cats.
There are some insidious signs that your cat is having difficulty with a hairball and may need medical attention.
While hairballs typically pass, it’s possible for them to become so large they lodge in your cat’s digestive tract and cause a blockage.
If your cat is continuously hacking or retching without producing a hairball, has changes in digestion such as diarrhea, constipation, or lack of appetite, has become lethargic, or has a swollen or hard belly, it’s time to skip the home remedies and head straight to your veterinarian.
Vaseline may help your cat to pass a hairball and is generally considered safe and nontoxic for cats. However, we don’t recommend it here at Pet Living since it’s a petroleum product and there are many other more natural alternatives.
The Tail End
Cat hairballs are no picnic for you or your cat, but with regular grooming, proper hydration, a high-fiber diet, and sufficient lubrication, they can become nothing more than a minor annoyance.
Looking for more ways to keep your cat healthy? Download our free cat health checklist!
please help my cat wont eat and its giving me sleepless night PLZ HELP, if anyone has a remedy email ericmapuyakagmail.com am from kenya little vet services
Hi Eric,
I am so sorry to hear your cat won’t eat! This is definitely a concern I would discuss with your vet. Not eating can cause other health issues and you want her to stay healthy! Has she had any recent changes in her life? That could cause anxiety and cause her to not eat. Try giving her wet food if you haven’t already. Wet food has a very strong scent that can cause her to want to eat it. Definitely talk with your vet and let me know if you find any solutions!
Kristen
I feed Purina fish pate… Works great
I also have a 20 year old cat. Instead of bathing the cat I use a warm wash cloth and wipe him down. He absolutely loves this as I’ve been doing it all his life. Now all I have to do is wave a cloth in the air and he comes “running” (he’s 20) to get his bath.
Hi Mary,
Too cute! Thanks for sharing! Baths don’t always have to be bad for our cats. Some really love them!
Kristen
I I use NUTRI VET Hairball paw gel for cats! He loves it & it works great! He likes the SALMON flavor!!!!
Ron,
I am glad you have found something that works for your little guy!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Kristen
My cat doesn’t like any of the hairball remedies i give her, and I’m getting annoyed with gagging and hacking she’s doing. PLEASE HELP!
Have you tried olive oil in cats food. Please look on line for proper amounts to give.
Have you tried olive oil in cats food. Please look on line for proper amounts to give.
I feed my cat wet and dry food.
Does it matter which type of food you add
The safflower oil to?
The wet it will blend in better