Hairballs In Cats – Home Remedies For Prevention

You know that disturbing sound: your cat struggling to expel a hairball. The retching, gagging, and vomiting noises can wake you at night or ruin your lunch. As your poor cat struggles to rid herself of the alien product, you run for the paper towels and cleaning sprays.

Most cat parents are all too familiar with the sound of their cat dealing with the unpleasantness of hacking up a hairball. Hairballs are the tubular shaped by-product of regurgitated cat hair covered in digestive fluids.  It sounds gross, so just think of how  uncomfortable your cat feels when she’s got one coming up in her esophagus!

Hairballs, or trichobezoars (tricho-, meaning “pertaining to hair” and bezoar, meaning “a mass trapped in the gastrointestinal system”) occur after cats attempt to groom themselves.

Since cats prefer to be clean, self-grooming is a daily routine which means a greater chance she will unintentionally end up swallowing a bit of loose hair. Coughing or vomiting up hairballs occurs when swallowed hair is unable to pass through the digestive tract and out in the cat’s stool.

Hairballs in cats are more likely to appear in long-haired breeds, such as Persians and Maine Coons. Cats that shed a lot or who groom themselves compulsively are also more likely to have hairballs, because they tend to swallow a lot of fur. You may have noticed that your cat didn’t have hairballs as a kitten, but developed them as she grew. This is quite normal, because as cats get older they become more adept groomers.  They are therefore more proficient at removing fur from their coats with their tongues, which means more hairballs for you to clean up.

Many cat owners think hairballs are a fact of life, but you can stop these occurrences using a home remedy. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian before trying the techniques below, especially if your cat is elderly or dealing with a chronic illness.

Canned Pumpkin

This orange vegetable can help hairballs pass all the way through your cat’s system. Mix in one to two tablespoons of plain canned pumpkin to your cat’s food each day or a couple times a week. Be sure to choose pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar. You can add it as is, but for cats with a sensitive stomach, warm up the pumpkin. The natural fiber in pumpkin keeps your cat regular and assists in pushing swallowed hair out with bowel movements.

Olive Oil

Adding one teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food once or twice a week can prevent her from vomiting up hairballs. The oil lubricates the cat’s digestive system, which will allow the hairball to slide right on through without disturbing her tummy. Olive oil also helps pets digest their foods easier.

This should also cut down on stomach aches associated with hairballs. Other oils, such as mineral oil, corn oil or saffron oil can also help, but it’s important to ensure that your cat can tolerate these before you use any of them regularly.

Coconut Oil

Give your cat about half a teaspoon of coconut oil 2-3 times a week.  Some kitties love it and eat it directly off the spoon. You could put it directly on the food, or mix it in, as well.

Butter

A teaspoon of butter will work in the same way as the oil. Melt it in the microwave and drizzle over your cat’s food once a week.

Go Fishin’

Many canned fishes have natural oils, and some are often packed in oil. Give your cat a special treat of a bit of tuna or sardines occasionally. You can share your lunch with her by draining the oil from a can and putting a little of it on your cat’s dinner.

Cat Food 

As a precautionary measure or if hairballs are a persistent problem in your cat’s life, feed a hairball formula food. Like fiber rich foods, hairball formula food helps hairballs to pass through the digestive system while improving hair and skin health, and also reducing shedding.

Grooming

Shedding is the underlying cause of hairball formation, so removing loose hair from your cat is critical in eliminating hairballs. Brush your cat every day—especially she is long-haired, and during shedding periods. Your cat will learn to love these grooming sessions, and you may find it relaxing as well. It is also a great way to share bonding time together.

Invest in a good quality cat hairbrush and brush her fur daily to decrease the amount of hair that is ingested. To remove as much loose hair as possible, wipe her down with a damp cloth or a fragrance-free baby wipe in the direction of hair growth after brushing. Helping your cat with grooming is especially important for long haired cats and older cats.

Distractions (Toys!)

Maybe cat toys are the way to go! If your cat is grooming herself excessively, gift her with a new toy or play with her to distract her from having to constantly groom. You will reduce the occurrences of hairballs while also spending some quality social time together.

Important Things To Remember

If home remedies do not seem to help your cat or if you notice abnormal symptoms and she continues to cough up hairballs or things get worse, consult your veterinarian immediately. Abnormal signs and symptoms include vomiting or gagging up more than one hairball a day, constipation, diarrhea, lethargy, repeated coughing, unproductive attempts to vomit, and lack of appetite. These symptoms could mean an internal blockage that can potentially be life-threatening.

Hairballs are an unpleasant side effect of your kitty’s natural inclination to stay clean and beautiful.  The  job of cat parents is to allow that self-grooming, but take responsible steps to make sure it doesn’t result in a dangerous health hazard.