Keeping Kitty Comfortable Effective Hairball Control Treatments

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

The 5 Best Hairball Remedies For Cats

Note: Veterinary review of this article includes only the medical information in this article. The veterinarian reviewing this article does not personally endorse, recommend, or vouch for the efficacy or claims of any product mentioned in this article.

The best hairball remedies do more than help hair slide through your cats body. They treat the problem at its root by supporting overall digestive health.

Thats why we chose Cat Lax as the best hairball remedy on the market. This well known hairball gel contains a blend of ingredients that break up hairballs, prevent new ones from forming, and minimize shedding to keep hairballs at bay.

Before we learn more about Cat Lax and our other top five picks, lets talk about the types of hairball remedies and how they can help.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Hairball Remedies for Cats

Want a quick look at the products reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, weve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. Youll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

Overall Best

9.9

Picked by 31 people today!

Contains a blend of lubricants
Most cats like the gels flavor
Affordable

Runner Up

9.8

Picked by 31 people today!

Over 1,600 customer reviews, 4.5 star rating
Cats seem to enjoy the tuna flavor
Helps lubricate ingested hairs to prevent hairballs

BEST FOR BUDGET

9.6

Picked by 25 people today!

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids
Controls hairballs while supporting digestive health
Most cats like the way the gel tastes

BEST HAIRBALL PREVENTION SUPPLEMENT

9.4

Picked by 21 people today!

Most reviews are positive
Made from a blend of well-regarded ingredients
Appears to be safe for cats

BEST HAIRBALL CONTROL TREAT

9.3

Picked by 18 people today!

Contains fiber to help move hair through the GI tract
Features prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health
Free of potentially-harmful ingredients

Types of Hairball Remedies for Cats

Hairballs form when hair gets stuck or slowed on its way through the digestive tract, allowing it to form into a clump. Once it forms into a clod, hair is unable to continue its journey to the litter box and instead it gets stuck or heads in the opposite direction.

Hairball treatments come in many different forms. You can buy hairball remedies in a tube, try homemade remedies, grow a pot of cat grass, or groom your cat to keep him from ingesting his hair at all.

Some cats with frequent hairballs may have an underlying problem like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that affects motility of their intestines, so diagnosing and treating this could solve their problems.

Heres a quick breakdown of the types of hairball remedies available and how they work.

Fiber

Fiber supplementation helps to bind single strands of hair to food particles, which carry the hairs on their journey towards the colon. By encouraging the hair to move quickly through the body, fiber-based hairball remedies reduce the hairs chances of fusing into a ball and coming back up.

Additionally, a small amount of dietary fiber can help keep the digestive system functioning smoothly, correcting hairball problems at their roots.

Fiber-Based Hairball Remedies

The following are sources of fiber that, when integrated into your cats diet, may help hair move smoothly through the body.

Psyllium Husk Powder
Ground Chia Seeds
Guar Gum
Powdered Cellulose
Cat Grass

Lubrication

The second type of hairball remedies includes products that lubricate ingested hairs, preventing them from sticking together.

Petrolatum (Petroleum Jelly)

Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly, paraffin oil, or white petrolatum, is a highly refined derivative of petroleum. After its been fully refined, petroleum jelly appears to be safe for cats and people.

If you decide to give your cat petroleum jelly from your medicine cabinet, check the back of the package to ensure that youre giving your cat 100% plain petroleum jelly with no scents or other additives.

Hairball Gels

Most products marketed as hairball remedies are petroleum jelly-based. Others use vegetable oils or beeswax instead of petrolatum. They contain added flavors and sweeteners like malt syrup, fructose, and dextrose.

Butter and Oil

Butter and olive oil are frequently recommended for hairball control, but as digestible fats, theyre more likely to make your cat chubby than keep him from hacking up a furball.

Mineral oil had previously been recommended for hairballs, but it carries the risk of aspiration (going down into the lungs) since it doesnt trigger a cough reflex.

Other Hairball Remedies

Egg yolks have interesting properties for hairball control. They contain choline and lecithin, which work together to, respectively, encourage GI contractions and emulsify the fat that binds hairballs together.

You can provide the anti-hairball power of egg yolks by feeding your cat fresh egg yolks or by giving him an egg yolk lecithin supplement. A safe and effective dose for lecithin has not been established for cats, and most supplements formulated for people contain much more than is present in hairball products for cats.

Slippery elm bark contains soluble fiber, which may help to soothe and lubricate the digestive tract, reducing inflammation and helping the hairball move in the right direction

Dietary Changes

Though hairball-specific cat foods usually focus on fiber alone, this isnt always the right approach.

If your cat is already eating a diet with a little bit of fiber, the best dietary change is finding a food that reduces inflammation. Hairballs often indicate digestive problems and should be approached the same way youd approach any other symptom of gut inflammation, like diarrhea or vomiting.

Typically, this would mean giving your cat a high-protein food made primarily from meat and animal fat. You want as little plant matter as possible. A moisture-rich diet is ideal.

Read Our Article On The Best Cat Food For Hairball Control

Grooming

Finally, you can control hairballs by brushing your cat a couple of times a week. If your cat has a long, thick coat, you might also give him a full-body clip in the warmer months. Capturing loose hair before your cat licks it up is the most reliable means of stopping hairballs.

Read Our Guide To The Best Cat Grooming Brushes

Top 5 Best Hairball Remedies Reviewed

The following hairball remedies are popular, top-rated products that have a reputation for safety and effectiveness. Most are lubricating products, but youll also find a few that take a different approach to hairball control, addressing it as a component of digestive health.

Ultimately, you dont want to have your cat on lubricants and other hairball treatments for the rest of his life. You dont want him to have hairballs.

The above hairball remedies can help, but theyre not a complete solution to the hairball problem.

If your cat coughs up hairballs more than a few times a year, his frequent hacking is probably connected to digestive problems. In this case, he probably doesnt need to be swept out with fiber or lubricated with greasehe might need to go to the veterinarian. Extremely frequent hairballs may be a symptom of organ dysfunction, IBD, and other conditions.

If you determine that your cats hairballs are caused by a digestive issue, you may want to consider treating the hairballs the same way youd treat any chronic digestive problem.

Adjust your cats diet to reduce inflammatory ingredients and consider incorporating probiotics, prebiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids to promote digestive health

Also Read: Best Cat Food for IBD

Effective Cat Hairball Remedy Options to Try

Just as dealing with cat hair is a natural part of owning a cat, so are hairballs. These seemingly innocent clumps of fur accumulate within your cat's digestive tract and are usually expelled in one direction or the other. However, when a hairball sits in your cat's stomach for too long, it can create big problems. If you feel your feline friend has a fur ball, try a cat hairball remedy to help them find relief and prevent dangerous consequences.

Are Cat Hairballs Normal?

Even though it can serve as an inconvenience when it comes to cleaning, your cat hacking up a hairball or passing one in their stool is indeed a good thing. Many experts believe that an upchucked hairball one to two times each week is neither uncommon nor worrisome. More frequent hairballs may be a cause for concern and should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Cat Hairball Remedies to Try

From natural solutions to over-the-counter or even prescription formulas, there are numerous hairball remedies you can use to help your cat pass one of these pesky fur clumps.

Bulk Up Their Fiber

Adding fiber to your cat's diet can aid in digestive motility and help move hairballs along. First, consult with your vet, then try supplementing your cat's food with one of the following fiber sources.

to 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin (only pumpkin -- not pumpkin pie filling)
to 1 teaspoon of Metamucil (psyllium powder)
Vegetables, such as carrots, squash, or peas
Cat grass

Extra fiber should help bulk up your cat's stools so hairballs can move easily through their digestive tract, so you might notice an increase in the size of stools. If they begin straining to defecate or become constipated, however, discontinue the fiber and see your veterinarian.

Promote Hydration

Unfortunately, too much fiber or not enough water can leave your cat stopped up (which is definitely not the desired outcome), so promoting hydration is important. Adequate hydration is essential for proper intestinal function and can soften up and move hairballs. If your cat isn't big on drinking water, you can try a number of tricks to increase their water intake, like feeding a canned diet, adding warm water to their food, or getting a water fountain.

Lubricate With Oil

A bit of oil can help lubricate the hairball or break it up and allow for comfortable passing. Be careful to use a small amount, as oil could cause gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea or vomiting, or could cause your cat to gain weight. Some commonly used sources include petroleum jelly, butter, olive oil, mineral oil, coconut oil, or the oil from a can of tuna. Check with your vet first and don't exceed more than 1 teaspoon once a week.

Hairball Control Treats or Diets

Specially formulated hairball control diets or treats are available. These products essentially contain many of the above-mentioned remedies, including natural fibers and healthy fats. Although these solutions are typically recommended to reduce future hairball formation, they can be given to promote healthy digestion as a hairball remedy.

Hairball Gel Supplements

Commercial remedies are effective, palatable, and don't require a complete diet change. Many of these products are fish- or chicken-flavored, which can make for easy administration for those picky cats. Consider a gel product containing Laxatone, which coats the hairball and aids in moving it through your cat. It's important to find a cat-specific and veterinarian-recommended product to ensure it's safe for your feline friend.

Prescription Medications

When natural or over-the-counter remedies won't help, it's important to see a veterinarian. Your vet can help hydrate your cat with subcutaneous fluids under their skin if hydration is a concern, and can prescribe a stronger oral medication, such as Lactulose. This medication is primarily prescribed for constipated cats, but will also help cats with hairballs. However, if the hairball won't pass, they may recommend additional measures.

Hairball Complications

If a cat develops a hairball -- sometimes referred to by the technical term trichobezoar -- that is not regurgitated or passed in stool, it can grow in size within the stomach. Unfortunately, large hairballs may lead to intestinal obstructions requiring surgery. It's also possible for large hairballs to become stuck in a cat's esophagus and cause an esophageal stricture or narrowing. Although these are rare and extreme cases, they can occur, which is why preventing hairballs from growing or forming in the first place is critical.

Hairball Problems in Cats

It's possible to help your feline pass a persistent hairball by implementing one or a few of these effective cat hair remedies. However, if your cat appears to hack continuously or over an extended period of time without producing a hairball, there may be another cause. See your veterinarian to rule out a respiratory issue such as asthma and get individual medical guidance.