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Do All Cats Get Hairballs?
Did you know that your cat vomiting hairballs should not be a recurring happening? While our feline friends have evolved throughout the last 6 million years, over time coughing up hairballs has become a part of their grooming process.
What Are Hairballs & Why Do Cats Have Them?
A hairball is a small collection of hair that collects in the cat’s stomach. When cats groom themselves, the barbs on their tongues catch loose or dead hair, which they swallow. Much of this hair passes straight through them and out the other end but if some of it gets lodged in the stomach, the cat will vomit it out to remove it from their system.
Are Hairballs A Serious Medical Condition?
If you find your cat has chronic vomiting it is always best to visit your vet to rule out any serious medical conditions. Including but not limited to:
- Kidney Disease
- Cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Gallbladder Issues
- Stomach Ulcers
If your cat is medically cleared but is still vomiting hairballs The Pet Beastro has your answers for all things hairball-related!
How Do I Get Rid Of My Cat's Hairballs?
There are three easy but important things you can do to help your kitty lessen and even prevent hairballs.
1. A Healthy Diet Can Prevent Hairballs In Cats
Poor nutrition is the source of many health complaints, which can be a factor in why your kitty might be vomiting hairballs. Inflammatory and indigestible ingredients lack the nutrition that helps keep our cat's digestive system working optimally. Here are a few cat food options we recommend:
- Northwest Naturals Raw and Freeze-dried
- Primal Raw and Freeze-dried
- Ziwi peak Air-dried food & Canned food
- Farmina Cat Food (kibble & can)
- Fromm Cat food (kibble & can)
- Nulo (kibble, can and pouches)
- Open Farm (kibble & stews)
- Small Batch Raw
- Steve's Real Food Quest
- Answers Pet Food
When you feed a food with quality ingredients, it can improve your cat’s coat leading to less brittle hair, dander, and ultimately fewer hairballs!
2. Proper Nutrition That Helps Cat Digestion
In addition to a healthy diet, there are certain supplements that can be added to your cat’s daily routine to help improve digestion and skin and coat health to prevent hairballs from happening!
Below are some great options you can find at The Pet Beastro:
- Marshmallow: This liquid herbal tincture made out of marshmallow root is referred to as a mucilaginous herb which means it has a slippery effect while soothing mucous membranes. If your cat is addicted to high-carb, high-grain food, then there is most likely some inflammation within the intestinal tract which isn’t allowing for proper digestion of the food you are feeding. Marshmallow root tincture will decrease inflammation as well as help move the hairball through the system and out with stool.
- Digestive enzymes: There are quite a few options when it comes to enzymes. Total-zymes is a blend of 16 different enzymes to help the digestive system break down the hairball in the gut. Flora4 Sprouted Seeds is a supplement made up of various seeds that provide “live” nutrients to your pet. These seeds provide probiotics & prebiotics, enzymes, omega’s, and 26 vitamins and minerals. Microflora Plus is another great option for your kitty that also contains probiotics & prebiotics, enzymes, and herbs to help soothe the digestive tract should there be any upset.
- Goat milk: This fan-favorite raw pet food supplement can add moisture to your kitty’s diet, while also providing probiotics and enzymes. Goat milk also helps keep the skin and coat healthy which can aid in preventing hairballs.
3. Regular Brushing Can Help Prevent Hairballs Too
Providing grooming support and performing daily brushing on your kitty can also assist in preventing hairballs as that will help them ingest less hair. Here are a few items we recommend to assist in grooming your kitty:
If you have questions you can always give us a call at (248) 548-3448 or stop in-store! We are more than happy to answer your hairball questions!