Although troublesome, hairballs are quite common. They will affect most cats at some point in their lives. Long-haired cats, understandably, are likely to experience hairballs more frequently than short-haired ones. Oddly enough, the problem often gets worse as cats get older because they tend to do a better job of grooming themselves.
We asked one of our pet nutrition specialists, Jeannie, what she would recommend to combat the hairball issue:
“There are several things that cat owners can do to prevent hair balls:
- Feed a high-quality cat diet. Cats are obligate carnivores. They are not meant to process high carb diets. A high protein, low carb, grain-free diet is where it’s at.
- Help them stay on top of their grooming. Brush them daily or even every other day. Brushing will remove excess loose furs that they otherwise would be swallowing.
- Supplements that help: Probiotics, psyllium seed and goat’s milk are some good products to help with digestion. Hairball pastes, such as Richard’s Organic Hairball Remedy, encourage cats’ digestive tracts to pass hairballs rather than bringing them back up.
- Cat grass gives your cat some extra fiber. Again, encouraging the hairballs to pass through rather than up.
- Wet food and/or a water fountain would help. Moisture is so important to a cat’s health. In the wild, they eat about 70% of their moisture. In a house, with no wet food, the average cat gets about 20% of the moisture they need. Think about a human who doesn’t drink enough water- constipation often becomes an issue. Nobody wants that. The colon needs water to excrete waste.
If a cat has hairballs, the pastes and remedies help, but most always a diet change is needed.”
Speak with an associate at your local Global Pet Foods NB store for more information on the high-quality cat foods, supplements, remedies and accessories we carry.