Four Natural Products for Cat Hairballs

Hairballs are small balls of fur or hair that form in an animal's stomach. An animal will occasionally vomit a hairball when it becomes too large. Hairballs may also cause gagging, hacking, a decrease in appetite, and constipation. Cats are most prone to hairballs as they groom themselves with their tongues, and inadvertently ingest fur while they do so. Some cats, such as those with long hair, cats who groom themselves compulsively, and those who shed a lot, are especially prone to getting hairballs. If your cat has hairballs, try these natural products and remedies. Please note that I am not a veterinarian and it is always best to check with you pet's vet before giving him or her any type of natural remedy or product.

Lickables Natural Hairball Gel: Lickables Natural Hairball Gel is one natural products you may want to consider utilizing for your cat's hairballs. This gel has a chicken flavor, so your cat will enjoy licking it off of your finger. The product specifies to use ½ teaspoon for cats and one half of this dose (¼ teaspoon) for kittens over four weeks of age. You can use this product daily or on an as needed basis for hairballs.

Lickables Natural Hairball Gel contains chamomile, which helps relax your feline's digestive system, soybean oil, soy protein concentrate, and flaxseed oil. You may purchase a three ounce tube of Lickables Natural Hairball Gel from the Jeffers Pet website for approximately $6.30.

Hairball Aid by NaturVet: Another natural product for cat hairballs is Hairball Aid by NaturVet. This product helps prevent hairballs as well as aids in the digestion of hairballs your cat forms in his or her digestive system. This hairball product contains catnip as well as tuna and chicken flavors, so your cat should enjoy eating it.

Hairball Aid contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, chamomile, vitamin E, beeswax, soy protein, tuna flavor, soybean oil, sorbitol, lecithin, flaxseed oil, catnip, cod liver oil, maple flavor, methylcellulose, chicken flavor, and soy protein. This formula recommends giving cats over six months old ½ teaspoon and kittens over four weeks old ¼ teaspoon daily. You may purchase a three ounce tube of Hairball Aid by NaturVet for approximately $8 on the Holistic Pet Information website.

Only Natural Pet Hairball Chewables: Only Natural Pet Hairball Chewables are another natural product for hairballs you may want to give to your feline. These soft treats help promote healthy skin and coat, which will reduce the number of hairballs your feline gets. Additionally, the treats aid in moving hairballs through your pet's digestive system.

These soft chewable feline treats include the ingredients: soy lecithin, biotin, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, omega-6 fatty acids, cranberry extract, psyllium powder, silicon dioxide, chicken liver flavor, flaxseed oil, a proprietary blend of calcium sulfate, malt dextrin, and sodium alginate, brewers yeast, whey, glycerin, rosemary extract, citric acid, tocopherols, sunflower seed oil, and propionic acid. The product instructs owners to feed cats two treats each day for hairballs. You may purchase a 2.83 ounce bag, containing approximately 45 treats, from the Only Natural Pet Store on-line for approximately $10.

Sentry HC Petromalt Natural Hairball Remedy for Cats: Another natural product for cat hairballs is Sentry HC Petromalt Natural Hairball Remedy for Cats. This product helps dissolve and move hairballs through your feline's system. In addition, the gel can help prevent the formation of future hairballs. You should give adult cats a 1-inch ribbon of gel daily until hairball symptoms disappear. After the symptoms are gone, you can give your adult cat a one-inch ribbon of the gel once or twice a week for prevention purposes. You may let your feline lick the gel off your finger or put it on the top of his or her front paw so that he or she can lick it off of his or her fur.

Ingredients in this natural product for hairballs include: soybean oil, methylcellulose, tuna flavor, chamomile, hydrogenised vegetable oil, maple flavor, soy protein, cod liver oil, beeswax, poultry flavor, vitamin E, lecithin, sorbitol, and flaxseed oil. You may purchase a three ounce tube of Sentry HC Petromalt Natural Hairball Remedy for Cats from the Cat Toys website for approximately $12. This product comes in malt and seafood flavors.

Certain cats, such as those with long hair, those who groom compulsively, and those who shed a lot, are especially prone to getting hairballs. If your cat gets hairballs, I suggest you try one of these natural products to help your feline pass existing hairballs and prevent future ones. I hope you find a product that is both appealing to and effective for your cat.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Hairballs:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairball

ASPCA: Hairballs:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/hairball.html

Jeffers Pet: Lickables Natural Hairball Gel:
http://www.jefferspet.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=0&pf_id=0029409

Holistic Pet Information: Hairball Aid by NaturVet:
http://www.holisticpetinfo.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Hairball_Aid

Only Natural Pet Store: Only Natural Pet Hairball Chewables:
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Hairball-Chewables/999200.aspx

Cat Toys: Sentry HC Petromalt Natural Hairball Remedy for Cats:
http://www.cattoys.com/sentry-hc-3oz-petromalt-natural-hairball-remedy-for-cats.html