By 10 Effective Hairball Fixes That Can Help A Cat
Hairballs are the dread of cat parents. It’s repulsive for your cat to cough up a giant, hasty ball of fur at your feet. Cat hairballs may seem like a gift that keeps giving, but you can do something to stop them or at least eliminate most of them. Here are ten at-home hairball fixes you can try today.
First, if you have any questions about whether your pet has a furball or other condition, seek the advice of a veterinarian. However, if you are sure about the condition, feel free to try these things.
Why do cats have hairballs?
Unlike dogs, cats groom themselves. They lick to stay clean. Its rough tongue removes debris, dirt, and loose hair from its fur. While grooming, they swallow part of their hair, which passes through their digestive system. They excrete most of this hair, but some hairs stick around, causing hairballs to form.
A study Although most veterinarians and cat owners feel that a cat’s habit of vomiting hairballs is common, researchers believe that there are often other things that contribute to this problem. They suggest that when a shorthaired cat frequently coughs up hairballs, it is a sign of an underlying disease causing the cat to ingest more hair, or it is a sign that the cat has a gastrointestinal problem.
Other causes of frequent hairball vomiting include:
- Flea infestation
- A skin disease that causes scratching.
- Food allergies or intolerances
- A bacterial infection on the skin that causes them to scratch.
It would be best if you observed other symptoms that could indicate that your cat has health problems that are causing the frequent vomiting of hairballs. If your cat shows these signs, you should take him to the vet for a checkup.
Look out for these signs of a hairball:
- Constipation – This could be due to dehydration, but if your cat drinks and eats but is still constipated, this could mean she has a blockage in her intestines.
- A lot of hair in your cat’s feces – Loose amounts of hair could be an indication that your pet is sick.
- Lack of appetite: refusal to eat is not typical for cats. Try different foods, but call your vet if your cat refuses to eat for more than a day or two. Lethargy: If your cat doesn’t want to play or cuddle, this could be a sign that your pet is sick.
- Increased Hairballs – If your cat vomits numerous hairballs, this is a bad sign.
- Excessive grooming: If your cat is obsessively grooming, this could be a sign of a skin condition.
Hairball arrangements for your cat
All cats have hairballs. You can significantly reduce the number of hairballs for your cat with a few simple solutions. Here is the list of what works best to limit those nasty hairball treats your cat gives you.
1 – Brushing
When you brush your cat’s hair, you remove dead hair, dandruffand dust from his coat. This will decrease the amount of hair your cat swallows while grooming. Get your cat relaxed before brushing. Make brushing a moment of ear and belly scratching strokes. Try giving your cat little treats while brushing to help him stay long enough to brush all his fur. Never force your cat to stay the entire time you brush it. Even if you only brush part of his coat, you can finish the rest the next day. Make brushing a daily event, especially if you have a long-haired cat. This will significantly reduce your furry friend’s hairballs.
2 – Healthy diet
Like humans, cats need a healthy diet to stay healthy. Your cat’s diet should include these six main groups of nutrients for best health. These include the following components:
- Protein
- Minerals
- Vitamins
- Fats and oils
- Carbohydrates
- Water
If you buy cat food, read the label to look for these six groups. Or you can create your cat’s meals using human-safe food.
Avoid giving your cat too much food, as cats are prone to overeating. If your cat gets all the nutrients it needs from its diet. They will be less likely to lose a lot of hair, which can lead to hairball build-up. Also, maintaining a healthy diet helps your digestive system work well to get rid of hairballs from your body quickly and efficiently.
3 – Several small meals
Feeding your cat smaller meals more often is better for her than feeding her a large amount of food. Smaller meals help your cat’s digestive system work more efficiently to remove hairballs more easily.
4 – Parasite control
When cats suffer from fleas or ticks, they instinctively want to get rid of them. They will brush too much to try to do that, causing them to eat more hair than usual. This causes hairballs to develop. Keep your pet flea and tick free with natural ingredients.
Have a fine-toothed flea comb handy. Check for fleas and ticks regularly for infestations. This habit will help you find the bugs early for quick treatment.
5 – Wipes and shampoos
After brushing your cat’s coat, try cleaning her coat with a hypoallergenic wipe to remove more loose hair. There are also specially made shampoos that help control hair loss that you can use on your cat. Grooming is vital if your cat has long hair, as these cats are prone to more hairballs.
6 – Butter
What what? It is true. Half a teaspoon of butter a day for a week will drive those nasty hairballs out in no time. Butter is a fat that helps push accumulated fur through your pet’s digestive system so that it is excreted naturally. Butter helps your cat’s gallbladder contract and empty. It is a mild laxative, so don’t overdo it or your cat will have diarrhea. Use this method once a month or less if it is causing diarrhea.
7 – Sweet sardine
Another proven hairball solution is to feed your furry friend a can of sea sardines once a month. Sardines are fatty fish that will help keep your cat’s digestive system working properly so that food and hair move through its intestines. Also, sardine oil will make your pet’s skin and coat healthier. If you don’t want to mess with sardines once a month, you can give your cat a teaspoon of fish oil every day for the same benefits.
8 – Pumpkin
the regular canned pumpkin shopping at the supermarket can be an easy way to get rid of hairballs. Just add 1 or 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin to your cat’s daily food. the fiber in the pumpkin regulates and improves your pet’s digestion to help his body shed the fur so his hairballs don’t form and get stuck in his intestines.
9 – Keep your cat hydrated
Sometimes the best solutions are the simplest, like making sure your cat drinks lots of water. Many cat owners find that their cat loves to drink from the water tap. You can’t leave the tap running all day, but you can buy cat water base to encourage your kitty to drink more water. Another way to ensure your cat is getting enough fluids is to feed him wet food rather than dry. Water is essential so that the digestive system of your pet works in the best way, so that it can eliminate the hair that your cat ingests while grooming.
10 – Coconut oil
Coconut oil is another tried and true simple hairball solution. Keep a small bowl of coconut oil where your cat can get it whenever he wants. The oil lubricates and helps hairballs slide through your intestines. Coconut oil will also give your kitty a shinier coat.
Final thoughts on how to try natural hairball remedies
Hairballs are the least favorite of cat parents. Fortunately, there are several natural solutions that you can try to reduce your cat’s hairballs. If you’re unsure about something, contact your kitty’s vet for more advice. You love your cat do everything possible to make them feel happy and healthy. Try these simple suggestions to see which ones work best for your beloved pet.
