Pet Grooming

Cat Hairballs - Tips for Preventing Hairballs in Cats

While constantly grooming themselves, cats ingest pieces of fur that end up in their stomachs. Cat hairballs are usually harmless as they can be coughed up. However, they can sometimes form a blockage in the intestines which can lead to serious problems. There are a few things you can do to prevent hairballs in cats. Let's take a look at some of them.

Grooming

One of the best ways to prevent cat hairballs is to groom your cat daily. As mentioned earlier, cats ingest fur while grooming themselves. If you brush most of the loose hair off yourself, then less fur ends up in your cat's stomach. You will also like the fact that less hair gets on your furniture.

Food

Another way to prevent hairballs in cats is to feed them special dietary aids. There are dry cat food brands formulated specifically to prevent hairballs. These foods are usually loaded with vegetable fiber. You should also make sure that the brand you try has plenty of nutrients and especially protein.

Fiber

One of the next ways to prevent cat hairballs is through the use of fiber. Fiber will help your cat defecate easier by adding moisture and bulk to his stool. Good sources of fiber included squash and canned pumpkin. These two foods can also be used to help with constipation and diarrhea.

Gel

If your cat has trouble expelling a hairball, then you can try using a special gel. This gel can usually be added directly to your cat's food. Some gels provided lubrication, while others only provide bulk. You can even find gels that do both at once.