Hairballs are a ubiquitous and nuisance problem for cat owners. The formation and vomiting of hairballs is a common occurrence in many feline households. Hairballs occur as a result of normal grooming and hygiene behaviors. As cats lick their coats during self-grooming sessions, their rough tongues collect loose, shedded hair. This hair is then swallowed and ingested. However, human hair and synthetic fibers from carpets or fabrics can also be consumed during overzealous licking.
Once inside the gastrointestinal tract, these hair and fibers do not easily pass through the digestive system. The hair knots together within the stomach and intestines, forming a dense trichobezoar that is too large to be easily expelled. This mass of compacted hair causes irritation and obstructions, triggering the cat's gag reflex as the body tries to eliminate the hairball via vomiting.
While hairball vomiting provides temporary relief, it does not prevent new hairballs from reforming over time. As cats continue normal grooming behaviors, they inevitably ingest more loose hairs and the cycle repeats itself. Most cat owners view hairballs as an unavoidable nuisance. However, by understanding the science behind how and why hairballs form, cat owners can better manage this common feline health issue.
Making changes to your cat's diet and providing hairball-relieving supplements or homemade treats can go a long way towards preventing or minimizing hairball problems. While hairballs may never be eliminated completely, a science-based approach helps limit their occurrence and impact.
Anatomy of Hairballs
A hairball, also known as a trichobezoar, forms in the stomach and intestines as a dense knot of hair that is too large to easily pass through the digestive system. Cats have backward facing spines on their tongues called papillae that help grooming by acting like a hairbrush to pull out loose fur. However, these spines also make it difficult for hair to slide back out of the mouth, resulting in large amounts being swallowed.
Cats lack the ability to vomit on command, so the gag reflex is triggered when the hairball irritates the stomach lining or obstructs the pyloric valve leading into the small intestine. While vomiting provides relief, it does not prevent hairballs from reforming as the cat ingests more hair over time.
Hairball Risk Factors
While any cat can get hairballs, there are certain risk factors that make them more prone to frequent issues that can be crucial to your felines health:
- Breed - Long haired cats like Persians are more likely to ingest large amounts of loose fur while grooming their coat. Short hair cats can still get hairballs, just less often.
- Age - Kittens 6-12 months old experience rapid coat growth and increased shedding of their juvenile coat, making them more susceptible. Senior cats 12+ years old may groom less thoroughly due to dental pain or arthritis.
- Seasonal Shedding - Cats shed more in the spring and fall transition between their seasonal coats. Increased shedding results in more hair ingestion.
- Frequent Bathing - Frequent bathing, especially when not thoroughly brushing out the coat afterwards, can loosen large amounts of fur that cats then ingest from self-grooming. Infrequent bathing is better.
While any cat is susceptible to hairballs, certain factors make some cats more prone to frequent issues. Long-haired breeds like Persians ingest more loose fur while grooming. Kittens and senior cats undergoing coat transitions or that groom less effectively are at higher risk.
Seasonal shedding in the spring and fall results in excess coat ingestion. Over-bathing without thorough brushing releases extra hair that is then swallowed. Being aware of these risk factors allows cat owners to monitor high risk cats more closely and proactively address hairball causes through grooming and dietary adjustments.
Dietary Causes and Solutions
Diet plays a major role in hairball management. The nutrients in a cat's food can either help hair pass through the digestive tract or exacerbate hairball problems. Cats require a balance of certain dietary components to keep their digestive systems working properly.
Soluble fiber supplements like pumpkin or psyllium husk add bulk to a cat's stool and help hair pass through more easily. Insoluble fiber sources such as cellulose from plant matter can actually make hairballs worse by irritating the gastrointestinal tract. Foods with high fat content or oil supplements help lubricate the GI tract to facilitate hairball passage. However, excessive amounts of fat from fish oils can have an opposite constipating effect. Diets with too much protein and inadequate moisture lead to dehydration and dry, firm stool that traps hair and causes constipation.
Cats do best on foods with moderate protein levels and plenty of moisture. Increased hydration is key to managing hairballs, so wet food diets provide extra fluid. Offering broths and cat fountains also encourages drinking behaviors. Low calorie commercial hairball relief treats can provide supplemental fiber and fat when offered occasionally between meals, rather than free choice.
Balancing these dietary factors through a combination of moisture-rich canned food, occasional hairball remedy treats, and homemade supplements can help control hairball problems. Be aware that too much of a single nutrient can cause issues, so aim for moderation. Work closely with your veterinarian to determine the ideal diet for your cat's needs. With some trial and error, you can develop the optimal nutritional plan to keep your cat’s gastrointestinal system running smoothly.
- Fiber - Soluble fiber supplements like pumpkin or psyllium husk can add bulk to help hair pass through.too soon. Insoluble fiber from cellulose can make hairballs worse.
- Fat - High fat diets and oil supplements help lubricate the GI tract to ease hairball passage. Too much fat from fish oil can have the opposite effect.
- Protein - Diets with excessive protein and not enough moisture can make dry, firm stool that traps hair and causes constipation. Moderate protein levels are ideal.
- Water - Hydration is key. Wet food diets provide extra moisture and are better than dry food alone. Broths and cat fountains encourage drinking.
- Treats - Low calorie hairball relief treats provide extra fiber and fat. Offer occasionally between meals, not free choice.
Homemade Hairball Remedies
Supplementing your cat's diet with the following homemade treats can provide natural relief from hairballs:
Pumpkin Hairball Bites
- 1 cup canned pure pumpkin (not pie filling)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
In a bowl, mix pumpkin, water, oil, and cinnamon until a thick dough forms. Roll into marble sized balls and refrigerate until firm. Give 1-2 treats daily. Pumpkin provides soluble fiber while oil lubricates the GI tract.
Chicken & Oat Hairball Biscuits
- 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup oats
- 1/4 cup cooked, shredded chicken
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 egg
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, mix all ingredients into a dough. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut into small bite sized pieces. Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. The oats add fiber while the oil and chicken increase fat content.
Frozen Yogurt Hairball Pops
- 1 32 oz container nonfat plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp honey
- Freeze dried chicken pieces
In a bowl, mix yogurt and honey. Spoon into ice cube trays and stick a small piece of freeze dried chicken into the center. Freeze until solid, then pop out and feed. The yogurt provides hydration while the honey and chicken boost fat.
Conclusion
Offering your cat a variety of hairball relieving homemade treats can help supplement their diet with the key nutrients needed to keep hairballs under control. Recipes like pumpkin bites, chicken & oat biscuits, and frozen yogurt pops provide extra sources of fiber, fat, and moisture - all helpful components for moving hair through the digestive tract. Rotate different homemade remedies to give your cat variety and prevent taste fatigue. These treats work best as periodic supplements between meals, not as a replacement for balanced commercial cat food.
Be sure to monitor your cat when introducing additional homemade items to their diet. Note any changes in their hairball frequency, energy levels, stool quality, or behavior. Contact your veterinarian if hairballs persist or increase despite dietary changes. Not all supplements agree with every cat, so adjustments may be needed. Hairballs can also indicate underlying gastrointestinal disease needing medical attention.
With some trial and error under veterinary guidance, you can find the right combination and quantity of fiber, fat, and moisture to keep your individual cat’s digestive system running smoothly. Homemade remedies may provide relief for some hairball prone cats. However, work closely with your vet, as each cat’s needs differ.
