Hairball Management & Healthy Mouths | Alaska Mill & Feed

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by age three, often indicated by bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and mouth and depression. Along with professional care from a veterinarian and regular tooth brushing, reducing hairballs is one of the best ways for cats to maintain healthy mouths.

What is a hairball? A hairball is a compressed, tube-shaped mass of hair, saliva and varying amounts of undigested food. Hairballs can form whenever a cat grooms itself and swallows hair. Since hair is not easily digestible, it can remain in the stomach and form a hairball.

Cats that produce frequent hairballs usually also have dental issues, since stomach acids present in vomit erode the enamel from a cat’s teeth. Loss of enamel weakens a tooth’s protection against plaque and bacteria, which can lead to infection and poor oral health.

What can be done to help manage hairballs? Most cats do not have to suffer hacking up hairballs on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. By addressing the causes of hairballs and adjusting a cat’s food and other routines, hairball problems can be infrequent, rare events.

Reduce Hairballs in 3 Simple Steps

1. Feed foods that promote skin and coat health. If a cat is suffering from hairballs, one of the best things to do is find a more meat-rich, more digestible food. When a cat gets plenty of protein and digests the food properly, he sheds less often, swallows less hair, and the little hair that he does ingest is passed more gently with the feces. He also vomits less often and, as a result, has healthier teeth.

Consider foods with high amounts of quality proteins and proper fats to meet the cat’s nutrient requirements. Foods should also include high levels of digestible and non-digestible fiber. Fibers can snag the hair in the stomach and help it pass through with food before it tangles and balls up with other hair in the stomach. A diet high in moisture can also keep a cat’s digestive tract hydrated, reducing the risk of hairball formation.

2. Introduce supplements for a healthy skin and coat. A teaspoon or more of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) fed 2-3 times per week may help to improve a cat’s skin and coat, and result in less shedding. Since cats’ bodies cannot synthesize some EFAs, they must get them from sources in their diet.

Cat-friendly grasses are a fresh, high fiber snack that can help digestion and reduce hairballs in cats.

Specific hairball remedies are often made with indigestible oils or waxes that coat the hair and slide it through the digestive tract, creating a form of digestive lubrication.