Best Cat Food for Hairballs

The best cat food for hairballs can prevent your cat’s hairball-related vomiting and also support its digestive health.

In this guide, we have reviewed 5 of the best hairball control cat food options for you to try. Your cat (and you!) will get much-needed relief from hairballs vomiting after switching to one of these fantastic foods.

Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our top 5 reviewed products for the best cat food for hairballs:

1. IAMS Proactive Hairball Control Dry Cat Food
2. Purina One High-Fiber Cat Food for Hairball Control
3. Meow Mix Hairball Control
4. Royal Canin Hairball Care
5. Hills Science Diet Hairball Control Dry Cat Food

Best Cat Food for Hairballs – 2022 Top 5 Picks

1. Our Editor’s Pick: IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken & Turkey, 7 lb. Bag

IAMS Proactive Indoor cat dry food has helped hundreds of thousands of cats control hairball related vomiting.

It contains beet pulp fiber that prevent hairballs before they arise, making it a great food for cats that love to groom themselves excessively.

We love the fact that this food also contains balanced Omegas 3 and 6 which will give your pet a moisturized and healthy coat.

This protein rich food contains chicken as its number one ingredient to give your cat healthy and lean muscles. It is also packed with l-carnitine for helping indoor cats with weight management.

What we like about it

• Tailored fiber blend with beet pulp prevents hairballs before they start
• Omega 3 and 6 in a balanced ration for healthier softer coat
• Aids in weight management
• Heart-healthy
• Protein-rich

What we don’t like about it

• Contains corn, corn gluten, and corn grits which some cats may be allergic to.

2. Purina ONE Natural Cat Food for Hairball Control, +PLUS Hairball Formula - 7 lb. Bag

Purina One Hairball control food contains fiber in the form of carrots, peas, soybean hulls, and powdered cellulose along with whole grain corn. These fiber-rich foods eliminate hairballs through the feces and prevent hairball vomiting in cats.

Being fortified with omegas, your cat will get a healthier, softer, and shinier coat as well.

In addition to these ingredients, this best cat food for hairballs is packed with antioxidants and vitamins for your pet’s overall health and well-being. Its crunchy texture with optimally-sized kibble is an added benefit of this great cat food.

Your cat will also love Purina One Hairball control food for its delicious chicken content.

What we like about it

• Fiber-rich food minimizes hairballs
• Easy to digest
• Protein rich with balanced omegas for healthy skin and coat
• Immune supporting
• Crunchy kibble, great size

What we don’t like

• Gave some cats a stinky poop. (Check out our guide on the best cat food for smelly poop).

3. Meow Mix Hairball Control Dry Cat Food, 6.3 Pound Bag

Meow Mix contains powdered cellulose, soybean hulls, and ground corn with brewer’s rice to provide plenty of fiber to your cat. Fiber creates roughage which mixes with the hairballs and allows them to pass out easily from your pet’s system.

Meow Mix cat food contains a high-quality protein for easy digestibility. It is also packed with vitamins and minerals for your cat’s overall health and wellbeing.

The antioxidants in the food nourish your pet’s skin to prevent dandruff and dryness while also boosting its immune system.

Even picky cats are known to love this USA-made high-quality cat food for hairball control. In addition to chicken, there is plenty of variety available for you to choose from: turkey, seafood, beef, etc.

What we like about it

• Wholesome food with fiber for preventing hairballs
• Rich in protein with real chicken
• Fortified with vitamins and minerals.

What we don’t like

• Some cats liked it so much that they’d beg for it. Caused weight gain in a few cats too.

4. Royal Canin Hairball Care Dry Cat Food, 6 lb bag

Royal Canin is a popular cat food brand that provides tailored and customized breed and health-specific nutrition for cats. Their hairball care food is no different; it is tailored for reducing hairballs in cats 1 year and older.

Royal Canin contains a proprietary blend of fiber which improves digestion in cats and dissolves hairballs to allow their smooth passage from the intestines. This way, you cat can pass off all hairballs through the feces instead of vomiting them out.

Apart from psyllium husk (which is a well-known fiber for cats with constipation and hairball issues), Royal Canin also contains beet pulp, pea fiber, and brewer’s rice which are also fibrous.

Royal Canin works in two ways on cats prone to hairballs: it controls and prevents their formation in the first place and also helps manage the condition better so that your cat does not vomit out its food along with the hairball.

What we like about it

• Fiber-rich blend helps prevent, control, and manage hairballs in adult cats
• Fresh ingredients, great taste, ideal even for picky eaters

What we don’t like

• Contains wheat gluten which some cats are allergic to.

5. Hill's Science Diet Hairball Control, Adult 1-6, Hairball Control Support, Dry Cat Food, Chicken Recipe, 15.5 lb Bag

There are many different hairball formula cat food products available from Hill’s Science Diet.

You can choose from one of the following based on your cat’s age, overall health profile, and also on its food preference:

• Hill's Science Diet Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food
• Hill's Hairball Control Food for Senior Cats 7+

Both, the dry kibble and wet foods from Hill’s contain fiber for comfortable removal of hairballs.

These diets are all formulated by vets and feline nutrition experts who have extensively studied what it takes to prevent hairballs in long-haired cats.

That is why, each of the above foods are rich in protein and fiber (powdered cellulose and beet pulp) and also packed with omega essential fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat.

Apart from Omegas 3 and 6, this food contains vitamins C and E which are antioxidants that nourish your pet’s coat and skin from deep within to prevent shedding, dry skin, and dandruff.

Its great-tasting kibble is also very popular with picky eaters and most cats love its crunchy texture and perfect (large) kibble size which is easy to pick and crunch upon.

What we like about it

• Natural ingredients with fiber for easy passing of hairballs
• Contains vitamin E and omegas for beautiful skin and coat
• Formulated by vets, food scientists, and feline nutrition experts in USA

What we don’t like

• Smaller cats find this kibble too big to chew. It may be more suitable for larger cat breeds like the Maine Coon which is prone to hairballs.

What are Hairballs? What are its Symptoms and Causes?

Hairballs are wads of fur which your cat might throw up after excessive grooming.

Many fastidious groomers end up swallowing a bunch of hair when they groom and lick themselves. This hair passes undigested through the cat’s stomach where its natural reflex action tries to toss out the foreign body.

However, along with the hairball, your cat might even throw up undigested or semi-digested food.

Overtime, this constant vomiting can cause deficiencies and weight loss in cats.

Sometimes, your cat might not be able to throw out the hairball and it could end up getting stuck in its intestines. In such cases, there is no alternative but to remove the blockage surgically.

Symptoms of hairballs

• Throwing up wads of fur with undigested or semi-digested food
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Straining in the litter box
• Litter box behavioral issues
• Loss of appetite
• Dry retching
• Swollen abdomen

Causes of hairballs

Almost all cats that shed their undercoats could develop hairballs although it is more common in certain long-haired breeds like Persians, Maine Coons, and Oriental cats, etc.

Poor diet can also cause hairballs. If your cat has nutritional deficiencies or food sensitivities or allergies, then it could indulge in excess licking and grooming. This can, overtime, lead to hairballs.

What are Some Home Management Tips for Hairballs in Cats?

Here are some home care tips for mild cases of hairball:

A) Grooming

Regular grooming can considerably prevent hairballs. Irrespective of whether you have a short-haired cat or a long-haired one, you must brush its fur regularly.

Brushing removes the dead hair and also stimulates natural oils to give your pet a shinier and healthier coat. You can also trim your long-haired cat to keep its fur short.

Also bathe your pet regularly to remove the unwanted undercoat. Check out our guide on the best shampoo for shedding.

B) Use hairball medicines

Hairball medicines are available over-the-counter or through a vet’s prescription.

Mostly, these medicines contain petroleum jelly or laxatives. They help coat the wad of hair and push out the hairball through the feces into the litter box.

C) Use hairball control supplements

Pumpkin, beet pulp, psyllium husk, plain bran, and other plant fiber supplements can also help prevent and manage hairballs. Regularly feed your cat these supplements to help them pass the hairball out naturally and prevent hairball vomiting.

Please speak to your vet about the right natural fiber supplements to use.

D) Make some dietary changes

Switch to the best cat food for hairballs. These hairball control cat foods contain fiber such as peas, carrots, pumpkins, cellulose, or psyllium husk which dissolve the hairball and let it pass out naturally.

The best cat food for hairballs and vomiting is also enriched with real proteins, omegas 3 and 6, and antioxidants like Vitamin E to nourish your cat’s coat and skin, prevent dandruff, and eliminate excess shedding.

You must also eliminate the allergens from your pet’s diet. Sometimes, food sensitivities and allergies can also trigger excess shedding, excess grooming, and subsequent hairballs.

Avoid foods with protein-sources that your cat may be allergic to. Steer clear of foods containing gluten, dairy, and grains which some cats are not able to digest properly.

Speak to your vet about the best hairball cat food to feed your cat based on its age and overall health profile.

What Factors Should You Consider When Selecting the Best Cat Food for Hairballs?

These are the features to look for when selecting the best hairball control cat food. The best cat food for hairball that we have recommended above also has these features.

1) High in fiber

Select a diet that is rich in fiber. Fiber adds bulk to your cat’s undigested food and allows the hairballs to pass out easily.

Look for grain free hairball control cat food (since cats don’t need too many grains and are often allergic to them)containing beet pulp, pumpkin, carrots, peas, psyllium, soybean hulls, or other blended plant-fiber. These provide the extra bulk to carry the hairball out so it is eliminated in the litter box.

2) Contains skin-nourishing omega fatty acids

As far as possible, select the best dry cat food for hairballs or the best wet cat food for hairballs that are fortified with skin-nourishing nutrients.

These mainly include a balanced ratio of essential fatty acids like omega 3 and omega 6 along with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

These nutrients moisturize, heal, and soothe the skin. They can also prevent dandruff and skin dryness which can indirectly contribute to hairball formation in cats.

3) High in protein

Protein-rich foods help prevent unnatural shedding in cats.

Look for an easy-to-digest protein source like chicken, fish, turkey, etc. These are generally well-tolerated by most cats and can help reduce unwanted shedding as well as hairballs that occur due to excess grooming.

Conclusion

As the name indicates, the best cat food for hairballs provides bulk fiber or roughage to eliminate hairballs and stop the related vomiting. It also prevents formation of hairballs in cats that shed and/or groom excessively.

We recommend the IAMS Proactive Hairball Control Dry Cat Food which has helped hundreds of thousands of cats eliminate their hairball-problem and vomiting completely.

 It is rich in fiber as well as omega essential fatty acids that nourish your pet’s skin and control shedding, dandruff, dry skin, and hairballs.

Do check out our other recommendations as well.