While hairballs might just seem like an inevitable part of owning a cat, the truth is that your cat shouldn’t be dealing with hairballs that often. If your cat does get more hairballs than they should, the good news is that there are plenty of outstanding remedies that can help them get it under control.
We highlighted the eight best hairball remedies for cats, and the good news is that you won’t have to break the bank for any of them! So, dive in and read the reviews — we’ll help you and your cat put their hairball woes behind them in no time.
If you’re looking for the best overall hairball remedy for cats, it’s going to be hard to beat what Vet’s Best Chewable Tablets Hairball Control Supplement has to offer. It’s incredibly effective at stopping hairballs, and its tablet design makes it easy to give to your cat.
Moreover, it’s affordably priced and lasts a long time. Considering how easy it is to administer and how effective it is at reducing hairballs, it’s everything that you could ask for in a hairball remedy for cats.
However, while most cats have no problem gobbling this tablet up, some cats will avoid it. If that’s your cat, you’ll either have to get creative with how you administer it or switch to a different option.
Pros
Easy to administer
Long-lasting
Affordably priced
Effective at reducing hairballs
Cons
Not all cats will eat them
2. Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treats — Best Value
Just because your cat is dealing with hairballs doesn’t mean that you have a ton of money to spend to get it under control. That’s where a product like Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treat can help you out.
It’s the best hairball remedy for cats for the money, it’s an affordable option, and since it’s a cat treat, your cat should gobble it up with ease. Not only does it help with hairballs, but it also is an overall aide to your cat’s digestive health.
It’s a great choice when you don’t have a ton of cash but still need to get your cat’s hairballs under control. However, keep in mind that it comes in a small package, and even though it’s a great flavor, some cats simply won’t touch it.
When your cat’s hairballs are out of control and you need the best of the best, check out Richard’s Organics Chicken Flavor Hairball Remedy. It’s undoubtedly expensive, but it’s also completely organic and works wonders with hairballs.
As an additional perk, it has omega-3s and various fatty acids, and it lasts an extremely long time.
While it’s an oral gel, it has a chicken flavor that most cats love. The most notable drawback is that you can’t order it if you’re in California. So, Californians need to choose a different product to get their cat’s hairballs under control.
Pros
Organic product
Has omega-3s and fatty acids
Long-lasting product
Effective product
Great chicken flavor
Cons
Expensive
Not available in California
4. Hartz Hairball Remedy Salmon Flavor Paste — Best for Kittens
Just because you have a kitten, that doesn’t mean they can’t have a hairball problem. When they do, it can be a bit of a challenge to find a product that can help them get it under control. Fortunately, Hartz’s Hairball Remedy Plus Salmon Flavor Paste works great for both kittens and adult cats alike!
It’s also an affordable product, and you only need to apply it twice a week. Even better, it contains omega-3, -6, and -9 and vitamin E, so it’s full of nutrients that your cat needs to thrive.
Still, it’s not as easy to administer as treat options, even with its salmon flavor. Since it doesn’t come in a large package, you’ll need to order it as often as some other options, even if you aren’t applying it as often.
Pros
Affordable
Less frequent application schedule (twice a week)
Great salmon flavor
Contains omega-3, -6, and -9
Provides tons of vitamin E
Cons
Not easy to administer
Not a large package
5. Tomlyn Laxatone Chicken Soft Chews Hairball Control
However, it’s a bit more expensive than some other chews, and you don’t get much to show for it.
While it has some omega-3 and -6, there aren’t many other health benefits. For this price, we’d like to see a little more, and Tomlin’s Laxatone simply doesn’t deliver.
Pros
Easy to administer
Long-lasting
Effective product
Contains omega-3 and -6
Cons
Expensive
Not that many benefits
6. Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna Flavored Gel Hairball Control
While oral gels might not be the most fun to apply to your cat, they can certainly work wonders for hairballs. That’s why Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna Flavored Gel Hairball Control is worth checking out. The most notable perk of this oral gel is the tuna flavor. Some cats simply can’t get enough of fish, and that makes this gel irresistible to them. Furthermore, it’s incredibly effective at preventing hairballs, and it gives your cat tons of omega-3, -6, and -9 in the process.
However, if your cat doesn’t love tuna flavor, it’s a challenge to apply the gel, and it’s expensive.
Pros
Outstanding tuna flavor for cats
Effective product
Provides omega-3, -6, and -9
Cons
Expensive
Not easy to apply
7. Nutri-Vet Salmon Flavored Gel Cat Hairball Control
If your cat loves salmon-flavored things, check out Nutri-Vet Salmon Flavored Gel Hairball Control. Not only does it provide outstanding salmon flavor, but it also comes with a catnip extract that helps entice your cat.
Each container lasts a long time compared to some other products, and it works for cats and kittens of all ages! Furthermore, it’s extremely affordable, which is great if you’re on a tighter budget.
However, if your cat doesn’t love the salmon and catnip mix, it’s not easy to administer. Also, besides the hairball control benefits, it doesn’t do much for your cat.
With so many other great options that do both, why not get more out of your hairball control remedy?
The Cat Lax Cat Supplement is popular, but we simply don’t see the appeal compared to many other products.
It’s affordable and effective, but it doesn’t provide many additional nutrition benefits, there’s no special flavor to entice your cat, and it comes in an extremely small package.
While it’s a simple ingredient formula and has vitamin E to help your cat’s coat, if you pick a different oral gel, you’ll probably get all those same benefits and more.
Pros
Affordable
Extremely effective
Provides vitamin E
Simple ingredient formula
Cons
Small product size
Not that easy to apply
No great flavor
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Hairball Remedy for Cats
If you still have questions about the best hairball control remedy for your cat after reading the reviews, you’re not alone. That’s why we created this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know before making your purchase.
Treats vs. Gels
There’s no right or wrong answer as to whether you should get a treat-style remedy or an oral gel for your cat, as it all comes down to your individual cat. Both styles do a great job at getting hairballs under control, so it comes down to which one is easier to administer.
While treats are easier to give to most cats, some simply won’t touch the treats because they have a different smell. If you have a cat that won’t eat the treats, you can get creative with how you give it to them, or you can simply give oral gels a shot.
Some cats will lick oral gel right off your finger, but if they won’t, you can simply rub it on their gums. While they might not appreciate that, once it’s there, they can’t get it off. This makes the application process far easier if you have a cat that won’t eat the gel or the treats.
So, get to know your cat and try each option. In the end, only you can decide which is the best choice for your cat!
Image By: RJ22, Shutterstock
How Many Hairballs Should Your Cat Have?
Hairballs are a natural part of a cat’s life, so don’t think that any remedy will eliminate hairballs completely. Still, you need to know how many hairballs are a normal amount to help you determine if your cat has a problem.
Each cat should produce only a single hairball per week. While they can have far fewer hairballs than that, if they’re producing more hairballs, it can be a sign of a deeper problem that you need to address. Moreover, since too many hairballs can lead to other problems, it’s not something that you want to ignore.
What’s the Problem With Too Many Hairballs?
When your cat is hacking up hairballs, they’re clearing out their digestive tract of hair that they can’t process. While you might think that too many hairballs means they’re doing a great job at clearing things out, it actually means that they’re not doing a good enough job of pushing things out the other end!
You might not care where the hairballs come out, but too much hair in their digestive tract can lead to intestinal blockages and other severe problems. Additionally, all that extra hair blocks the intestine linings, and that prevents your cat from absorbing the nutrients that they need from their food.
So, don’t ignore too many hairballs, as this issue can quickly spiral into far more serious problems if you’re not careful.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still unsure about which hairball remedy to purchase for your cat after reading the buyer’s guide and reviews, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason that the Vet’s Best Chewable Tablets Hairball Control Supplement is the top choice, as it expertly handles hairballs at a phenomenal price.
If you’re looking to save even more money, you can give Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treats a try too! The important thing is that you order something sooner rather than later. That way, your cat can put their hairball woes behind them as quickly as possible!
