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8 Best Hairball Remedies for Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Nicole Cosgrove Profile Picture

By Nicole Cosgrove

cat vomiting

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.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Vet's Best Chewable Hairball Tablets Vet's Best Chewable Hairball Tablets
  • Long-lasting
  • Easy to administer
  • Effective at reducing hairballs
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Get Naked Digestive Soft Cat Treats Get Naked Digestive Soft Cat Treats
  • Affordable
  • Easy to administer
  • Also aids in digestive health
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Richard's Chicken Hairball Remedy Richard's Chicken Hairball Remedy
  • Organic product
  • Great chicken flavor
  • Has omega-3s and fatty acids
  • Best for Kittens
    Hartz Salmon Hairball Remedy Hartz Salmon Hairball Remedy
  • Provides tons of vitamin E
  • Contains omega-3, -6, and -9
  • Less frequent application schedule (twice a week)
  • Tomlyn Laxatone Soft Hairball Chews Tomlyn Laxatone Soft Hairball Chews
  • Long-lasting
  • Effective product
  • Contains omega-3 and -6
  • The 10 Best Hairball Remedy for Cats

    1. Vet’s Best Chewable Hairball Control Tablets — Best Overall

    Vet's Best Chewable Tablets Hairball Control Supplement

    Check Price on Chewy
    Style: Chewable tablet
    Life stage: Kitten, adult, and senior
    Replacement frequency: 30 or 90 days

    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

    Get Naked Digestive Health Soft Cat Treats

    Style: Chewable treat
    Life stage: Adult and senior
    Replacement frequency: 21 days

    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.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Easy to administer
    • Effective at reducing hairballs
    • Also aids in digestive health
    Cons
    • Not long-lasting
    • Not all cats will eat them

    3. Richard’s Organics Chicken Hairball Remedy — Premium Choice

    Richard's Organics Chicken Flavor Hairball Remedy

    Style: Oral gel
    Life stage: Kittens, adults, and seniors
    Replacement frequency: 60 days

    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

    Hartz Hairball Remedy Plus Salmon Flavor Paste

    Style: Oral gel
    Life stage: Kittens, adults, and seniors
    Replacement frequency: 45 days

    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

    Tomlyn Laxatone Chicken Flavored Soft Chews Hairball Control

    Style: Chewable treat
    Life stage: Adult and senior
    Replacement frequency: 60 days

    A chewable treat option to help get your cat’s hairballs under control is Tomlyn Laxatone Chicken Flavored Soft Chews Hairball Control. Each package will last your cat about 60 days, and it’s full of omega-3 and -6.

    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

    Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna Flavored Gel Hairball Control

    Style: Oral gel
    Life stage: Adult and senior
    Replacement frequency: 45 or 70 days

    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

    Nutri-Vet Salmon Flavored Gel Hairball Control

    Style: Oral gel
    Life stage: Kitten, adult, and senior
    Replacement frequency: 45 days

    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?

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Great salmon flavor
    • Lasts a long time
    • Catnip extract helps entice your cat
    Cons
    • Not easy to administer
    • Few health benefits

    8. Cat Lax Palatable Hair Ball Supplement

    Cat Lax Cat Supplement

    Style: Oral gel
    Life stage: Kitten, adult, senior
    Replacement frequency: 30 days

    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

    hepper-single-cat-paw-divider-e1614923017121Buyer’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!

    young cat sitting on wooden table with hairball
    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 mean 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 on the other end!

    You might not care where the hairballs come out, but too much hair in the 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.

    hepper cat paw divider

    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!

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    Featured Image Credit: Montakan Wannasri, Shutterstock

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