You’ve probably seen your cat leaving sticky hair clumps around a house — not a pretty sight. Hairballs form when cats lick their coats, and loose hair accumulates in the stomach, causing discomfort, gagging, and retching. 
While hairballs seem fairly common, they can cause serious digestive issues if not addressed promptly. Luckily, plenty of remedies exist, from coat-improving cat food to gels and supplements, which can help reduce the presence of hairballs in cats. So, if your pet has been suffering from excess hair accumulating in their stomach, this guide is for you.
This time, we dug deeper into the matter to help you find the most suitable solution for your feline. We also enlisted the help of our animal expert, Soneye Toluwalase, to shortlist the best-performing remedies for your cat’s hairball problem. Here’s what our research concluded.
The information provided herein is for informational purposes only. Please refer to our disclaimer for more details.
Best Cat Food for Hairball Control
Choosing the right cat food to tackle hairball issues can be a challenge. Our recommended foods are made with high-quality ingredients to promote digestive health, reduce hairballs, and improve coat quality.
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Iams Proactive Health Indoor Weight And Hairball Care
Life Stage: Adult | Primary Ingredients: Chicken, fiber, dried plain beet pulp, turkey, powdered cellulose | Flavors: Chicken and turkey, salmon | Sizes: 3.5, 7, 16, and 22-pound bag
If your feline friend is a fan of dry food, then Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care would be a great choice. The addition of fiber makes this food perfect for preventing hairballs and ensuring smooth digestion. In addition to these benefits, the fatty acids in this food will give your cat’s coat a shiny and healthy appearance.
What We Like:
• Enriched with extra fiber
• Minimizes occurrences of hairballs
• Infused with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
What We Don’t Like:
• It may cause your cat to vomit
Reviews from Buyers:
"Cat likes the taste, very finicky. I followed amount they suggest on bag, her weight is maintained. She’s not eating unhealthy food & I can tell . And I’m happy the hairballs are gone!!" — Slicks girl on Amazon.
Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food
Life Stage: Adult | Primary Ingredients: Chicken, turkey liver, pork by-products, pork liver, turkey heart, powdered cellulose, corn starch | Flavors: Chicken | Sizes: 2.9 ounces can (pack of 24)
With its high natural fiber levels, Hill’s Science Diet wet cat food is excellent at promoting gentle hairball release and overall cat wellbeing. The primary ingredient is chicken, which helps maintain your cat’s muscle health, while the Omega-6s and vitamin E components promote healthy skin and coat.
While it’s true that some cats may lose interest in the food after a while, we are confident Hill’s product offers the best possible nutrition for your furry companion.
What We Like:
• A natural fiber-rich source
• Has Omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E
• High-quality protein
What We Don’t Like:
• Some buyers reported their cats losing interest in the food
Reviews from Buyers:
"I've tried a couple of different foods, trying to find a "hairball food" that my cats would eat; they can be picky, but they eat this one with no problems. and, the hairball problem has ceased. nothing not to like." — dennis f kern on Amazon.
Greenies Feline Smartbites Hairball Control Cat Treats
Life Stage: Adult | Primary Ingredients: Chicken meal, biotin, potassium iodide, folic acid | Flavors: Chicken, tuna | Sizes: 2.1, 4.6, 16-ounce bags
Greenies Feline Smartbites are treats that reduce hairball formation and support healthy cat digestion. Rich in protein, these treats offer more than just hairball control; they boost your cat’s diet and promote your cat’s overall wellbeing.
What We Like:
• Formulated by veterinarians
• Formulated with chicken as the primary ingredient
• Includes plant-derived fibers and petroleum
What We Don’t Like:
• Only has two flavors
Reviews from Buyers:
"Cats love them. I tend to give about 5 daily with wet food as a topper but they will eat them independently as well. I think they help. The one cat gets hairballs more frequently then the other. I notice when she gets frequent small dosing during the week , it helps for maintenance/ less hairball vomits. If several days to a week are missed then she will tossing hairballs within days. When regularly given, its minimally 3 weeks in between." — Shari on Amazon.
Pet Honesty Cat Hairball Support Chews
Life Stage: Adult | Primary Ingredients: Citrus pulp, apple pomace, psyllium husk, zinc methionine, omega-3 | Flavors: Chicken | Sizes: 3.7 ounces
Pet Honesty Cat Hairball Support Chews are made with functional ingredients that help reduce hairball formation while maintaining the health of your cat’s skin and digestive system. These chews offer a simple yet effective solution to common health concerns while providing comprehensive support for your cat’s overall wellbeing. According to cat owners, their felines love the taste of these chews, but some have experienced possible allergic reactions to the food.
What We Like:
• Cats love the taste
• Prevents hairball formation
What We Don’t Like:
• Possible allergic reaction in some cats
Reviews from Buyers:
"All I can say about the snack is ever since I started feeding several of these to my cat every day she has not had one hairball! She never had them super often, but when she did, they were bad and since the incorporation of these treats into her daily habits, not one furball!" — catperson on Amazon.
Tomlyn Laxatone Hairball Remedy
Life Stage: All life stages | Primary Ingredients: white petroleum, mineral oil | Flavors: Catnip, maple, tuna | Sizes: 2.5 or 4.25-ounce tube
Tomlyn Laxatone Hairball Control offers a gentle solution to hairballs in your cats. By lubricating the digestive tract, it allows hairballs to pass out easily. This gel also serves as a preventive measure against future hairball formation. The hairball gel also contains omega-3 fatty acids to promote skin and coat health.
What We Like:
• Aids the passage of hairballs
• Available in multiple flavors
• Convenient gel formula for easy administration
• Promotes skin and coat health
• Suitable for kittens
What We Don’t Like:
• The gel can be messy
Reviews from Buyers:
"It's hard to assess value for money when the product is a laxative for hairballs, but at least I know the cat is getting it as directed. I tried the apply to paw technique at first, then discovered he would lick it directly from the tube. Lickable cat treats have an unheralded benefit...training a cat to take squeeze up medication. It's too soon to assess real benefit - lack of emesis. I will anticipate good results and update if otherwise." — LG on Amazon.
Vetoquinol Laxatone
Life Stage: All life stages | Primary Ingredients: White petrolatum USP, light mineral oil NF, corn syrup | Flavors: Maple, tuna | Sizes: 2.5 or 4.25 ounce tub
Vetoquinol Laxatone Tuna Flavored Gel is a gentle and convenient digestive lubricant that can help prevent and remove cat hairballs. This lubricant is designed to be delicate yet effective, helping your cat easily pass hairballs through their digestive tract.
What We Like:
• Easy to administer on your cat.
What We Don’t Like:
• It’s pretty sticky
Reviews from Buyers:
"This product was recommended by my veterinarian years ago. It does work. It is easier to administer by putting 1/2 teaspoon of product on a spoon and freezing it. After it is chilled make a ball out of it and give to kitty. Otherwise it can be a sticky mess." — JMist7 on Amazon.
Vet’s Best Hairball Relief Digestive Aid
Life Stage: Adult | Primary Ingredients: Apple fiber powder, calcium carbonate, cellulose, magnesium stearate | Flavors: Chicken flavor | Sizes: 60 or 180 count
Vet’s Best Hairball Relief tablets are made with a blend of natural ingredients and fiber that can help your cat with hairball problems. These supplements can also enhance your cat’s digestion, promoting a healthy digestive system. If you want genuinely effective prevention for hairballs, Vet’s Best supplement ticks all the boxes.
Note: You may need to break the tablets to make it easier to administer
What We Love:
• Plant-derived components aid in digestion and act as a preventative measure against hairballs
What We Don’t Love:
• Available in a single flavor
• Not designed for the treatment of existing hairballs
Reviews from Buyers:
Vet’s best is one of my fav bands and definitely a safe product. My cat doesn’t eat cat grasses, therefore for hairball control I chosen this product. I usually break one tablet into 4 pieces and put it in the can foods." — always on Amazon.
Naturvet Hairball Aid
Life Stage: All Life stages | Primary Ingredients: Psyllium husk, omega-6 fatty acids, hemp seed oil, hemp seed powder | Flavors: Hemp | Sizes: 60-count tub
NaturVet Hemp Hairball Aid is an excellent solution for hairball prevention. It contains psyllium husk and hemp seed, which are rich sources of fiber and promote optimal digestion. Besides, it is enriched with omega fatty acids that help soothe digestive tract irritation, making it a perfect choice for your pet’s wellbeing.
What We Like:
• Excellent source of additional fiber
• Easy to administer
What We Don’t Like:
• Pet owners report that the Hemp flavor is a massive turnoff for some cats
Reviews from Buyers:
"I have a long haired orange tabby. She actually loves these “treats” and since getting these, she rarely has hairballs. Maybe not all cats will like these as they can be picky creatures, but I thought they were worth the try and it works for us!" — Charles & Cassie on Amazon.
