Anti-hairball foods

[YvonnePhoto]

Having just read through some of the dietary threads, I feel a bit like I am lighting the blue touch paper here, but I just want some sensible answers based on experience and to be totally transparent, I will be asking my vet too next time we see him, but personal experience can count for a lot....

OK, I have owned cats for over 20 yrs and for the majority of that time they [and our dogs] have always been fed on Hills Science plan kibble food, with various small amounts of 'wet' thrown in as a treat once or twice a week. All good so far, but, Ella is our first long haired cat. She was initially on Royal Canin when we got her and we 'weened' her onto HSP Kitten with no problems at all and even when she occasionally steals adult and wet food off the other two, it has no adverse affect on her digestive system. So, in a few months time it will time to move her onto an adult variety and here is where the question comes in. So far, she is showing no evidence of having problems with hairballs, despite the fact she is currently in full moult and does groom herself regularly, so...is it best to stick to standard adult food unless problems appear further down the line, or use the hairball one as a precautionary measure right from the off?

I know there are various arguments for and against all types of food, but want to avoid that debate if I can and just find out what other people have done when it comes to feeding commercial pet foods and dealing with any possible future hairball problems...pretty please

[Caternity Leave]

What is in the hairball one to make it hairball? If it is something that speeds up digestive transit time, I'd skip it.

I previously had a long-haired persian cross that never had problems with hairballs and from what I can see, my 3 MCs will not have a coat nearly so dense. My short haired moggie eats grass to rid himself of hairballs very effectively.

I'd just help out with a bit of grooming and maybe buy some catgrass if you are keeping Ella indoors.

[YvonnePhoto]

Here is the website blurb

Hill's™ Science Plan™ Feline Adult Hairball Control Chicken helps avoid the formation of hairballs. A gentle formula for everyday feeding with clinically proven antioxidants and tailored phosphorus levels.

Key Benefits

• Natural Fiber Technology to reduce hairball formation.
• Essential nutrients for reduced shedding.
• Controlled mineral levels to support urinary health.
• Made with high quality ingredients for great taste. 100% guaranteed.

....which doesn't really say 'how' it works...

She is groomed daily and will be going outside, in fact already does for a few minutes at a time. Just wondered really what others have done - my feeling is to go for the standard adult food unless she shows problems with hairballs, just wondering if there is any benefit to using such food as a precaution really.

[jckkerrison]

I give mine the RC intensive furball,can't say it eliminates them,can't see that anything really would the only thing I can say that I have noticed since using it that it has made them yak up the furballs easier,oh what a super subject,my little flat chested girl had never been able to sick them up before having that but it seems to make them form into a tighter "sausage" & she now brings them up quite easily as do the others.Mine all vary as to how many & when they bring them up,Merl who has a very fine coat doesn't seem to be so affected as those with the thicker undercoat & the times they are at their worst is after grooming them to remove the old coat in between times when I hardly touch them no problems but if you think how many loose hairs you bring out for them to ingest after grooming can you be surprised,we done a bit of a survey at work with clients coming in & their cats had good old furball problems & nine out of ten said they couldn't understand why because they had been grooming them everyday where as they didn't normally..... Interesting !
The other times I find that type of biscuit good is if they have had upset tummies after the 24hr starvation & nice thank you very much thats good mummy food when you start introducing normal diet again that is a good bikkie to use,I suppose that perhaps the fibre content etc in it is blander on the tums.
Well having talked about them fingers crossed my lot don't feel they have to put it into practice any time soon.........

[YvonnePhoto]

I guess there is some sense in that in an odd way, grooming will remove loose fur but I guess it can also loosen a lot more and if you are grooming for short periods because the cats won't lie still for an hour while get rid of any single loose hair, then there is a good chance it leaves more then it removes. Just thinking out loud with that really....

[YvonnePhoto]

soooo..... on that basis, unless your cat has obvious problems getting bunged up when passing hairballs, then sticking to the normal adult food is ok, with a possible switch should some additional lubrication be required ;-)

[Helen & John]

With my two Hector get them and Roxy does not. Roxy gets groomed more as she has a tendancy to mat plus she likes to lie on my knee so she i comb her then. Hector has had a run in with the furminator and runs from it now (his tail did plume back out eventually oopsie ) but have now got a new shedding tool which does not take as much out!!