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If your cat has one or more hairballs every week, you may want to ask your veterinarian about changing their diet to one of our recommendations for the best hairball cat food. Hairballs can become a medical emergency if they get lodged in your cat's gastrointestinal tract. Cat foods designed to reduce hairballs generally contain more sources of insoluble fiber than other recipes. They may also include extra omega fatty acids to improve skin and fur health and reduce shedding. kitten pate
With advice from vets, we researched the best hairball control foods for cats. One of our top picks is Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entree, a wet food with added fiber to help cats pass hairballs and omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
In addition to ensuring the foods in this guide fulfill the criteria provided by veterinarians, all of our recommendations meet the pet food standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.
Best overall wet: Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken - See at Chewy
Best overall dry: Royal Canin Hairball Care - See at Chewy
Best budget wet: Purina One Indoor and Hairball Ocean Whitefish and Rice - See at Chewy
Best budget dry: Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care with Chicken and Turkey - See at Chewy
Best for seniors: Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Indoor Chicken - See at Chewy
Wet foods can help prevent hairballs since they provide extra water, which helps hair move through the digestive system, Ochoa says. Canned food contains more moisture than dry food, and the best wet cat food for hairball control should also contain sources of insoluble fiber, like wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber. These ingredients help pull hair through the digestive system, says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, a veterinarian and professor of clinical nutrition at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
To compare the fiber content and other nutritional values of wet and dry cat foods, you'll need to convert the wet food values to a dry matter basis. This means you remove all the moisture from the wet food and then calculate the nutritional values based on the remaining solids. We contacted the manufacturers of the foods in this guide to get the nutritional profiles of each food on a dry matter basis. If you'd like to compare other recipes, you can use these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, call the food manufacturer, or ask your vet for help.
Our picks below for the best cat foods for hairball control contain powdered cellulose and exceed 4% fiber, as recommended by our experts. They also contain omega fatty acids from fish oil and salmon, which may improve skin and coat health and reduce shedding, says Dr. Sara Ochoa, a small animal veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of West Monroe and cofounder of How To Pets.
Meat and fish protein sources: Chicken, turkey liver, pork byproducts, pork liver, turkey heart, fish meal Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose, fish oil Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 36.3% protein, 21.1% fat, 9.2% fiber Calorie count: 84 kcal/2.9-ounce can
Meat and fish protein sources: Chicken byproducts, pork byproducts, chicken liver, pork liver Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 40.3% protein, 14.7% fat, 5.6% fiber Calorie count: 55 kcal/3-ounce can
Our experts recommend wet food for hairball control because good hydration decreases the likelihood of hairballs. However, if your cat prefers dry food, Ochoa says you can add water or cat-safe bone broth to their kibble. In addition to containing less moisture, dry cat foods are typically more calorie-dense than canned options, Larsen says. Still, they have plenty of other benefits. For instance, the best dry cat foods are easier to portion and use in feeder puzzles.
Our recommendation from Royal Canin contains psyllium seed husk and pea fiber. Our high-protein dry food pick from Nulo includes ground miscanthus grass, a healthy source of insoluble fiber. This pick has more calories per serving than some of the others in this guide, so a smaller portion may meet your cat's daily calorie needs. Just check with your vet before adjusting your cat's food portions.
Meat protein sources: Chicken byproduct meal, chicken fat Other standout ingredients: Pea fiber, fish oil, psyllium seed husk Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 32% protein, 13% fat, 8.5% fiber Calorie count: 342 kcal/cup
Meat and fish protein sources: Deboned turkey, chicken meal, deboned cod, turkey meal, chicken fat, salmon meal Other standout ingredients: Ground miscanthus grass, salmon oil Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 40% protein, 16% fat, 7% fiber Calorie count: 444 kcal/cup
Budget-friendly wet foods often contain higher proportions of low-cost byproducts, like organ meat and byproduct meals, than premium recipes, but these ingredients are very nutritious. There are many different quality animal-based proteins, including byproducts and byproduct meals, says Ellen Dierenfeld, a comparative animal nutritionist and founder of Zootrition.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they mainly eat meat and must get their essential amino acids, like taurine, from animal protein sources. That's why our budget picks for the best hairball cat food include whole meat, byproducts, and meals as the first ingredients. They also contain insoluble fibers, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants to promote better overall health for your cat.
Meat and fish protein sources: Ocean whitefish, fish broth, chicken, liver, pork lungs Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose Feeding trials: Yes Nutrition breakdown: 45.6% Protein, 22.2% fat, 9.7% fiber Calories: 77 kcal/3-ounce can
Meat and fish protein sources: Salmon, meat byproducts, chicken Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 45.7% protein, 30.3% fat, 9.5% fiber Calorie count: 84 kcal/3-ounce can
Budget hairball cat foods are a great choice for cat parents who want to prevent hairballs. These foods are affordable and have a long shelf life. Plus, many cats love the crunchy texture. Premium hairball foods may have free-range, wild-caught, or human-grade ingredients, but budget dry foods still provide all the nutrients your cat needs, plus added fiber to move hair through their gastrointestinal tract safely.
Our wallet-friendly dry food option from Nutro contains lean chicken proteins to nourish your cat and psyllium seed husk to help pass hairballs. Our pick from Iams is specially formulated with powdered cellulose and beet pulp. Dierenfeld says beet pulp is an ideal fiber source for cats since it contains both insoluble fiber to pull hair through the intestines and fermentable fiber to feed good bacteria in the gut.
Meat protein sources: Chicken, chicken byproduct meal, turkey Other standout ingredients: Dried plain beet pulp, powdered cellulose Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 30% protein, 13.5% fat, 8.3% fiber Calorie count: 342 kcal/cup
Meat and fish protein sources: Chicken, chicken meal, chicken fat, herring meal Other standout ingredients: Peas, potatoes, oats, psyllium seed husk Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 36% protein, 16% fat, 6% fiber Calorie count: 417 kcal/cup
Senior cats may benefit from hairball management food with healthy extras like glucosamine and chondroitin. These ingredients support joint health, which can improve your cat's movement, grooming ability, and overall quality of life. The high fiber content in hairball control foods can also help cats feel full for longer, and weight management is crucial for older cats at risk of joint disease and pain. Just check with your vet before changing your senior cat's diet.
Our picks for the best food for senior cats with hairballs include beneficial extras, joint-supporting ingredients, and insoluble fibers. Our pick from Blue Buffalo contains antioxidants from blueberries and cranberries, which may help lower a cat's risk of degenerative diseases of the liver, kidney, and brain diseases. Hill's senior recipe contains L-carnitine, an amino acid that can help cats lose weight by making it easier to burn fat.
Meat protein sources: Chicken Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose, dried beet pulp, fish oil, vitamin E, L-carnitine, cranberries Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 34.1% protein, 17% fat, 8.6% fiber Calorie count: 316 kcal/cup
Meat protein sources: Chicken, chicken liver Other standout ingredients: Powdered cellulose, cranberries, blueberries, vitamin E Feeding trials: No Nutrition breakdown: 47.7% protein, 32.8% fat, 3.4% fiber Calorie count: 170 kcal/5.5-ounce can
When shopping for the best cat hairball cat foods, keep the following criteria in mind:
AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for adult maintenance or all life stages:
Hairball control foods contain more fiber than most cat food recipes. Because of this, they aren't recommended for kittens. A kitten's developing gastrointestinal tract may have trouble with this much fiber, Ochoa says, adding that while kittens might have an occasional hairball, they groom less frequently than adult cats. In other words, they likely won't need hairball food. Always check with your vet before changing your kitten's diet or giving them any supplements.
Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label shows the percentages of important nutrients, including protein, fat, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Food for adult cats, including seniors, must have a minimum of 26% protein and 9% fat. Ochoa says the best hairball cat foods generally have high fiber, more than 4% but 6% or more is ideal.
Ingredients list: The ingredients on a pet food label appear in order of weight. Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat should appear first on the ingredient list as whole meat, meat meal, or animal byproducts. To help your cat pass hair and reduce the frequency of hairballs, shop for cat food recipes that include both meat protein sources and insoluble fiber sources like wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber.
Expert formulations: Our picks for the best hairball control cat food come from brands that employ full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionists or PhD-level animal nutritionists. This ensures the food meets nutritional recommendations, includes the right ingredients for cats, and aligns with the WSAVA guidelines and our experts' guidance.
Manufacturing standards: When choosing a commercial cat food brand, it's important to consider the manufacturer's quality control measures. Reputable brands should be transparent about the types of tests they conduct, how often they test, and the results of those tests. This information should be easily accessible on the company's website, or brand representatives should provide it on request.
Calorie content: The calorie content of cat food is measured in kilocalories (kcal). The best hairball cat food formulas contain more fiber than other cat foods, which can help keep kitties feeling full. For this reason, cats eating a high-fiber hairball management food may eat less at each meal and be less likely to demand snacks between meals. Just make sure your cat gets the right number of calories each day. Your vet can help you figure out how many calories your cat needs.
Food recommendations from veterinarians: If you're considering adding fiber to your cat's food to reduce hairballs, talk to your vet first. Too much fiber or the wrong type of fiber could cause more digestive issues. Your vet can offer more guidance with choosing the best hairball cat food based on your cat's lifestyle and other health needs.
To select the foods in this guide, we consulted two veterinary nutritionists and a small animal veterinarian. They told us what causes hairballs and what cat food ingredients may help reduce and eliminate them. We then reviewed dozens of AAFCO complete and balanced cat foods to narrow down our top picks.
Ellen Dierenfeld is a comparative animal nutritionist with a doctorate in animal nutrition from Cornell University. She is the founder of Zootrition, a software designed to record and evaluate the diets of animals. Diernfeld has over 30 years of experience in zoo, wildlife, and companion animal nutrition.
Dr. Jennifer Larsen is a veterinarian, distinguished member of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and professor of clinical nutrition at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Larsen spoke with us about cat nutrition and the role of high-fiber diets in feline nutrition and well-being.
Dr. Sara Ochoa is a small animal veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of West Monroe located in Louisiana. Ochoa spoke with us about hairball management in cats and how to reduce their occurrence.
The best cat food for hairball control contains more insoluble fiber than other cat food recipes, typically 6% or more fiber compared to less than 4% fiber in other recipes. Some common insoluble fiber ingredients include wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber. Hairball food may also include extra omega fatty acids. These can help improve skin and fur health and reduce shedding.
The moisture in wet food can help fur pass through the digestive system, Ochoa says. However, if your cat prefers kibble, you have plenty of options for dry cat foods for hairballs. That said, it may be possible to switch your cat to wet food by finding a food with a texture and taste they enjoy. The more they like the food, the greater the chances of a successful transition.
Hairball control cat food works by adding bulk to stool with insoluble fiber, which helps pull fur along the digestive tract, Larsen says. As a result, ingested fur is more likely to end up in the litter box, not on your floor as a hairball. Cat food for hairballs doesn't have to be a year-round expense. Ochoa says your cat may only need it during the summer months when they shed more. Talk to your vet about the best approach. Just keep in mind that a change in diet shouldn't replace regularly grooming your cat with one of the best cat brushes, which can also help minimize hairballs.
Hairballs cannot be dissolved. Cats can't digest their fur, so they must pass hairballs either in their feces or by coughing them up. The best hairball cat food can help bulk up the stool, making it easier for hair to pass through the digestive tract. If a hairball becomes too large for a cat to pass, it can cause an intestinal obstruction, and your cat may need surgery. Sometimes, the best hairball remedies for cats and laxatives may also help cats pass hairballs, but only with your vet's recommendation and supervision.
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