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Gyack! Gyack! Gyack! Now there’s a sound every cat parent recognizes. When we hear it, we grab the paper towels and start to hunt for the dreaded hairball. (The cat, of course, has long fled the scene of the crime.) If hairball incidents are becoming a too-frequent occurrence at your house, it’s probably time to check out the best cat hairball remedies.
Fortunately, you’ll find a wide selection: there are crunchy treats, soft chews, pastes, gels, and even grass (you can buy seeds and grow it yourself) that all help your cat’s digestion. Chews, treats, and grasses are designed to increase the amount of fiber in your cat’s diet so they can pass ingested hair without a problem, while pastes and gels focus on lubricating the intestinal system so hairballs go straight through.
Not sure how to choose? Some hairball remedies have age and weight restrictions, so that’s a good place to start. Pastes and gels are a little more likely to be suitable for young cats (though it’s important to check your product’s instructions to make sure).
You can also prioritize a hairball remedy that offers additional nutrients, like protein and essential vitamins. And if your kitty has a preference for one texture over another, follow their lead! The best hairball remedy is the one you can convince your cat to swallow.
One final note: Any cats with breathing issues will want to avoid lubricant-style remedies that contain petroleum jelly—if that’s your kitty, give your vet a quick call to find out which hairball remedy will be best for them.
Best Low-Calorie Treat: Greenies Feline SmartBites Hairball Control Treats
Greenies’ “fiberblend” formula is designed to supplement a hairball control diet and boost your cat’s fiber intake to help them pass those pesky clumps of hair. These treats are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and just under two calories apiece. Specially formulated for indoor cats, they aid in healthy digestion and should be given throughout the day: feed 18 treats per 10 pounds of cat.
Notable Features:
- Helps support healthy digestion
- Made for adult cats only
- Includes protein for muscle support
Best Double-Duty Treat: Temptations Hairball Control Chicken Flavor Cat Treats
These hairball control treats pack a crunchy outer layer to support dental health and a hairball-reducing formula high in natural fibers. It’s recommended to give 16 treats per day per 10 pounds of body weight to adult cats and to use the treats in conjunction with high-quality anti-hairball dry food and fresh drinking water. Temptations get high ratings from cat parents who say their finicky felines love them.
Notable Features:
- Formulated for indoor cats
- No artificial flavors
- Contains an increase of natural fibers for digestion support
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Best Soft Chew: Tomlyn Laxatone Hairball Remedy Cat Chews
These chews are a gentle lubricant for your cat’s digestive tract, designed to help your cat eliminate hairballs in the litter box. They use Laxatone gel (also listed below in paste form), which coats swallowed hairballs and makes it easier for your cat to poop them out. Cats weighing 10 pounds or less should receive one treat per day, and those weighing 11-30 pounds should be given two chews.
Notable Features:
- Designed to help your cat eliminate their hairballs in the litter box instead of on your floors
- Soft chews
- For adult and senior cats
Best Flavor: Cat Lax Cat Supplement
This paste gets rave reviews from cat parents who report their cats find it delicious. Cat Lax contains cod liver oil, Vitamin E, and white petrolatum to help that hairball go down and out. For prevention of hair ball formation, Cat Lax recommends administering two or three times per week; for hairball removal, average-weight adult cats should receive it once per day.
Notable Features:
- Made in the USA
- Easily give this to your cat by dabbing it on their paw for them to lick off
- Great for long-haired cats
Best Petroleum-Free: Richard’s Organics Chicken Flavor Hairball Remedy
This all-natural remedy uses vegetable oils, cod liver oil, beeswax, and lecithin to lubricate swallowed hair, allowing it to pass easily through the intestinal tract. It can be given to cats and kittens with their regular food or as a lickable treat. The recommended dosage is a half teaspoon daily or as needed for adult cats and half doses for kittens older than four weeks. Worthwhile to note if you live in the Golden State: this item cannot be shipped to California due to state regulations.
Notable Features:
- Gel formula with chicken flavor
- Serve with your cat’s food or as a treat
- Can be used with cats four weeks and older
Best for Finicky Felines: Vetoquinol Laxatone Oral Gel for Cat Hairballs
Laxatone gel includes white petrolatum and mineral oil to help hair pass through your cat’s digestive system. Pet parents with picky cats like this hairball remedy for the tuna flavor, which they say appeals to a lot of finicky kitties (it also comes in maple flavor). Feeding instructions recommending administering a half to a full teaspoon daily for two to three days, then a fourth to a half teaspoon two to three times per week.
Notable Features:
- Oral gel with tuna flavor
- Use with adult cats only
- Place on cat’s nose or paws
Best for Cats of All Ages: Tomlyn Laxatone Hairball Remedy Tuna Flavor Gel
Tomlyn is another cat hairball remedy that includes the Laxatone formula (including white petrolatum and mineral oil). The company suggests administering the gel by putting it on your cat’s paw (or your own finger) so your cat will lick it up. To treat cat hairballs, administer half a teaspoon daily to adult cats and a fourth teaspoon daily to kittens older than four weeks. For the prevention of hairballs, administer half teaspoon once or twice per week.
Notable Features:
- Safe to use with cats four weeks and older
- Good for both long and short-haired cats
- Gel has been used for over 25 years
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Best Nutrient-Boost: PetAg Hairball Solution Chicken-Flavored Gel
In addition to petrolatum, glycerin, and vegetable oil, this chicken-flavored cat hairball remedy contains key vitamins and nutrients like zinc, vitamins A, E, and B6, as well as taurine. It’s recommended for kitties six months and older. Give a half teaspoon daily for two to three days to reduce hairballs, then reduce feeding to just a fourth to a half teaspoon two times per week for preventive care.
Notable Features:
- Ingredients include petrolatum, glycerin, and vegetable oil
- Includes taurine
- Can be used with cats six months and older
Best Budget: Hartz Hairball Remedy Plus Salmon Flavor Paste for Cats
If tuna and chicken flavors don’t appeal to your cat, try this salmon-flavored paste. In addition to petrolatum to remedy hairballs, it contains vitamin E and other nutrients that promote a healthy skin and coat. For the elimination of hairballs, give a one-inch ribbon of the paste for three to four days each week.
Notable Features:
- Helps support the digestive system, coat, and skin
- For cats six months and older
- Helps prevent the formation of hairballs and eases elimination
Best Pet Grass: Pet Greens Self-Grow Garden Pet Grass
Another way to give your indoor kitty some relief from hairballs is by growing wheatgrass, such as this Pet Greens grass, for them to nibble on. Adding fresh grass to a cat’s diet aids digestion and may help with hairballs.
Notable Features:
- Includes essential vitamins, enzymes, and minerals
- Certified organic
- Made in the USA
How We Chose
The hairball remedies featured here were selected based on a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized efficacy, cat appeal, fiber makeup, laxative ingredients, and secondary benefits like dental health and extra protein. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats—who are never stingy with their feedback.