The Nutritional Management of Hairballs
In this Section:
How Do Our Hairball Diets Work?
How Do Our Hairball Diets Compare with other Cat Formulas?
How Do Our Hairball Diets Work?
The special fibre system (blend of beet pulp/cellulose) gently moves hair through the gastrointestinal tract while maintaining healthy digestion
- Beet pulp, a moderately fermentable fibre, promotes optimal intestinal health
- Cellulose helps to promote the passage of ingested hair
How Were Our Hairball Management Formulas Developed?
The Iams® nutritionists conducted extensive research into minimising the formation of hairballs whilst maintaining optimal feline health and well-being. They evaluated hair excretion in cats fed diets that varied in fibre source and content.
These researchers found that feeding diets that contained a blend of beet pulp and cellulose were more effective at moving hair through the digestive tract, compared with the same diets containing beet pulp as the only fibre source. Among the conclusions, our researchers found:
- an 80% increase in faecal hair excretion with beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets, compared with the beet pulp-only diet
- by promoting the passage through the intestinal tract, of hair ingested by the cat during normal self-grooming, we can reduce an important risk factor for hairball formation
- Hairballs were not evident in cats fed the beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets
How Do Our Hairball Diets Compare with other Cat Formulas?
Our hairball diet provides the same high-quality nutrition and taste as our other adult formulas with the added benefit of reducing the risk of hairball formation.
- All provide high-quality nutrition for adult cats
- Similar feeding amounts as our other adult cat formulas
- Excellent stool quality, skin and coat condition, and taurine content
- Great taste
- Good acceptability and palatability, in line with our other adult formulas
