Should Cats Regularly Consume Hairball Paste?
One: What is the Purpose of a Hairball Lube for Cats?
Primarily, the most crucial role of a hairball lube is to assist cats in expelling excess fur from their systems, thereby preventing the development of hairball syndrome. This is achieved by lubricating the intestines and promoting the movement of the cat's digestive tract, which helps the cat either regurgitate or pass the accumulated fur balls through feces.
Secondly, if a cat has a sensitive stomach, it may experience digestive issues after overeating, especially when there is a significant amount of fur in the stomach. Hairball lube can enhance intestinal motility and aid in digestion, making it easier for the cat to defecate.
Lastly, highquality hairball lubes can also provide nutritional benefits to cats. These products often contain trace minerals and other nutrients that can help supplement the cat's diet. Therefore, when administering hairball lube to your cat, it's best to opt for highquality versions that offer a richer nutrient profile.
Two: Do Cats Need to Take Hairball Lube Regularly?
It's not a necessity for cats to take hairball lube regularly. In fact, if a cat is still quite young, Dr. Oxygen doesn't recommend giving it hairball lube, as cats typically need to be at least eight months old to learn how to regurgitate fur balls. For older cats, it's advisable to feed them hairball lube during their shedding seasons, which are usually in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Longhaired cats should be given hairball lube one to two times a week during shedding, while shorthaired cats can be fed it once every two weeks. For longhaired cats outside of shedding season, one to two weeks is sufficient, and for shorthaired cats, once a month is recommended.
Tip: To completely eliminate the issue of hairball syndrome, it's important to focus on the cat's daily habits. This includes regularly grooming your cat to remove loose fur and debris, reducing the chances of fur being ingested.
