Finding a hairball on the floor is one of the less glamorous parts of living with a cat.
Because cats spend so much time grooming, swallowing some loose fur is completely normal. Most of that hair should move through the digestive tract and leave the body naturally. Sometimes, however, swallowed fur collects in the stomach and forms the familiar clump we call a hairball.
So if you are wondering how to reduce hairballs in cats, the answer usually involves more than one “hairball remedy.”
A good everyday routine focuses on two things:
reducing how much loose fur your cat swallows and supporting the normal movement of swallowed hair through the digestive tract.
Cornell University’s Feline Health Center explains that cats swallow loose hair during grooming and that most of it normally passes through the digestive system, while some may remain in the stomach and accumulate into a hairball. Their guide to how hairballs form in cats provides a helpful overview.
Here are seven practical ways to build a more hairball-friendly everyday routine.
Why Do Cats Get Hairballs?
Hairballs begin with a completely normal behavior:
Grooming.
A cat’s tongue is covered with tiny backward-facing structures that help pull loose hair from the coat.
During grooming, some of that hair is swallowed.
Hair is made largely from keratin, a structural protein that cannot be digested in the same way as food. Most swallowed fur travels through the gastrointestinal tract and eventually leaves in the stool.
But sometimes strands of hair remain in the stomach, tangle together and gradually form a larger mass.
This is why hairballs tend to be more common in cats that:
- Groom frequently
- Shed heavily
- Have long coats
- Swallow more loose fur during seasonal shedding
- Overgroom because of skin irritation or other concerns
Long-haired cats such as Persians and Maine Coons can be at greater risk because they naturally have more hair available to swallow during grooming.
1. Brush Your Cat Regularly
One of the simplest ways to manage hairballs does not involve food at all.
Remove loose hair before your cat swallows it.
Regular brushing catches shedding fur that might otherwise end up on your cat’s tongue and eventually in the digestive tract.
Brushing can also help:
- Remove dead hair
- Reduce loose fur around your home
- Prevent mats
- Make seasonal shedding easier to manage
- Give you an opportunity to inspect your cat’s skin and coat
The Merck Veterinary Manual specifically recommends frequent brushing as a way to limit the amount of loose fur a cat swallows. You can read more in its guide to managing hairballs in cats.
For many cats, this is the most straightforward place to start.
How Often Should You Brush a Cat for Hairballs?
There is no single schedule that works for every cat.
Long-Haired Cats
Long-haired cats often benefit from frequent—sometimes daily—brushing because their coats contain more loose hair and are more likely to develop tangles.
Short-Haired Cats
Short-haired cats generally require less intensive grooming, but they can still benefit from regular brushing, especially during seasonal shedding.
Watch your cat rather than relying only on a calendar.
If the brush is collecting a large amount of fur, or you are suddenly seeing more loose hair around your home, increasing grooming frequency for a while may help.
Cornell also recommends regular brushing and combing to reduce loose hair available for ingestion.
2. Pay Attention to Seasonal Shedding
Some cats seem to produce more hairballs at particular times of year.
That makes sense.
When a cat is shedding more fur, there is simply more loose hair available to swallow during grooming.
Indoor cats may not always follow a perfectly predictable seasonal schedule because artificial lighting and indoor temperatures can influence shedding patterns.
Still, if you notice periods of heavier shedding, it can be useful to temporarily increase brushing.
Think of it as a simple equation:
More loose fur → more grooming → potentially more swallowed hair.
Reducing the first step can make the entire cycle easier to manage.
3. Understand the Role of Fiber
When people search for cat food for hairballs, fiber is one of the ingredients they frequently encounter.
Why?
Because certain types of dietary fiber can help support the movement of material through the gastrointestinal tract.
PetMD notes that insoluble fiber sources such as cellulose can help move hair through the intestinal tract, while ingredients including chicory, psyllium and barley are among the fiber sources commonly found in higher-fiber feeding approaches. You can read their overview of fiber and cat foods formulated for hairball management.
That does not mean every cat needs a very high-fiber diet.
Different fibers behave differently in the digestive system, and dramatically changing your cat’s diet simply to increase fiber is not always necessary.
Instead, fiber should be considered as one part of the overall diet.
What Types of Fiber Are Commonly Used for Cats?
You may see ingredients such as:
- Cellulose
- Psyllium husk
- Chicory root
- Barley grass
- Beet pulp
- Fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
depending on the formula.
Some fibers are primarily insoluble, while others can be fermented by bacteria in the large intestine.
The goal should not be to chase the largest fiber number possible.
What matters is how the ingredient fits into a complete, appropriately formulated feeding routine.
4. What About Cat Grass?
Many cat parents have seen their cat suddenly become fascinated by a pot of grass.
This raises another common question:
Why do cats eat grass?
There is no single proven explanation.
Grass-eating is a common behavior even among cats that are not sick. Proposed explanations include natural behavioral instincts, additional roughage and the movement of indigestible material through the gastrointestinal tract.
PetMD notes that cats cannot fully digest fibrous grass in the way grazing animals can, and that grass may pass into the stool or sometimes be vomited back up. Their veterinary-reviewed guide explains more about why cats eat grass.
It is important, however, not to assume that grass is a necessary treatment for hairballs.
Cats do not need grass as a nutritional requirement.
And outdoor grass may have been exposed to:
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Fertilizers
- Parasites
If your cat enjoys chewing grass, cat-safe varieties grown specifically for pets are a better option than allowing unrestricted access to treated lawns or unknown plants.
5. Keep Fresh Water Easy to Access
Hydration is another basic part of digestive care that is easy to overlook.
Cats are not always enthusiastic drinkers.
Ways to make water more accessible can include:
- Multiple bowls around the home
- Fresh water changed regularly
- Wide bowls
- Cat water fountains
- Moisture-rich foods when appropriate
- Creamy toppers alongside their regular meals
You do not need to force a cat to drink.
The goal is simply to create more opportunities for normal fluid intake throughout the day.
For digestive health in general, the fundamentals—appropriate food, water and a consistent routine—matter more than chasing one special ingredient.
6. Notice Changes in Grooming and Digestion
An occasional hairball and frequent repeated vomiting are not the same thing.
Pay attention to your cat’s normal pattern.
Changes worth noticing include:
- Suddenly producing many more hairballs
- Repeated vomiting
- Frequent gagging without producing a hairball
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Abdominal discomfort
- Excessive licking or overgrooming
Merck notes that frequent hairballs or repeated vomiting deserve veterinary attention because something other than an ordinary hairball may be responsible.
Cornell also warns that unusually large hairballs can occasionally create digestive obstruction.
So while everyday grooming and nutrition can support normal hairball management, they are not substitutes for veterinary care when your cat’s normal pattern changes.
7. Make Hairball-Focused Care Easy to Enjoy
One challenge with functional cat products is very simple:
Cats can be picky.
A paste, powder or unfamiliar supplement may look useful to us but still be ignored by the cat.
That is why the feeding format matters.
A softer, food-like format can make it easier to work fiber-focused ingredients into an ordinary treat or mealtime routine—especially for cats that already enjoy lickable textures.
Instead of turning hairball care into another task, the goal can be to make it fit naturally into something your cat already looks forward to.
A Creamy Approach to Everyday Hairball & Digestive Care
This is the idea behind Pawbio Green Garden Hairball & Digestive Care Cat Pudding.
Green Garden is a creamy pudding-style treat formulated specifically for cats. It combines a chicken-forward recipe with visible green plant fiber and a purposeful fiber blend while keeping the texture soft and easy to lick.
The current recipe includes:
70% Chicken
Chicken forms the main protein base, giving the pudding a savory flavor designed around feline taste preferences.
Barley Grass — 0.5%
Visible barley grass forms part of the product’s Hairball Control Fiber Blend.
Cellulose — 1%
Cellulose provides dietary fiber as part of the formula.
Chicory Root — 0.5%
Chicory root is included within the fiber-focused recipe.
Psyllium Husk — 0.3%
Psyllium provides another source of dietary fiber.
Prebiotic FOS — 0.3%
Fructooligosaccharides are included as part of the product’s digestive support blend.
The formula also includes postbiotics (Lactobacillus plantarum) along with ingredients such as kale powder and flaxseed.
The key idea is not that one pudding can “eliminate” hairballs.
Instead, Green Garden is designed to make fiber-focused hairball and digestive care easier to incorporate into treat time.
Does Fiber Stop Hairballs Completely?
No.
This is an important distinction.
Hairballs begin because cats swallow fur while grooming.
Fiber may help support the normal passage of material through the digestive tract, but it does not stop cats from grooming or prevent every strand of hair from being swallowed.
That is why the best everyday approach combines several habits:
Regular grooming
- Appropriate nutrition
- Fiber where suitable
- Hydration
- Monitoring your cat’s normal digestive pattern
There is rarely one magic ingredient.
Three Easy Ways to Serve a Creamy Hairball-Focused Treat
A pudding format can fit into several everyday feeding situations.
1. Serve It Directly
A small portion can be offered as a creamy treat between regular meals.
Soft textures are particularly convenient for cats that already enjoy licking their treats.
2. Use It as a Meal Topper
Spoon the pudding over your cat’s regular food to introduce:
- Extra aroma
- A different texture
- Additional moisture
- More variety at mealtime
Your cat’s main food should still remain complete and balanced.
3. Unmold It for a Different Texture Experience
A gently set pudding can also be removed from its cup and offered as a dessert-style treat.
Sometimes changing presentation is enough to make a familiar flavor feel more interesting to a selective cat.
Are Hairballs Normal in Cats?
Swallowing hair is normal.
Producing an occasional hairball can happen in otherwise healthy cats.
But the idea that constant vomiting is simply “normal for cats” should be treated cautiously.
Some cats produce very few visible hairballs because swallowed hair moves normally through the digestive tract.
Others may have them more often because they:
- Have long hair
- Shed heavily
- Groom more frequently
- Swallow more fur
- Have changes affecting normal gastrointestinal movement
If hairballs become frequent or are accompanied by other digestive symptoms, talk with your veterinarian rather than assuming the only problem is hair.
Why Is My Cat Suddenly Getting More Hairballs?
A sudden increase can happen for several reasons.
Possible explanations include:
Increased shedding
More loose hair means more fur may be swallowed during grooming.
More grooming than usual
Cats may groom more because of stress, irritation, fleas, allergies or other skin concerns.
Coat changes
Longer or denser coats naturally provide more hair to swallow.
Digestive changes
Normal swallowed hair needs to pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in digestion may affect that process.
The important word is change.
If your cat rarely had hairballs before and suddenly starts vomiting them frequently, that is more meaningful than an occasional hairball in a cat that has always produced them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Hairballs
How Can I Reduce Hairballs in My Cat?
Start with regular brushing to remove loose fur before your cat swallows it.
A complete diet, appropriate fiber, hydration and monitoring your cat’s grooming habits can also form part of an everyday hairball-management routine.
Do Cats Need Hairball Food?
Not every cat needs a specialized hairball diet.
Some cats rarely experience hairballs, while others may benefit from dietary strategies recommended for their individual needs.
If hairballs are frequent, discuss the pattern with your veterinarian before making major changes to your cat’s main diet.
Is Fiber Good for Cat Hairballs?
Certain fiber sources are commonly used in foods formulated around hairball management because they may help support movement of swallowed material through the gastrointestinal tract. Cellulose, psyllium and chicory are examples frequently used in pet nutrition.
Does Cat Grass Help With Hairballs?
Grass contains plant fiber, but cats do not need grass as a medical treatment for hairballs.
Grass-eating is a common natural behavior, and several theories exist about why cats do it. If you provide cat grass, use an appropriate pet-safe variety and avoid grass treated with chemicals.
Why Does My Cat Keep Throwing Up Hairballs?
Frequent vomiting should not automatically be dismissed as normal hairball behavior.
Repeated hairballs can be associated with increased fur ingestion, heavy shedding, overgrooming or gastrointestinal issues.
If your cat vomits repeatedly or shows other symptoms, contact your veterinarian.
Are Long-Haired Cats More Likely to Get Hairballs?
They can be.
Long-haired breeds have more hair available to swallow during grooming, and Cornell identifies breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons as being at greater risk.
Can a Hairball Treat Replace My Cat’s Regular Food?
No.
Hairball-focused treats and toppers should remain supplemental and should not replace a complete and balanced main diet.
The Bottom Line
If you are trying to figure out how to reduce hairballs in cats, start with the basics rather than looking for one miracle remedy.
A practical routine includes:
Regular brushing
Managing loose fur
Complete nutrition
Appropriate dietary fiber
Everyday hydration
Monitoring changes in grooming and digestion
Hairballs start with swallowed fur, so grooming remains one of the most important parts of everyday management.
For cats that enjoy creamy treats, fiber-focused foods can also provide a convenient way to bring ingredients such as barley grass, cellulose, chicory root and psyllium into treat time without turning the routine into a struggle.
The goal is simple: