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How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs
How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs

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How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs

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Why Make a Hairball Management Formula?

  • Most cats are susceptible to hairballs due to continual ingestion of hair during regular self-grooming.
  • Cat owners have told us that hairballs are one of their top concerns.
  • According to IAMS™ consumer research, a number of cat owners and their cats have found hairball treatments to be an unpleasant experience.

 

How Were the IAMS Hairball Formulas Developed?

IAMS nutritionists were looking for a way to control hairball formation while maintaining optimal feline health and well-being. They evaluated risk factors for hairball formation in cats fed diets that varied in fiber source and content.

  • 98 cats were studied.
  • Nine groups were fed test diets and three were fed control diets.
  • The test-feeding period was six to seven weeks, following a five-week control-feeding period.
  • Total cat-days of testing = 9,968.

 

Researchers found that feeding diets that contained a blend of beet pulp and cellulose was more effective at moving hair through the digestive tract, compared with the same diets containing beet pulp as the only fiber source.

  • There was an 80% to 100% increase in fecal hair excretion with beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets, compared with the beet-pulp-only diet.
  • By promoting the passage of hair ingested by the cat during normal self-grooming, an important risk factor for hairball formation is minimized.
  • Hairballs were not evident in cats fed the beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets.

 

How Do IAMS Hairball Formulas Work?

  • The fiber system (blend of beet pulp/cellulose) gently moves hair through the gastrointestinal tract while maintaining healthy digestion.
    • Beet pulp, a moderately fermentable fiber, promotes optimal intestinal health.
    • Cellulose helps to enhance the passage of ingested hair.
  • An optimal fatty acid ratio enhances skin and coat health, which decreases the likelihood of excessive shedding, a factor related to hairball formation.

 

How Do IAMS Hairball Formulas Compare with Other IAMS Cat Food Formulas?

IAMS hairball formulas provide high-quality nutrition and taste, like our other adult formulas, with the added benefit of reducing the risk of hairballs.

  • High-quality nutrition for adult cats
    • Optimal protein and fat levels
    • Higher fiber content due to added cellulose
    • Excellent stool quality, skin and coat condition, and taurine status
  • Great taste
    • Similar acceptability and palatability test results as other IAMS adult formulas

  • How to Feed Multiple Cats with Differing Nutritional Needs
    How to Feed Multiple Cats with Differing Nutritional Needs mobile
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    How to Feed Multiple Cats with Differing Nutritional Needs

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    The only thing better than owning a cat is owning more than one cat. While a multiple-cat household means additional snuggles and cuddles, it can also mean a little extra work when it comes to mealtime. Fear not! We’ve assembled this tasty buffet of tips to help make sure all your feline companions get the proper amount of food and nutrition.

     

    Why Cats May Have Different Diets

    Similar to their humans, cats’ diets vary for a number of reasons. 

     

    • Kittens need bite-size meals that help build their growing muscles and immune systems. 
    • Some cats may need to take prescribed medication with food. 

     

    Now, how can you make sure each cat is eating the right food come suppertime?

     

    6 Tasty Tips for Feeding Cats Different Diets

     

    1. Take It Slow

    Make any changes to your cats’ diets gradually over the course of several days. This will help reduce stomach issues or requests to “speak with the manager.”

     

    schedule mealtimes

     

    2. Schedule Mealtimes

    Instead of setting up a 24-hour buffet, schedule regular times for dining. This helps ensure your cats are hungry when it’s time to eat and won’t steal from anyone else’s dish throughout the day.

    lunch monitor

     

    3. Be a Lunchroom Monitor

    The best way to prevent fights over food or other eating issues is to keep an eye on your cats when you feed them. You’ll be certain everyone is getting a proper meal, and you’ll get some extra time to hang out together.

    dining rooms

     

    4. Separate Dining Rooms

    Try feeding each cat in a different room, putting their food bowls far apart or separating eating spaces with a barrier like a baby gate, trash can or chair. 

    mealtime level

     

    5. Take Mealtime to a New Level

    Another option is to put one cat’s meal on the floor and the other’s on a countertop. This works well if one of your cats is older or heavier and can’t make the leap.

    patient positive

     

    6. Stay Patient and Positive

    Your furry friends might not take to these changes immediately, but kind words, your ongoing affection and judicious use of treats will go a long way toward having them accept a new mealtime routine.

     

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