If your cat coughs up one or more hairballs every week, it’s worth asking your veterinarian if they recommend switching their diet to the best hairball control cat food. Hairballs aren’t just messy — they can pose a serious health risk if they get stuck in your cat’s gastrointestinal tract. Hairball control foods are formulated to reduce hairballs and typically contain more insoluble fiber than other recipes. They may also include extra omega-3 fatty acids to support healthier skin and fur and reduce shedding.
To find the best options, we consulted vets about what makes a good cat food for hairballs, and then researched dozens of formulas. One standout is Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken Entree. This wet food contains added fiber to help cats pass hairballs more easily, along with omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health.
All of our picks for the best cat foods below meet the criteria recommended by veterinarians. The recipes also align with the pet food standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.
Highlights for the best hairball control cat food
Best overall wet: Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Savory Chicken – See at Chewy
Best overall dry: Royal Canin Hairball Care – See at Chewy
Best budget wet: Purina One Indoor and Hairball Ocean Whitefish and Rice – See at Chewy
Best budget dry: Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care with Chicken and Turkey – See at Chewy
Best for seniors: Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Indoor Chicken – See at Chewy
Best overall wet
Royal Canin; Hill’s/Business Insider
Wet food can help prevent hairballs since it provides extra water, which helps hair move through the digestive system, Dr. Sara Ochoa, a small animal veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of West Monroe. In addition to containing more moisture compared to dry food, the best and healthiest wet cat foods for hairball control should also contain sources of insoluble fiber, like wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber. These ingredients help pull hair through the digestive system, says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, a veterinarian and professor of clinical nutrition at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
If you want to compare the fiber content and other nutritional values of wet and dry foods, you’ll need to convert the wet food’s values to a dry matter basis. This involves removing the moisture from the wet food values and then calculating the nutritional values based on the remaining solids. For this guide, we contacted the manufacturers to get the dry matter nutritional profiles of each food. If you’d like to compare recipes yourself, you can use these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, call the food manufacturer, or ask your vet for help.
Our recommendations below for the best wet hairball cat foods contain powdered cellulose and exceed 4% fiber, as recommended by the veterinarians we consulted. They also contain omega fatty acids from fish oil and salmon, which may improve skin and coat health and reduce shedding, Ochoa says.
Royal Canin Hairball Care Thin Slices in Gravy
Animal protein sources in this adult wet food are chicken byproducts, pork byproducts, chicken liver, and pork liver. The food is high in fiber, including powdered cellulose. Its nutritional breakdown is 40.3% protein, 14.7% fat, 5.6% fiber, and 55 kcal/3-ounce can.
Best overall dry
Chewy; Royal Canin/Business Insider
Our experts recommend wet food for hairball control because good hydration decreases the likelihood of hairballs. However, if your cat prefers dry food, Ochoa says you can add water or cat-safe bone broth to their kibble. In addition to containing less moisture, dry cat foods are typically more calorie-dense than canned options, Larsen says. Still, they have plenty of other benefits. For instance, the best and healthiest dry cat food is easier to portion and use in feeder puzzles.
Our recommendation from Royal Canin contains psyllium seed husk and pea fiber. Our dry food pick from Hill’s includes powdered cellulose. Both foods contain dried beet pulp. Dierenfeld says beet pulp is an ideal fiber source for cats since it contains both soluble and insoluble fiber to pull hair through the intestines and fermentable fiber to feed good bacteria in the gut.
Royal Canin Hairball Care
This hairball control dry food for adult cats contains chicken byproduct meal and chicken fat as its main protein sources. Fish oil provides omega fatty acids to reduce shedding and added psyllium seed husk and dried plain beet pulp help move hair through the digestive tract. It contains 32% protein, 13% fat, 8.5% fiber, and 342 kcal/cup.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Chicken Recipes
This hairball control adult cat food contains animal proteins from chicken and chicken meal. Powdered cellulose and dried beet pulp are added for fiber, and fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Its nutritional breakdown is 29.5% protein, 15.5% fat, 6.5% fiber, and 323 kcal/cup.
Best budget wet
Purina/Business Insider
The best budget-friendly cat foods often contain higher proportions of low-cost byproducts, like organ meat and byproduct meals, than premium recipes, but these ingredients are very nutritious. There are many different quality animal-based proteins, including byproducts and byproduct meals, says Ellen Dierenfeld, a comparative animal nutritionist and founder of Zootrition.
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they mainly eat meat and must get their essential amino acids, like taurine, from animal protein sources. That’s why our budget picks for the best hairball control cat food include whole meat, byproducts, and meals as the first ingredients. They also contain insoluble fibers, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants to promote better overall health for your cat.
Purina One Indoor and Hairball Ocean Whitefish and Rice Recipe
This recipe for adult cats contains sources of animal protein such as ocean whitefish, chicken, liver, and pork lungs. Fiber from brown rice and powdered cellulose aid in digestion. The food contains 45.6% protein, 22.2% fat, 9.7% fiber, and 77 kcal/3-ounce can.
Purina Pro Plan Hairball Salmon Entree
This hairball control food for adult cats contains salmon, meat byproducts, and chicken as its main protein sources. The omega fatty acids from salmon may reduce shedding and added powdered cellulose helps move hair through the digestive tract. The nutrition profile for this food is 45.7% protein, 30.3% fat, 9.5% fiber, and 84 kcal/3-ounce can.
Best budget dry
Iams; Nutro/Business Insider
Budget hairball cat foods are a great choice for cat parents who want to prevent hairballs. These foods are affordable and have a long shelf life. Plus, many cats love the crunchy texture. Premium hairball foods may have free-range, wild-caught, or human-grade ingredients, but budget dry foods still provide all the nutrients your cat needs, plus added fiber to move hair through their gastrointestinal tract safely.
Our wallet-friendly dry food option from Nutro contains lean chicken proteins to nourish your cat and psyllium seed husk to help pass hairballs. Our pick from Iams is specially formulated with powdered cellulose and beet pulp.
Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care with Chicken and Turkey
This dry adult cat food helps prevent and eliminate hairballs with its added fiber from ground whole grain corn, dried plain beet pulp, and powdered cellulose. Its main protein sources are chicken, chicken byproduct meal, and turkey, and fish oil is a source of omega fatty acids. It contains 30% protein, 13.5% fat, 8.3% fiber, and 302 kcal/cup.
Best for seniors
Hill’s; Blue Buffalo/Business Insider
Senior cats may benefit from hairball management food with healthy extras like glucosamine and chondroitin. These ingredients support joint health, which can improve your cat’s movement, grooming ability, and overall quality of life. The high fiber content in hairball control foods can also help cats feel full for longer, and weight management is crucial for older cats at risk of joint disease and pain. Just check with your vet before changing your senior cat’s diet.
Our picks for the best foods for senior cats with hairballs include beneficial extras, joint-supporting ingredients, and insoluble fibers. Our pick from Blue Buffalo contains antioxidants from blueberries and cranberries, which may help lower a cat’s risk of degenerative diseases of the liver, kidney, and brain diseases. Hill’s senior recipe contains L-carnitine, an amino acid that can help cats lose weight by making it easier to burn fat.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Indoor Chicken Recipe
This dry senior cat food contains animal protein from chicken. You’ll also find fiber from powdered cellulose and dried beet pulp, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, antioxidants from vitamin E and cranberries, and fat-burning L-carnitine. Its nutritional breakdown is 34.1% protein, 17% fat, 8.6% fiber, and 316 kcal/cup.
Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Mature Cat
This wet food for indoor senior cats counts protein from chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. It also contains fiber from powdered cellulose and antioxidants from cranberries, blueberries, and vitamin E. The nutritional profile for this food is 47.7% protein, 32.8% fat, 3.4% fiber, and 170 kcal/5.5-ounce can
What to look for in hairball cat food
When shopping for the best cat hairball cat foods, keep the following criteria in mind:
AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for adult maintenance or all life stages: The AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that outlines nutritional recommendations for pet food. An AAFCO statement means the food meets the nutritional needs of cats based on their life stage. You can confirm a cat food is nutritionally complete and balanced for “adult maintenance” or “all life stages” if it has an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement on the label.
Hairball control foods contain more fiber than most cat food recipes. Because of this, they aren’t recommended for kittens. A kitten’s developing gastrointestinal tract may have trouble with this much fiber, Ochoa says, adding that while kittens might have an occasional hairball, they groom less frequently than adult cats. In other words, they likely won’t need hairball food. Always check with your vet before changing your kitten’s diet or giving them any supplements.
Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis on a pet food label shows the percentages of important nutrients, including protein, fat, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. Food for adult cats, including seniors, must have a minimum of 26% protein and 9% fat. Ochoa says the best hairball control cat foods generally have high fiber, more than 4% but 6% or more is ideal.
Ingredients list: The ingredients on a pet food label appear in order of weight. Cats are obligate carnivores, so meat should appear first on the ingredient list as whole meat, meat meal, or animal byproducts. To help your cat pass hair and reduce the frequency of hairballs, shop for cat food recipes that include both meat protein sources and insoluble fiber sources like wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber.
Expert formulations: Our picks for the best hairball control cat food come from brands that employ full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionists or PhD-level animal nutritionists. This ensures the food meets nutritional recommendations, includes the right ingredients for cats, and aligns with the WSAVA guidelines and our experts’ guidance.
Manufacturing standards: When choosing a commercial cat food brand, it’s important to consider the manufacturer’s quality control measures. Reputable brands should be transparent about the types of tests they conduct, how often they test, and the results of those tests. This information should be easily accessible on the company’s website, or brand representatives should provide it on request.
Calorie content: The calorie content of cat food is measured in kilocalories (kcal). The best hairball control cat food formulas contain more fiber than other cat foods, which can help keep kitties feeling full. For this reason, cats eating a high-fiber hairball management food may eat less at each meal and be less likely to demand snacks between meals. Just make sure your cat gets the right number of calories each day. Your vet can help you figure out how many calories your cat needs.
Food recommendations from veterinarians: If you’re considering adding fiber to your cat’s food to reduce hairballs, talk to your vet first. Too much fiber or the wrong type of fiber could cause more digestive issues. Your vet can offer more guidance with choosing the best hairball control cat food based on your cat’s lifestyle and other health needs.
How we selected the best hairball control cat food
To select the hairball control foods in this guide, we consulted two veterinary nutritionists and a small animal veterinarian. They told us what causes hairballs and what cat food ingredients may help reduce and eliminate them. We then reviewed dozens of AAFCO complete and balanced cat foods to narrow down our top picks.
Ellen Dierenfeld is a comparative animal nutritionist with a doctorate in animal nutrition from Cornell University. She is the founder of Zootrition, a software designed to record and evaluate the diets of animals. Diernfeld has over 30 years of experience in zoo, wildlife, and companion animal nutrition.
Dr. Jennifer Larsen is a veterinarian, distinguished member of the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and professor of clinical nutrition at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Larsen spoke with us about cat nutrition and the role of high-fiber diets in feline nutrition and well-being.
Dr. Sara Ochoa is a small animal veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of West Monroe located in Louisiana. Ochoa spoke with us about hairball management in cats and how to reduce their occurrence.
Hairball control cat food FAQs
What is the best cat food to control hairballs?
The best cat food for hairball control contains more insoluble fiber than other cat food recipes, typically 6% or more fiber compared to less than 4% fiber in other recipes. Some common insoluble fiber ingredients include wheat bran, psyllium husks, cellulose, rice hull, and pea fiber. Hairball food may also include extra omega fatty acids. These can help improve skin and fur health and reduce shedding.
Is wet or dry cat food better for hairballs?
The moisture in wet food can help fur pass through the digestive system, Ochoa says. However, if your cat prefers kibble, you have plenty of options for dry cat foods for hairballs. That said, it may be possible to switch your cat to wet food by finding a food with a texture and taste they enjoy. The more they like the food, the greater the chances of a successful transition.
Does cat hairball control food work?
Hairball control cat food works by adding bulk to stool with insoluble fiber, which helps pull fur along the digestive tract, Larsen says. As a result, ingested fur is more likely to end up in the litter box, not on your floor as a hairball. Cat food for hairballs doesn’t have to be a year-round expense. Ochoa says your cat may only need it during the summer months when they shed more. Talk to your vet about the best approach. Just keep in mind that a change in diet shouldn’t replace regularly grooming your cat with one of the best cat brushes, which can also help minimize hairballs.
What helps dissolve hairballs in cats?
Hairballs cannot be dissolved. Cats can’t digest their fur, so they must pass hairballs either in their feces or by coughing them up. The best hairball control cat food can help bulk up the stool, making it easier for hair to pass through the digestive tract. If a hairball becomes too large for a cat to pass, it can cause an intestinal obstruction, and your cat may need surgery. Sometimes, the best hairball remedies for cats and laxatives may also help cats pass hairballs, but only with your vet’s recommendation and supervision.
