IAMS PH
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

  • Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten
    Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten
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    Tips to Train Your Kitten for a Lifetime of Good Behaviour

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    Bringing a new kitten into your home is an exciting time for any pet lover. As your furry little bundle of joy grows and develops, it's important to remember that proper kitten training is essential for its physical and behavioural well-being. In the crucial growing years, a kitten's brain is like a sponge, absorbing information and learning new skills at an incredible speed. With proper guidance and loving touch, you can ensure that your kitten grows into a well-adjusted, happy, and healthy family member. This blog post will share tips to train your kitten and provide them with the best possible start in life.
     

    Tips to train your kitten

    As a new kitten parent, it's important to understand that kitten training should be a fun and positive experience for you and your furry friend. You can teach your kitten everything from basic commands to good manners with patience, consistency, and a few simple tips. Here are some of our top tips for training your kitten:

     

    1. Teach important commands

      Teaching your kitten to sit is the first step in training. Start by holding a treat in front of their nose and slowly moving it up and over their head. As they look up to follow the treat, their bottom should naturally lower to the ground. As soon as they sit, say 'sit' and give them the treat. Repeat this process several times a day until they understand the command.
       

    2. A place to call their own

      Crate training is an excellent way to provide your kitten with a safe and comfortable space to call their own. Start by placing a soft blanket and a few toys inside the crate. Let your kitten explore the crate on their own kitten food and reward them with treats and praise when they go inside. Over time, you can start closing the door for short periods and gradually increase the duration.

    3. Exploring the world around them

      Socialization is an important part of kitten training. Start by introducing your kitten to friends, family, and other pets. Take your fur baby on short car rides and expose it to sights, sounds, and smells. The more it is exposed to different people, animals, and environments, the more confident and well-adjusted it will be as an adult.
       

    4. Playtime is important!

      Training your kitten to play with toys is a great way to stimulate it mentally and physically. Start by introducing your purrfect pal to various toys and see what interests it the most. Once it is engaged, you two can indulge in fun games like fetch, chase, and tug of war.
       

    5. Potty training

      Litter training is an essential part of kitten training. Start by placing your kitten in the litter box after meals and naps. When they use the litter box, reward them with treats and praises. Be sure to clean the box regularly and keep it in a quiet, accessible location.
       

    6. Dining etiquette for kittens

      Teaching your kitten proper feeding etiquette is important for its overall health and wellbeing. Start by teaching them to eat from a bowl and not to beg at the table. Be consistent with their feeding schedule and monitor their weight to ensure your cats receive full nutrition.

    7. Make them recognize their name

      Teaching kittens to recognize their name is an important step in training. Start by calling their name and rewarding them with treats and praises when they respond. Be consistent with their name and use them as much as possible.

      Overall, training your kitten is an ongoing process that requires patience and consistency. Remember to use positive and reward-based training methods. And most importantly, have fun! Make sure to give your kitten lots of love, praises, and treats as they learn and grow.

     

    Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten
    Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten
    Our Favorite Tips to Train a Kitten