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

  • Kitten Basics: Enriched Environments
    Kitten Basics: Enriched Environments
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    The Power of Enrichment: Keeping Your Kitten Mentally and Physically Healthy

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    As a kitten parent, you want the best for your feline friend. One of the most important aspects of pet care is providing your kitty with a healthy environment that supports overall development. In fact, kitten enriched environment stimulates a happy and healthy life. It refers to providing cats with activities, toys, and other items that stimulate them mentally and physically. Enrichment can also help prevent behavioral problems such as scratching, biting, and destructive habits.
     

    Different type of kitten enriched environment to keep them mentally and physically stimulated
     

    1. Physical enrichment and play: Physical activity is important for cats of all age groups to stay healthy and fit. Providing plenty of opportunities for your kitten to run, jump, and play is key. You can use kitten enrichment toys such as balls, butterfly wants, laser pointers, and cat trees to encourage your kitten to move around. These toys provide physical exercise and mental stimulation as they challenge the kitten to figure out how to play with them.
    2. Environmental enrichment: Providing different environments for cats to explore and interact with can also be enriching. For example, you can create a cosy space for your kitten to relax or provide them with a scratching post and other items that they can use to mark their territory. You can also provide hiding spots like a box or a tunnel for your kitten to explore. This not only provides them with a sense of security but also gives them something new to explore.

    3. Sensory enrichment: Cats have a keen sense of smell, sight, and touch. Provide your kitten with toys and items they can smell, see, or touch. For example, you can use toys with different textures or provide your kitten with a catnip plant to interact with. You can also offer different types of food for your kitten, so it can explore different flavours and textures.

    4. Social enrichment: Cats are social animals and thrive when they have companionship. If you only have one kitten, you can ensure companionship using a stuffed animal or a mirror. This will provide your kitty with the social stimulation it needs. If you have more than one cat, you can provide them with a kitten-friendly environment where they can interact with each other. This can include providing them with a shared space and interactive toys.
       

      In addition to the above types of enrichment, you can also provide your kitten with various kitten enrichment activities to keep them engaged and stimulated. Some examples include:
       

    5. Training: Teaching your basic kitten commands like 'sit' and 'stay' can give them mental stimulation and a sense of accomplishment.
    6. Puzzle feeders: These interactive feeders require your kitten to figure out how to get the food out. They provide mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.

    7. Window seats: Cats love to watch the world go by because it helps them explore something new and stay entertained every day.

      Providing your cats with a kitten enriched environment is essential. It not only keeps them healthy and happy, but it also prevents behavioural problems. With your kitten training environment and other feline enrichment ideas, you can ensure that your cat is always engaged and happy. As a cat parent, it is important to take the necessary time to understand your kitten's needs and provide them with an environment that will help them thrive.

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