How to Help Cats Pass Hairballs with VetIQ Defurr-UM
By The Pet Centre Truro | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Guide pratiche
A step-by-step diagnosis for cat hairballs: spot the symptom, find the likely cause, use VetIQ Defurr-UM correctly, and know when to stop and call your vet.
Quick answer
If your cat brings up hairballs now and then and is otherwise well, a defurring paste such as VetIQ Defurr-UM can help hair move through the gut. Use it as part of a grooming and hairball-management routine, and stop if symptoms suggest a blockage.
Why hairballs happen and when grooming helps most
Cats swallow loose hair while grooming. Most passes through, but some collects in the stomach and is coughed up. Long-haired cats, heavy groomers and cats that shed a lot tend to produce more hairballs.
Regular brushing removes loose hair before it is swallowed, so it is the first lever you control. A defurring paste supports the gut in moving swallowed hair along, but it does not replace grooming or fix an underlying skin or digestive problem.
The trade-off: paste versus grooming-only
A paste is convenient and can be useful during heavy shedding or when a cat hates being brushed. Grooming-only is cheaper and addresses the source, but it takes consistency, especially with long coats.
VetIQ Defurr-UM is labelled for cats, kittens and rabbits, so multi-pet households can use one product. It is not a treatment for vomiting caused by illness, foreign bodies or obstruction.
Hairball diagnosis: symptom, cause, action, stop point
- Symptom: Occasional coughing up of a tubular hairball, especially after grooming or during shedding season, with normal appetite and behaviour otherwise. If your cat is also lethargic, off food, constipated or vomiting repeatedly, skip to the stop point.
- Likely cause: Swallowed hair from self-grooming accumulating in the stomach, often more common in long-haired cats or during heavy shedding. Increase brushing frequency first; use a paste as support, not a substitute.
- Corrective action: Follow the label directions for VetIQ Defurr-UM for your cat's age and size, and pair it with regular brushing to reduce swallowed hair. Keep a simple log of hairballs and shedding to see whether the routine is working.
- Stop or choose another option: Stop and contact your vet if your cat strains to vomit without producing a hairball, has a bloated or painful abdomen, stops eating, or seems lethargic. These can signal a blockage rather than a routine hairball. A paste is not suitable as a sole solution for a cat that is unwell or losing weight.
Product facts
- VetIQ Defurr-UM: Helps remove and prevent hairballs and provides a source of fibre and vitamin E. The fibre supports normal hair movement through the gut, while vitamin E is included in the formula.
VetIQ Defurr-UM
