Is Metamucil safe for cats and can be given to cats to control hairballs?

Question

Is Metamucil safe for cats and can be given to cats to control hairballs?

Answer 1

Metamucil is for constipation not hairballs.  Hairballs can be controlled with diet and brushing and other things. If the cat is not constipated and you give too much metamucil you could have a messy,  crampy , smelly cat--just like when people use it incorrectly.

Answer 2

It's perfectly safe, when given in small quantities (generally 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon).  It's usually sprinkled on wet food.  I've never heard of it though as being used for hairballs, it's often used when a cat has issues with constipation, though, so I don't see why it *couldn't* work on hairballs.  Be sure though to get the unflavored one - cats tend to not like the orange or mint!  

Answer 3

another option to the store-bought hairball remedy paste (which my cats love) is to put a few drops of olive oil on the cat's food each day.  Also a good treatment for hairballs---helps them poo them out instead of throwing them up.  

Don't give more than 1/4 - 1/2 tsp per day; you don't want to cause too much of a laxative effect.

Answer 4

Metamucil is definitely ok for cats. I had a cat that took it for years in small dose, mixed with her food). However that is for digestive problems, not for hairballs.

Go to the petstore and buy the medicine made just for hairballs. It comes in a tube and tastes (supposedly!) like liver or chicken or something. I have one cat that needs it and he loves the flavor. I think it does help, he seems to have less hairballs than before.

Answer 5

I would call the vet first and ask them before I gave it to the cat.

Answer 6

I WOULD PREFER YOU USE REMEDIES THAT CAN BE BOUGHT AT FEED STORES FOR $ 3.00 A TUBE.

I HAVE AN ELDERLY CAT AND I BOUGHT A TUBE OF  " CAT LAX".

I AM CONCERNED THAT METAMUCIL WILL CAUSE DIARRHEA AND GI TRACT UPSET.  WHAT IS SAFE FOR HUMANS, MAY NOT BE THE BEST FOR CATS.

GOOD LUCK ...