AnimAll VetLine Malt Pasta, 100 g is a paste for cats that helps swallowed hair pass naturally through the digestive tract and prevents hairballs from forming in the stomach. Ingredients: barley malt extract, microcrystalline cellulose, soybean oil, olive oil, flaxseed fibre, oat bran, yeast extract, skimmed milk powder and excipients. Give 5 cm of paste from the tube daily or add it to food; it suits cats of all breeds over six weeks old.
What the manufacturer claims
According to the description, the paste normalises digestion, enhances gut motility within physiological limits and relieves constipation. Malt extract helps remove undigested food residue and hair, while plant oils lubricate the digestive tract and provide polyunsaturated fatty acids for the skin and coat.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Form | paste in a tube |
| For | cats over 6 weeks |
| Base | barley malt extract |
| Oils | soybean, olive |
| Fibre | microcrystalline cellulose, flaxseed, oat bran |
| Dosage | 5 cm a day |
| Storage | up to 22 °C, refrigerate after opening |
| Weight | 100 g |
Pros
- Malt and oils. The classic base for hairball control.
- Three fibre sources. Cellulose, flaxseed and oat bran.
- From 6 weeks. Suitable for young cats too.
- Easy to give. From the tube or with food.
- Clear storage. Conditions and a 2-year shelf life are stated.
- Plant oils. Soybean and olive oil provide fatty acids.
Cons and what to watch
- Milk powder. Lactose may not suit lactose-intolerant cats.
- "Excipients" not disclosed. No full ingredient list.
- One dose for all. 5 cm for a kitten and a large cat alike.
- "Relieves constipation". Chronic constipation needs a vet, not just paste.
How the paste works
Malt extract and oils coat swallowed hair and help it move through the gut, while fibre bulks up the contents and carries hair out with the faeces. As a result, hair leaves the body naturally instead of building up in the stomach and causing hairball vomiting.
How to give it
Squeeze out 5 cm of paste and let your cat lick it off your finger, or put it on a paw — the cat will lick it off while grooming. You can also mix it into food. Give the paste at room temperature: take it out of the fridge in advance.
How long a tube lasts
The manufacturer does not say how many grams are in 5 cm of paste, so an exact calculation is impossible. Roughly, a 100 g tube used daily lasts several weeks. Outside shedding season many owners give malt pastes less often and switch to daily use during shedding; agree the routine with a vet.
Shedding and long coats
Long-haired cats, and all cats during shedding, need the paste more often. But the main prevention is regular brushing: the less hair a cat swallows, the less has to pass through. Tips are in autumn shedding in dogs and cats.
When to see a vet
Frequent vomiting, no stools for more than two days, a bloated belly, lethargy and refusing food can indicate a blockage — an emergency. The paste will not help if a hairball has already blocked the gut. Chronic constipation also needs investigation.
Storage
Keep the closed tube in a dark, dry place at no more than 22 °C, out of reach of children. Keep the opened paste in the fridge and warm it to room temperature before giving. Shelf life is 2 years.
Alternatives
Other hairball pastes include KRUG Malt Paste and Beaphar Duo Active. The AnimAll VetLine range also has the Beauty Hair & Skin paste for skin and coat.
Who it suits
The paste suits cats over 6 weeks, especially long-haired cats and cats during shedding, to prevent hairballs in the stomach. Cats with milk intolerance or chronic bowel disease should get it only after consulting a vet. More supplements are in vitamins and supplements.
Verdict
AnimAll VetLine Malt Pasta is a malt paste with plant oils and three types of fibre for hairball control in cats. The downsides are milk powder in the formula, undisclosed excipients and a single dose for cats of any size.
FAQ
How much should I give?
5 cm of paste a day.
From what age can it be used?
For cats over 6 weeks.
Can it be mixed into food?
Yes, the paste can be added to food.
Where should an opened tube be kept?
In the fridge.
Does it contain milk?
Yes, skimmed milk powder.
Will it help with hairball vomiting?
It helps prevent hairballs; frequent vomiting needs a vet.
Can dogs have it?
The paste is made for cats.
