Happy Cat Minkas Hairball Control, 1.5 kg is a complete premium dry food for adult cats from the German brand Happy Cat. Its job is to reduce hairball formation in the stomach and help hair pass gently through the gut. To do this, the recipe includes crude plant fibres, chiefly lignocellulose. It's based on poultry protein, enriched with vitamins and minerals and free from artificial flavourings and preservatives.
How hairball food works
Cats swallow hair while grooming. Normally it passes in the stool, but when there's a lot of it — during shedding or in long-haired cats — dense balls form in the stomach and the cat brings them up. Insoluble fibre (lignocellulose, beet and apple pulp) stimulates gut motility and carries the hair along so it passes straight through. Causes and signs are covered in hairballs in cats: what to do.
Ingredients
The first ingredient is poultry protein (32%), dried and partially hydrolysed. Then come wheat flour, wheat, maize, poultry fat, potato protein, fish meal, sugar-free beet pulp, lignocellulose, sunflower oil, apple pulp, salt, rapeseed oil and yucca schidigera (0.04%). Per kilogram it adds vitamins A (15,000 IU), D3 (1,250 IU) and E (75 mg), taurine 1,000 mg, DL-methionine 4,500 mg, plus iron, copper, zinc, manganese, iodine and selenium. The antioxidants are natural tocopherol extracts.
Key specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| For | adult cats |
| Protein / fat | 30% / 12% |
| Fibre / ash | 3% / 6.5% |
| Magnesium | 0.15% |
| Omega-6 / omega-3 | 2.5% / 0.35% |
| Energy | 3660 kcal/kg |
| Pack | 1.5 kg |
Pros
- Fibre against hairballs. Lignocellulose, beet and apple pulp help move hair through.
- Poultry comes first. Partially hydrolysed protein is easier to digest.
- Moderate calories. 3660 kcal/kg and 12% fat suit calm indoor cats.
- Urinary support. Magnesium at 0.15% and DL-methionine at 4,500 mg/kg.
- No artificial additives. No artificial flavourings or preservatives.
- Full ingredients and analysis. All the figures are on the product page.
Cons
- Lots of grain. Wheat flour, wheat and maize follow straight after poultry.
- Not for allergy-prone cats. Poultry, fish and wheat in one food.
- No feeding table on the product page. Check the daily amount on the bag.
- Food isn't everything. Frequent vomiting of hair calls for a vet check.
How to feed
It's a complete food, given as the main diet without supplements. Choose the daily amount from the table on the bag based on your cat's weight and activity, and split it into 2–3 meals. Switch from the old food gradually over 7–10 days. Fibre only works with water, so keep the water bowl full and fresh; more in how much water a cat should drink.
What else helps with hairballs
The most effective approach is to remove hair before the cat swallows it. Brush your cat regularly, especially when shedding: tools are in the grooming tools section, and tips in autumn shedding in dogs and cats. During shedding season you can add a malt paste such as Krug Malt Paste.
Who it suits
Adult cats that often bring up hair, long-haired breeds and indoor cats without digestive issues or allergies. If you need a food without the hairball focus, see Happy Cat Minkas Perfect Mix; more foods are in the dry cat food section.
Verdict
Happy Cat Minkas Hairball Control is an affordable poultry food with plant fibre that helps cope with hairballs. The pluses are a clear ingredient list with figures, moderate calories and low magnesium. The minus is a lot of grain, so cats with sensitive digestion are better off with something else.
FAQ
How does it help pass hair?
Through crude plant fibres — lignocellulose, beet pulp and apple pulp.
How much protein does it contain?
Crude protein is 30%, fat 12%.
Does it contain grains?
Yes — wheat flour, wheat and maize.
Is it suitable for kittens?
No, it's for adult cats. For kittens Happy Cat makes Minkas Junior Care.
How many calories does it have?
3660 kcal per kilogram.
Does it contain preservatives?
No artificial preservatives or flavourings; the antioxidants are tocopherol extracts.
Can it be combined with malt paste?
Yes, during shedding the paste can be given additionally according to its instructions.
