Why increased drinking is a signal

Healthy cats drink little – they descend from desert animals. When the kidneys can no longer concentrate the urine well, the cat loses more fluid and compensates by drinking. This is often the first visible sign, long before the cat seems ill.

6 further signs to watch out for

1. Larger urine clumps in the litter box, or more frequent visits to it.
2. Gradual weight loss – the spine becomes palpable, the coat looks dull.
3. Less appetite, picky eating, occasional vomiting.
4. Bad breathwith a "chemical" smell.
5. More sleep, less play – often dismissed as "age".
6. Neglected grooming – the cat cleans itself less often.

A single sign can be harmless. Two or three together are a reason to have the kidney values (blood and urine) checked at the veterinary practice. The earlier, the more options there are.

What cat owners can do in everyday life

• Encourage fluids: Wet food instead of dry food, several water points, a drinking fountain.
• Annual check-up from age 7: Kidney values belong in the senior check.
• Calm and routine: Stress measurably burdens cats.
• Targeted nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA), taurine, B vitamins and antioxidants are used to support normal kidney function.

The difference lies in the absorption

Cats with little appetite in particular often take in only a fraction of classic powders or capsules. Our NanoLipoX-Technologie wraps the active ingredients in tiny lipid shells the body can use more easily – in a few millilitres of liquid that simply mix into the food. More on this in the NanoLipoX Wissenswelt.

For cats whose kidneys need support, we have developed Nieren-Flow für Katzen – a nano-liposomal complementary feed with omega-3, taurine and B vitamins, made with precision production and laboratory quality in Vienna. Launch: September 2026.

When it is urgent

If the cat suddenly drinks a great deal and stops eating altogether, vomits repeatedly or seems apathetic: go to the veterinary practice immediately. Complementary feed accompanies – it replaces neither diagnosis nor therapy.

Note: this article is for information purposes and does not replace veterinary advice.

7 signs that your dog's joints need help

1. Stiff rising after lying down – especially in the morning or after longer rest.
2. Hesitating before stairs, the car or the sofa – what used to be a matter of course is suddenly weighed up.
3. Shorter walks – the dog stops more often or wants to turn back.
4. Weight shifting – he spares one leg, sits crookedly or loads the front legs more.
5. Slight limping that disappears again – precisely because it passes, it is often overlooked.
6. Licking at one joint – a quiet sign of discomfort.
7. Changed mood – less joy in play, more withdrawal, sometimes irritability when touched.

Two or more of these signs over several weeks? Then a visit to the veterinary practice is worthwhile. Only an examination clarifies whether it is wear, an injury or something else.

Why dogs in particular suffer so quietly

Dogs do not show pain the way we do. They rarely whine; they adapt. A dog that no longer jumps onto the sofa does not "not feel like it" – he usually has a reason. That is why observing everyday life is so valuable: stairs, getting up, walk length, play behaviour.

What you can do in everyday life

• Keep an eye on weight: Every extra kilo burdens the joints daily.
• Regular, moderate exercise: Better two calm rounds daily than one big tour at the weekend.
• Non-slip floors and an orthopaedic bed: Smooth tiles are a real hurdle for stiff joints.
• Ramps instead of jumps: Into the car, onto the sofa – small aids bring noticeable relief.
• Targeted nutrients: Omega-3 fatty acids, green-lipped mussel, collagen and boswellia are traditionally used to support joint function.

The difference lies in the absorption

Many joint nutrients are fat-soluble or sensitive – a large part passes through the digestive tract without arriving where it is needed. Our NanoLipoX-Technologie wraps the active ingredients in tiny lipid shells the body can absorb more easily. We explain exactly how this works in the NanoLipoX Wissenswelt.

For dogs with stiff joints, we have developed Gelenk-Fusion für Hunde – a nano-liposomal complementary feed with green-lipped mussel oil, UC-II® collagen and boswellia phytosome, made with precision production and laboratory quality in Vienna. Launch: September 2026.

When you should not wait

Sudden severe limping, a leg that bears no weight at all, swellings or sounds of pain: that belongs in the veterinary practice immediately. Complementary feed replaces neither diagnosis nor therapy – it accompanies.

Note: this article is for information purposes and does not replace veterinary advice.

Why do hairballs form at all?

Cats spend up to four hours a day grooming. In doing so they swallow loose hairs that cannot be digested in the stomach. Normally these hairs travel with the food through the intestine and are excreted. However, if too much fur is swallowed – for instance during shedding season, in long-haired cats or with stress-related over-grooming – the hairs clump together in the stomach into a ball.

Occasional hairballs are normal. Frequent vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite or repeated unsuccessful retching, on the other hand, are signals that should be checked by a vet.

What helps against hairballs? The four pillars

1. Regular brushing – the most effective single measure

Every hair that ends up in the brush cannot be swallowed. Short-haired cats benefit from two to three brushing sessions per week, long-haired cats from daily care. During shedding season (spring and autumn), daily is fine for all cats.

2. Sufficient fluids

A well-hydrated digestive tract moves swallowed hair along more easily. Wet food, several water points around the home and drinking fountains support cats, which naturally drink little.

3. Fibre in the diet

Soluble and insoluble fibres help bind hair in the gut and promote its passage. Many anti-hairball foods target exactly this. Cat grass fulfils this function naturally as well.

4. Calm, well-supported digestion

A digestive tract working in balance copes better with swallowed hair. Omega-3 fatty acids and selected plant compounds can nutritionally support normal digestive function – in addition, omega-3 fatty acids care for skin and coat from within, which in turn can reduce hair loss during grooming.

Nutritional support: liquid instead of paste

Classic hairball pastes usually work with oils and malt. A modern approach is liquid supplementation directly over the food: Verdauungs-Balance für Katzen kombiniert Omega-3-Fettsäuren mit ausgewählten Pflanzenextrakten in unserer nano-liposomalen NanoLipoX-Form – tropfgenau dosierbar, ohne Kapseln, ohne Zwang. Entwickelt und mit pharmazeutischer Sorgfalt in Wien gefertigt, als Ergänzungsfuttermittel für die tägliche Ration.

→ Verdauungs-Balance Katze ansehen und vormerken

When to see the vet?

Seek veterinary advice if your cat vomits several times a week, retches repeatedly without success, stops passing stool, seems apathetic or refuses to eat. There can be more behind it than a hairball – from constipation to an intestinal blockage, which is an emergency.

Frequently asked questions

How often are hairballs normal?
A hairball every few weeks is considered harmless in most cats. Anything markedly more frequent should be checked.

Does cat grass really help?
Yes – the fibres stimulate digestion and support the removal of swallowed hair. Place cat grass freely accessible.

Are hairballs worse during shedding season?
Considerably. In spring and autumn the cat loses the most fur – daily brushing and nutritional support are particularly sensible during this time.