Does high fiber cause diarrhea in cats

Best Cat Food for Cats With Diarrhea

Quick answer: Try an elimination diet with a single protein source, ideally novel protein.

This can help clear up diarrhea.

Cats may have food intolerances to wheat, barley, and have difficulty digesting high fiber foods like peas. Limit for best results.

3 Best Cat Food for Cats With Diarrhea

I filtered popular cat foods to use for diarrhea. All are the best rated from my testing.

Looked for:

• No grains
• No legumes (e.g. peas)
• Less than 12% carbohydrate (dry basis)
• Low residue/fiber (less than 10% dry basis)
• Single protein source
• Wet food

Tiki Cat After Dark is the best quality overall. I recommend it for most situations.

Its hard to find a cat food that meets all criteria, but these options meet almost all of them.

1. Tiki Cat After Dark

Has single protein option

More below in this guide to the best cat food for cats with diarrhea.

I have a background in nutrition and research and test most of the products recommended.

This article isnt a replacement for medical advice.

Seemore about us here.

What to Look For in Cat Food for Diarrhea?

Quick answers:

• Consult a Vet First: Diarrhea can be caused by medical issues like parasites in kittens or hyperthyroidism in older cats. Also consult a vet if your cat experiences weight loss, loss of appetite, or bloody stools.
• Consider an Elimination Diet: This helps identify food intolerances or allergies which up to 11% of cats suffer from. Irritants include histamines, gluten, lactose, colorings, preservatives, flavorings, and lectins. Get them out of the diet.
• Switch to Wet Food or Novel Protein Diets: Includes things like kangaroo, lamb, turkey, duck, venison, or rabbit. This helps reduce ingredient variables and may lead to remission in many cases.
• Opt for Low Carb Cat Food: Since cats are carnivores and do not need carbs, diets with less than 12% carbs (dry basis) are recommended to prevent digestive issues.
• Try a Low Fiber Diet: Especially avoid soluble fibers like gums, pectin, and legumes which can draw in water and cause runnier stools.
• Choose Complete Cat Food: Ensure the food meets AAFCO nutrition guidelines to prevent nutrient deficiencies that may cause diarrhea.

Quick actionable steps:

• Rule out health issues with a vet visit.
• Implement an elimination diet to identify food sensitivities.
• Use wet food or foods with a single novel protein source.
• Select low carb and low fiber options.
• Ensure the cat food is a complete meal per AAFCO guidelines.

Long answers:

Heres the steps to treat diarrhea in cats.

First, rule out any medical problems.

Kittens are at risk of parasites. Older cats can get diarrhea from issues like hyperthyroidism.

For kittens and senior cats, see a vet. Also see a vet if you notice weight loss, loss of appetite, or bloody poos.

If theres no other issues, its time to try switching up diet.

Heres our research backed tips:

Try an Elimination Diet

Is your cat sensitive to common ingredients?

Up to 11% of cats have food intolerances and/or allergies.

Some ingredients that cause food intolerance include:

• Histamines
• Gluten
• Lactose
• Colorings
• Preservatives
• Flavorings
• Lectins

How would a food intolerance cause diarrhea?

• Lack of digestive enzymes
• Changes to digestive system function (e.g. faster transit time)

Itchiness (pruritis) is a sign the diarrhea is food related.

So how does an elimination diet help?

It cuts down the variables. Less ingredients = less chance of problems.

49% of cats with gastrointestinal diseases including diarrhea respond to a change in diet.

Simply switching to wet food (less ingredients than dry) helps many cats to enter remission.

Vets also recommend single novel protein diets. This can help some cats find relief in less than 2 weeks.

Novel protein sources are anything your cat not exposed to.

Includes:

• Kangaroo
• Lamb
• Turkey
• Duck
• Venison
• Rabbit

Choose a cat food with one of these ingredients as a single protein source and try it.

In hard to treat cases, a hydrolyzed protein diet can help. In one study, 42% of cats went into remission with approach.

Choose Low Carb Cat Food

Cats are carnivores.

They have zero need for carbs. With fewer digestive enzymes, experts suggest limiting to less that 12% (dry basis).

Why?

Like someone with lactose intolerance drinking too much milk, cats cant tolerate much carbs (unlike humans).

One study saw 46% diarrhea improvement with a low carb cat food, compared to only 13% with a high carb food.

Although it was using prescription cat food, its quite a difference.

Read more:

Try a Low Fiber Diet

Fiber can be a problem.

Some types of fiber (mainly soluble) are fermented in the gut. This includes gums, pectin, and legumes.

The soluble fiber can draw in water, potentially causing runny poos. Insoluble fiber speeds transit of poo.

This might be why high fiber diets seem to perform worse when treating diarrhea.

Try lowering fiber to see if it helps and avoiding legumes.

Choose Complete Cat Food

Make sure your cat gets enough.

Nutrient deficiencies may cause diarrhea, including a zinc deficiency.

Look for cat food that meets AAFCOs nutrition guidelines as a complete meal. Usually on the back label.

Learn More:

FAQ

Quick answers:

• Wet vs. Dry Food for Diarrhea: Wet food is preferred for cats with diarrhea due to fewer ingredients and lower carbs.
• Causes of Diarrhea: High carbohydrate diets can cause diarrhea; limit carbs to less than 12% dry basis.
• Ingredients to Avoid: Histamines, gluten, lactose, colorings, preservatives, flavorings, lectins.
• Milk and Diarrhea: Limit milk intake due to cats low lactase levels, which can exacerbate diarrhea.
• Understanding Diarrhea: Diarrhea involves more water in feces, leading to liquid or partial liquid consistency.
• Diarrhea Prevalence: About 11.9% in shelter cats, with higher risks in kittens and enclosures.
• Reasons Cats Get Diarrhea: Physical or metabolic issues, infections, food allergies, intolerances affecting digestion.
• When to Call a Vet: If diarrhea persists over two days, or if theres vomiting and loss of appetite.
• Vet Treatment: Diagnostics like physical exams, ultrasounds, bloodwork followed by diet or medication.
• Older Cats and Diarrhea: Less likely than younger cats, but more severe when it occurs.
• Dry Food and Diarrhea: Not recommended due to high carbs and lack of moisture.
• Preventing Diarrhea: Opt for wet, low-fiber cat food for easier digestion.
• Firming Stool: Add 1-2 teaspoons of psyllium (soluble fiber) to wet food.
• Food Withholding: Do not withhold food; wet food helps replace lost water and electrolytes from diarrhea.
• Other Causes of Diarrhea: Includes diseases, dehydration, and stress.
• Signs of Diarrhea: Includes lack of straining, weight loss, vomiting, increased litter box use.

Long answers:

Is Wet Food or Dry Food Better for Cats With Diarrhea?

Wet food is generally a better choice.

Wet food tends to have less ingredients and is lower in carbs. These factors may help clear up diarrhea.

Can Certain Cat Foods Cause Diarrhea in Cats?

Yes.

A high carbohydrate diet may cause diarrhea in cats. I recommend limiting to less than 12% carbs (dry basis).

Diet isnt the only cause of diarrhea.

Other causes of diarrhea in cats include:

• Infectious and non-infectious diseases
• Dehydration
• Stress

If switching up diet doesnt help with diarrhea, take a trip to the vet for a workup.

What Ingredients Should I Avoid to Help My Cat With Diarrhea?

Heres things to avoid:

• Histamines
• Gluten
• Lactose
• Colorings
• Preservatives
• Flavorings
• Lectins

Its hard to avoid all of these ingredients, unless you look for high quality cat food.

Is Milk Bad for Cats With Diarrhea?

Maybe.

Cats can tolerate about 1/4 cup of milk per day. Milk contains lactose, a sugar cats have a hard time digesting.

This is due to low amounts of lactase, an enzyme used to break down milk sugar.

Learn more:

What is Cat Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a condition that causes more water is in the feces. This results in either a liquid or partial liquid consistency poo.

Other signs of diarrhea include:

• Lack of straining
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Increased litter box usage

How Common Is Diarrhea in Cats?

Research data on 1,727 cats admitted to shelters find the prevalence of diarrhea is 11.9%.

Kittens and multiple cats living in an enclosure have a higher risk of diarrhea. Cats living together pass infections more readily.

Why Do Cats Get Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is caused by any one of following problems:

• A physical problem with the digestive system (e.g. short bowel syndrome)
• Metabolic problems (e.g. hyperthyroidism)
• Infections
• Food allergy
• Food intolerance

These problems affect the digestion of food and how much water is in the feces.

They affect the following areas of digestion:

• Transit time (i.e. how fast food moves through digestion)
• Water absorption
• Gut bacteria (affects transit time)

Get a workup from the vet to find the cause of the problem.

Seek medical help for bouts of diarrhea that last more than two days and/or results in a loss of appetite.

When Should I Call a Vet if My Cat Has Diarrhea?

If diarrhea lasts more than two days, call a vet.

According to VCA Hospitals, vomiting and loss of appetite are signs your cat needs immediate medical attention.

How Do Vets Treat Diarrhea in Cats?

A vet will go through a variety of diagnostic tests to find out the cause of the problem, before providing a treatment plan.

This includes the following:

• Physical workup
• Ultrasound
• Bloodwork

The treatment can involve dietary suggestions and/or medication.

If diarrhea lasts more than two days, call a vet.

Do Older Cats Have Diarrhea More Often?

No.

Older cats are less likely to experience diarrhea.Senior cats are more likely to experience constipation.

Older cats do have severe diarrhea more often than young cats, although the overall prevalence is low.

Learn more:

Does Dry Cat Food Help With Diarrhea?

No.

Dry cat food is higher in carbohydrate, which cats find harder to digest in high amounts.

High carb diets can result in diarrhea.

Dry food also lacks moisture, which is important to maintain hydration.

How Can I Prevent Cat Diarrhea?

Try a wet canned cat food that is low in fiber.

This type of cat food is easier on the gut.

How Can I Firm up My Cats Stool?

Adding fiber can help improve your cats stool. There are two types of fiber:

These types of fiber have different effects. Insoluble fiber bulks up stool, whilst soluble increases moisture.

1-2 teaspoons of psyllium (soluble fiber) added to wet cat food can help cats find relief.

Another popular remedy is pumpkin, but research suggests cooked pumpkin doesnt help with diarrhea. Your mileage may vary.

Should You Withhold Food From Cats With Diarrhea?

No.

Wet cat food is a source of water and electrolytes which help replace losses from diarrhea.

I recommend cutting out dry food from the diet and sticking to wet foods. These options are easier to digest and less likely to result in further diarrhea episodes.

Conclusion

Diarrhea in cats is a problem involving watery feces.

This can be a serious problem caused by parasites, tumors, or toxic substances.

See a vet if the problem persists for over two days.

Dietary solutions include:

• Lowering fiber
• Elimination diet
• Limiting high carb foods
• Switching to a wet food diet
• Avoid common food irritants (e.g. lectins, gluten)

Recommended: Tiki Cat After Dark.

4 Best Fiber Supplement for Cats With Diarrhea

Diarrhea isnt pleasant for anyone but its especially unpleasant when your kitty is having the runs and you have to deal with the odor and cleaning up the litter box.

In this article youll learn how to tell if a fiber supplement is appropriate for your cats diarrhea, the benefits fiber provides, and some products to discuss further with your veterinarian as well as some frequently asked questions.

What Is Fiber?

In the most simple sense, fiber is derived from plant material and is not digested. But there are two main types of fiber that serve different roles in the body.

1. Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber, or cellulose, can be thought of as roughage plant-type material. If you added water to celery, thats kind of what insoluble fiber is. Insoluble fiber literally cannot be dispersed in water and cannot be digested or fermented as well by the body. It tends to pass more or less undigested through the gastrointestinal tract.

The effect of insoluble fiber is that it increases the bulk of feces as well as shortening the time it takes for digestive contents to pass through the intestinal tract. Because of this effect, it does alter digestibility of nutrients, since they are passing through the GI tract much faster.

Insoluble fiber is more common in weight management diets, diets designed for diabetes, and for helping kitties to pass hairballs.

2. Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber, which includes pectins and gums, also comes from parts of plant tissue and is used most often in fiber supplements. But unlike insoluble fiber, soluble fiber can absorb water and form something called a gel. Oats are one form of soluble fiber, so if you think of what happens if you add water to oatmeal, thats essentially what happens with soluble fiber in the body.

Soluble fiber is typically more fermentable, meaning it can be broken down by bacteria in the digestive tract and converted into nutrients called short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which cells in the colon (large intestine) use as a preferred source of energy. Highly fermentable fiber that can be converted into lots of SCFAs are termed prebiotics, because they can help to foster beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.

Soluble fiber will slow down intestinal transit time. It also helps to curb blood sugar spikes after eating, making it beneficial for diabetes as well. As they do absorb water, soluble fibers can help stools to pass more easily, assisting with constipation.

Does My Cat Need a Fiber Supplement for Diarrhea?

Now that we know what fiber is, but before discussing it further, its important to think about whether or not your kitty will benefit from fiber in the first place.

Diarrhea can have a multitude of causes and can originate in different parts of the digestive tract. The underlying cause of the diarrhea as well as where its coming from are both important to think about when considering fiber supplementation.

The first question to answer is if your kitty is having a quick onset of the runs or whether this is a chronic issue. Similarly, are you thinking about using fiber to help with a short-term issue or will a fiber supplement be part of a long-term solution?

A recent onset of diarrhea can occur with dietary indiscretion, an intestinal parasite, or another recently acquired illness. Chronic diarrhea may occur for similar reasons if an acute cause isnt treated. But there are other chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) to think about too.

Although chronic diarrhea is most often thought of as diarrhea lasting for more than 2-3 weeks, you should seek veterinary care for any cause of diarrhea lasting for more than 24 hours or sooner if other signs of illness are also present.

Its important with ongoing causes of runny poop to determine what the cause is as best as possible so that a proper treatment can be determined. Supplementing fiber alone may help temporarily or not at all if a bigger primary cause is present.

Now, there is such a thing as fiber-responsive diarrhea, which as it sounds, is diarrhea that responds well to fiber supplementation. A diagnosis of fiber-responsive diarrhea does require a trial of fiber supplementation, but also requires ruling out other prominent causes first so that the proper treatment isnt missed.

Generally, pets dont need fiber added to their diet on a regular basis. Certain amounts of fiber are required as part of a nutritional formulation in commercial pet foods following Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines.

Any diets that are made at home for cats could have a great deal of variability in fiber content and is one reason why having a board certified veterinary nutritionist help in home diet formulations is an important consideration.

Also Read: Best High Fiber Cat Food

What Are the Benefits of a Fiber Supplement for Cats With Diarrhea?

Now, if you and your veterinarian have determined that fiber is appropriate to add, what are some potential benefits of adding a fiber supplement for diarrhea?

In the right forms, many fiber supplements are easy to add to your cats diet. Many come as chews, powders, or capsules designed to be opened with the powder inside sprinkled and mixed with food. Many of them are also flavored to increase the chance your kitty accepts them.

If a diarrhea condition is purely fiber responsive, one great benefit of adding fiber is that the diarrhea should resolve. Often, fiber needs to be continually added to the diet or a higher fiber diet itself needs to be used, but this is still a positive with a natural remedy.

If diarrhea is not purely fiber responsive but has another underlying cause, fiber usually still helps to some degree for reasons well get into in just a minute. But you cant treat parasites or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with just fiber and expect those conditions to resolve. Youve got to have a good idea of the underlying cause and the scope of treatment options.

Many fiber supplements dont just contain fiberthey also have other additional ingredients like digestive enzymes and probiotics that support a wider scope of intestinal digestive system health. Probiotics can especially be helpful for cats with diarrhea, as microbial imbalance is often present to some degree.

Also Read: 10 Best Probiotics For Cats

Which Type of Fiber Is Best?

The reality of fiber is that both types provide benefits, but too much of one or the other can have unwanted effects. Most supplements contain psyllium which is a soluble fiber source and some may contain a mix of both.

For many cases of acute diarrhea or when fiber is being supplemented in addition to other therapies for a chronic condition, a mix of fiber as found in many supplements is generally acceptable.

In cases of truly fiber-responsive diarrhea, you may need to work more closely with your veterinarian to help determine what proportion of soluble vs. insoluble fiber is best.

Side Effects of a Fiber Supplement for Cats With Diarrhea

Fiber supplements are generally safe to use, but there are some important considerations, especially if your cat has diabetes, other chronic issues with digestibility, or other conditions.

Soluble fiber absorbs water and generally slows down intestinal transit time. At some point though, too much soluble fiber can absorb too much water, and contribute to diarrhea.

Insoluble fiber generally increases intestinal transit time, so too much insoluble fiber can also lead to diarrhea by moving things through the digestive tract too fast.

Combinations of fiber should also be used carefully with diabetics. Fiber can be very helpful for diabetic cats to help curb hunger, encourage weight loss, and reduce blood sugar spikes after eating. But too much can also lead to low blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous and lead to confusion with insulin dosages.

Psyllium, which is a common form of soluble fiber (as found in Metamucil) can be helpful as a fiber source (see the FAQ section). But there are some cats who rarely will have an allergy to psyllium, which can even be acute and life threatening.

Whenever adding psyllium as a fiber supplement for the first time, always make sure to closely monitor your kitty for signs of concern. This can include signs of itching, restlessness, or difficulty breathing.

Lastly, there is such a thing as just too much fiber. Even if its not negatively affecting your cats stools by adding too much of one or another, too much fiber can affect the digestion of other nutrients in your cats diet. Dietary fiber should generally not exceed 10% of the diet. If it does, absorption of other nutrients may be impacted, leading to other nutritional problems.

Absorption of medications may also be affected, just like nutrients can be, so make sure to discuss appropriate fiber supplementation with your vet, especially if your kitty has another chronic disease condition or is on one or more oral medications.

Also Read: The 7 Best High Protein Low Carb Canned Cat Foods

At a Glance: Top 4 Best Fiber Supplement Products for Cats To Buy

In the comparison table below, weve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. Youll find more detailed information about each product later in the article

#1

10.0

Picked by 31 people today!

• A brand of probiotic favored by many veterinarians
• Contains 7 strains of beneficial bacteria and 5 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) per probiotic capsule
• The kits specifically come with a syringe of paste containing kaolin and pectin

#2

9.8

Picked by 31 people today!

• Formulated with a combination of soluble and insoluble fiber
• Can be used short term or long-term if appropriate benefits are seen
• Includes other nutritional ingredients to support overall health

BADGE

9.5

Picked by 25 people today!

• Can be used short term or long term if needed benefits are seen
• Very cost effective
• Will last for over 3 months with one capsule used once a day

#4

9.4

Picked by 21 people today!

• Contains psyllium husk as well as pumpkin
• The chews are soft and flavored
• The psyllium may also help with loose bowel movements

Best Fiber Supplement Products for Cats

Following are four products that can be considered for cats with diarrhea. As a disclaimer, selection of these products is based on the authors experience, but there are no financial incentives or kickbacks to the author for choosing them. All links are directly to the manufacturers websites for more information.

Can I Give My Cat Canned Pumpkin for Diarrhea?

Its an age old question that had to be included here. The simple answer is yes, you can use canned pumpkin to help with diarrhea. So why consider a fiber supplement or diet instead? Because while pumpkin may help, how much it will help and how much pumpkin it will take to provide benefit can be uncertain.

Pumpkin is a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber may be more helpful in acute cases of diarrhea, but some pets may need a certain percentage of both and both are certainly needed for general digestive health.

As detailed in the Problem with Pumpkin, an article written by veterinary nutritionist Dr. Lisa Freeman with Tufts University, pumpkin may not contain the correct percentages or proportions of fiber a pet needs.

For chronic conditions that need long term fiber supplementation, Dr. Freeman also points out that even giving a tablespoon with each meal may not provide the right amount of fiber needed, with over two cups of pumpkin needed a day for a kitty to match the fiber content of a high fiber prescription diet.

With two cups of pumpkin a day, youd surely be asking your kitty if theyd at all like some actual food with their pumpkin. Remember, if there are too many calories (exceeding 10%) in your cats diet, it may throw the rest of the diet out of balance.

The other thing to be aware of when it comes to pumpkin, which is also discussed in Dr. Freemans article is that it is vital when adding pumpkin to be aware of the product youre using. Plain low sodium canned pumpkin is whats being discussed.

But there is also canned pumpkin with salt as well as pumpkin pie filling. The sodium levels may far exceed what is safe for a cats diet, and the sugar in pumpkin pie filling may only worsen diarrhea.

Conclusion

Supplementing fiber can be helpful for cats with diarrhea, but may not be the only therapy needed to get a diarrhea condition to resolve. Always make sure to discuss fiber supplementation with your veterinarian, as a particular source of fiber may be recommended or a therapeutic diet may be more beneficial over a fiber supplement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fiber Help Diarrhea in Cats?

Fiber can be helpful for cats experiencing diarrhea, but the underlying cause of diarrhea should always be determined as other treatments may be necessary for a diarrhea condition to resolve or be properly managed long term.

What Can I Give My Cat to Harden His Stool?

Fiber can help with loose stool in the right proportions. Soluble fiber absorbs water and forms a gel and insoluble fiber can help to add bulk to the stool. But it is also important if your kitty is having soft stool or diarrhea to find out if there is another underlying cause that is unrelated to the fiber content of the diet.

Can I Give My Cat Metamucil for Diarrhea?

Metamucil (psyllium) can be given to cats, but must be the unflavored, unsweetened variety. Anywhere from 1 teaspoon up to 4 teaspoons can be considered daily but it is always best to start low and work up to higher amounts, monitoring stool consistency as you go.

Its rare, but some cats can have an allergic reaction to psyllium, so it is important to closely monitor your cat for signs of itching, breathing difficulty, and abnormal behavior if supplementing with psyllium for the first time.

Can Lack of Fiber Cause Diarrhea in Cats?

Most pets do not need any fiber to be regularly supplemented in their diet, especially if they are eating a commercial diet meeting AAFCO guidelines that already contains dietary fiber.

However, it is possible to have a condition called fiber-responsive diarrhea. To diagnose this condition, other common causes of diarrhea must be ruled out and a trial of appropriate fiber proportions is conducted with the response monitored over a couple of weeks.

What Can I Give My Cat to Stop Diarrhea?

This depends largely on the underlying cause of diarrhea. Mild diarrhea caused by brief dietary indiscretion and lasting less than 24 hours with no other signs of illness may be addressed with a bland diet like boiled chicken and rice coupled with a probiotic and fiber supplement.

However, diarrhea can have many causes including (but not limited to) microbial dysbiosis/bacterial imbalance, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), intestinal parasites, intestinal cancer, and many others, all of which have different treatment approaches.

Having your cat examined by your veterinarian to determine the cause of diarrhea and most appropriate treatment is the best way to address any cause of acute or chronic diarrhea.