How do I add fiber to my cat s diet

Do Cats Need Fiber in Their Diet?

Just like people, cats need to eat a nutritionally balanced diet to stay healthy. That diet should include appropriate levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, as well as one seemingly minor element: fiber.

The amount of fiber in a cats diet can influence how often they go to the bathroom, the consistency of their stool, and how well their colon functions.

When a cat doesnt get enough fiber in their diet, their intestinal health can be negatively impacted. Thats why its important to ensure your cats diet includes the right amount and type of fiber.

Do Cats Need Fiber in Their Diet?

Fiber is an important dietary component for cats. There are two types:

• Soluble fiber. This type of fiber dissolves within the intestine water to form a gel that can slow the emptying of the stomach and improve nutrient absorption. Inulin and psyllium husk are examples of soluble fiber sources.

  • Soluble fiber can help increase feelings of fullness with fewer calories, which is helpful for cats who need to lose weight. It can also firm up stools, which can be beneficial for cats experiencing diarrhea.

• Insoluble fiber. This type of fiber does not dissolve, but helps increase stool volume and frequency. Cellulose and wheat bran are examples of insoluble fiber sources. Insoluble fiber can help cats with conditions like constipation and hairball issues.

Fiber can promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and help cats with blood sugar issues, such as diabetes. Its also beneficial for cats with high cholesterol and high triglycerides, which can be secondary effects of diabetes, kidney disease, pancreatic disease, adrenal disease, bile duct obstruction, pregnancy, or genetic disorders that affect levels of fats in the blood.

How Much Fiber Do Cats Need?

When selecting a cat food, look for foods from companies that follow the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards for complete and balanced cat nutrition. A pet food company that follows these guidelines means that they adhere consistently to these standards through food trials and quality control testing.

A moderate level of fiber is classified as about 6%. A high-fiber diet has about 12% fiber, so most cat diets that are not specifically formulated for any health conditions include a moderate amount of fiber.

The label of most cat food packages will indicate the maximum amount of fiber present in that food. If you cant find what youre looking for, it may be helpful to reach out to the company directly.

Before selecting a food for your cat, talk with your veterinarian. The overall amount of fiber in your cats diet may need to be adjusted depending on their health and other factors.

Fiber for Cats with Constipation

As mentioned, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food is a prescription food frequently recommended by veterinarians for cats with constipation.

An over-the-counter diet that may help with constipation is Hills Science Diet Adult Hairball Control Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food, which contains between 6.5% and 11% fiber to help move digestive contents like stool and hairball material through the colon.

Fiber Supplements for Cats

Fiber supplements are another way to add fiber to your cats diet.

One of the best fiber supplements is Vetnique Labs Glandex Probiotic Fiber Supplement, with pumpkin seed and apple cellulose as the fiber source. Pumpkin seeds and apple cellulose are sources of insoluble fiber that help increase stool volume and frequency in cats with constipation and hairball issues.

Another product, Vets Best Hairball Control Supplement for Cats, contains apple fiber, papaya extract, psyllium seed, marshmallow root, and slippery elm. Pure psyllium powder is a fiber that contains soluble and insoluble components. This supplement contains both soluble and insoluble sources of fiber, so it can help cats who have such diverse issues as hairballs, diarrhea, constipation, and obesity by increasing the feeling of fullness.

Plain canned pumpkin and sweet potato can also be added to your cats diet as natural fiber sources. Remember to work with your veterinarian before starting any supplements for your cat.

Do Cats Need Fiber FAQs

How do you add fiber to a cats diet?

It is usually easiest to measure out a powder supplement, just follow the directions on the product label, and mix it with wet food.

For cats on all-dry-food diets, a bit of warm water or low-sodium, pet-safe chicken broth can be added to the kibble to soften it. Then you can top it with the powder and mix everything together to make it more appetizing for your cat. Always check with your veterinarian about how much to add and how often.

Will fiber help ease my cats diarrhea?

The right kind of fiber can be very helpful for cats with diarrhea. Soluble fiber sources like sweet potato, guar gum, and psyllium husk can help firm stools and slow the movement of intestinal contents through the digestive tract, relieving symptoms of diarrhea.

Always check with your veterinarian about how much fiber to add and how often to give it to your cat. If your cats diarrhea lasts more than two or three days, contact your vet for an immediate appointment.

Featured Image:Ridofranz/iStock via Getty Image

References

The importance of fibre in the diet of dogs and cats. Veterinary Practice. https://www.veterinary-practice.com/article/the-importance-of-fibre-in-the-diet-of-dogs-and-cats.

DACVIM (Nutrition) CRH VMD, MS. Fiber Frustrations. Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School. Published November 4, 2019.https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2019/11/fiber-frustrations/.

WRITTEN BY

Hannah Hart, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Hart graduated from veterinary school in 2017 and began her career with USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service as a public health...

Why is Fiber Important in Cat Food?

High-fiber cat food has become a staple for cats with gastrointestinal issues. But why exactly is fiber important for your furball of a pet?

In plenty of cases, cat food includes fiber to help with digestive functions and benefit the stool quality of cats who might otherwise have digestive upset. High-fiber foods may be beneficial in cases of constipation, diarrhea, diabetes and even obesity.

The Microbiome and It's Interaction With Cat Food With Fiber

The gutmicrobiome refers to the many millions of microbes (bacteria, protozoa, fungi, viruses) that live inside of cats (as well as dogs, humans and other living creatures) digestive systems This ecosystem of living organisms is fundamental to digestion.

Bacteria in the colon of pets helps to break down indigestible material and produce beneficial compounds like vitamins. Nowhere is the former function more evident than when it comes to breaking down fibers. Bacteria often engage with fibers in a process called fermentation.

Cats, even though they are carnivores, can benefit significantly from consuming a cat food with fiber.

Classifying Fiber in Cat Food

One way to classify dietary fiber is based on solubility. Soluble fibers tend to dissolve in gastric juices and water in the gut and some soluble fibers turn into gels that can hold water, and make stools easier to pass. Insoluble fibers add bulk to the food eaten to help to regulate the transit of foodstuff through the intestines and can help with stool consistency. Both soluble and insoluble fibers can be fermentable. This means that bacteria in the gut can breakdown these fibers and produce new compounds that, for example, can nourish the cells of the colon.

Prebiotics in Cat Food With Fiber

Cat food with fiber typically includes a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers to help promote a healthy gut and good stool quality.. Some of these fiber ingredients are also referred to as prebiotics ingredients, typically fermentable fibers, that promote the growth of the "good bacteria" that live in the intestines.

Some high-fiber cat foods work specifically because they help feed the beneficial bacteria and promote a balanced microbiome. Plenty of digestive conditions may cause a bacterial imbalance including chronic diarrhea, colitis and constipation.

Other Reasons to Feed High-Fiber Cat Food

Diabetic cats are typically fed high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods but may also benefit from high-fiber cat food if they are prone to becoming overweight or have certain types of GI conditions.. Some fibers slow the absorption of nutrients, allowing the sugars from starches to be absorbed more slowly and therefore stabilizing blood sugar levels. Overweight cats or those prone to weight gain may also benefit from food high in fiber, as it may make them feel more full than regular food and weight loss may help manage diabetes.

Furthermore, cat food with fiber may also help cats who suffer from GI diseases that affect the large intestine. Fiber can help regulate the motility in the GI tract and manage water balance to avoid the 2 extremes - constipation and diarrhea. Molecules called long-chain fatty acids may be derived from the breakdown of fiber to help nourish the colon.

Is High-Fiber Cat Food Natural?

Left to their own devices, cats eat plenty of things humans consider indigestible, like hair, bone, gristle, feathers, fish scales and stomach contents of their prey. Gross, but natural. Some of these are digestible to a point, while others may contain fiber that isuseful for digestion.

While there's a lot about feline nutrition that scientists have yet to understand, they're starting to realize that carnivorous cats actually can benefit from fiber. A study on cheetahs' eating habits published by the Journal of Animal Science found that those who ate whole prey fur, stomach contents and all had a more favorable fecal profile than those who ate simple meat. This has led researchers to conclude that carnivore digestive systems must do something useful with all that extra roughage.

The Role of Low-Fiber Cat Food

What if your vet recommends a low-fiber cat food instead? Typically, veterinarians recommend low-fiber food for cats with a sudden onset of GI upset such as vomiting or diarrhea. These foods tend to have higher levels of other nutrients such as electrolytes and B-vitamins to help recovery in these cats. Always consult a veterinarian when selecting a food for your cat. If your cat is on a high-fiber meal plan, their vet should monitor them to make sure their fiber-responsive conditions are well-managed.

Contributor Bio

Dr. Patty Khuly

Dr. Patty Khuly is an award-winning veterinarian known for her independent thinking, her spirited pet advocacy, her passion for the veterinary profession and her famously irreverent pet health writing.

Dr. K is an honors graduate of both Wellesley College and the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She received her MBA at The Wharton School of Business as part of the prestigious VMD/MBA dual-degree program. She now owns Sunset Animal Clinic, a veterinary practice in Miami, Florida.

But that's not all. Dr. K is a nerdy reader, avid knitter, hot yoga fanatic, music geek, struggling runner and indefatigable foodie. She lives in South Miami with three dogs, countless cats, two rescued goats and a hilarious flock of hens.

You can follow her writing at DrPattyKhuly.com and at sunsetvets.com.

The 8 Best High Fiber Foods for Your Cat in 2024

Cats have vastly different dietary needs than us, or our canine friends. Or armadillos. Everyone is different. Still, we might not put much thought into what we put into their bowlbut we should. Our Garfields dont have the same nutritional needs as their free-roaming relatives. Indoor cats need a balanced diet, optimal for their particular metabolism.

While high fiber diets are not necessary for most cats, in many cases, this is the ideal solution to keep them healthy. If your cat is obese, has a regular issue with hairballs, or suffers from diarrhea or constipation, its worth asking your vet is a high fiber diet is right for them.

Luckily, you dont need to begin a quest for the best high-fiber cat foods available today, though: weve already located them for you. Read on to find more about them and why they might be the top choice for your four-legged companion.

How to Choose the Best High Fiber Food for Cats

Before we dive into the best high fiber foods on the market, lets explore the most vital info to know before you make your selection.

What Can Fiber Help Your Cat With?

There are few health issues that a high fiber food can help your cat with, like constipation. Here, we break down a few of the other more common ailments that fiber can help with.

Diet Management

The introduction of more fiber in your cats food can also help you manage their diet. An increase in fiber content can help your cat feel full after eating, for longer. At least theoretically, this should lead to fewer visits to the food bowl, less food consumption, and fewer calories.

Diabetes

A diet rich in soluble fiber can also help diabetic cats. Diabetes is directly related to weight and is affected by high blood glucose. Soluble fiber can reduce the calories and glucose absorbed by the body during digestion. Thus, it can help in two ways, reducing sugar levels in the short term, and assisting in losing weight in the long term.

Eliminating Hairballs

If your cat has long hair or is over-grooming, you are probably familiar with the concept of hairballs. Foods that include both soluble and insoluble fiber, like Hills Science Diet Dry Cat Food, can help with this problem.

Wed prefer to avoid getting into the gross details. Lets just say that a mix of solid and semi-liquified fiber can help the hair pass through. Thus, your purr-buddy will be able to deposit them at the litter box instead of suddenly launching them at your pillow.

Factors to Consider in a Higher Fiber Food for Cats

When choosing the right food for your furry best friend, keep these important considerations in mind.

Does It Have Healthy Sources of Fiber?

Some sources of fiber can wreak havoc to your cats stomach. Others can have the opposite effect, assist in digestion, and keep them happy and healthy. By paying a closer look at the fine print, you can ensure it contains fiber your pet pal can digest easily.

You should go for a number between 1% and 10%, with the amount considered optimal for a housebound felines diet being around 3%. Those fiber sources include:

• Apples
• Barley
• Beet
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Flaxseed
• Fruit Extracts
• Pumpkin
• Rice
• Sweet Potatoes

We should note that cats dont have a high thirst drive and get a significant amount of water from their food. Thats why you should avoid food sources that contain large amounts of corn, grains, or wheat, that absorb water when digested.

Is Protein a Primary Ingredient?

Even when choosing a high-fiber food for your cat, you should pay attention to the sources of protein in it. Good protein sources for our mini carnivores come from real meat, which should be a cat foods primary ingredient. Chicken, duck, turkey, or salmon can be a great first ingredient for a cat recipe. Animal byproducts and any mention of meals? Not so much.

To be clear on this, its not a negative if a cat food contains animal byproducts or stuff like chicken meal. Some filler content is expected, helps enrich the recipe, and isnt bad on its own. Still, it shouldnt be the primary ingredient.

Is the Brand Safe & Reputable?

It should also go without saying that you should prefer reputable brands that use safe ingredients. Avoid any brand you havent ever heard of or no-name options whose ingredients you cant check.

Since the trip to your house can be quite adventurous, also make sure to check out the packaging. While researching product availability for this guide, weve run into unfavorable reviews for practically all brands. One common point between them wasnt the foods or brands fault: tempered or destroyed packaging. If the packaging isnt pristine, consider the food inside it unsuitable for consumption, and avoid offering it to your purr-pal.

Does It Meet Your Cats Needs?

Finally, your choice should be the best for your furball. Your diabetic and lethargic pawed partner, whos kept you company for more than a decade, wont have the same nutritional requirements as the healthy and energetic kitten you adopted yesterday.

Before making the purchase, though, it would be better to ask your veterinarian for their opinion. Maybe theyd suggest you use a supplement instead of switching to a higher fiber food for your cat. Plus, theres always the chance your felines particular nutritional demands call for less fiber in their diet instead.

Now that you know what to look for in a high fiber food for your cat, lets check out the best options on the market right now.

Everything You Need to Know About Fiber and Your Feline

We saw the basics about how to choose a high-fiber food for your cat, and some of the best products available. How did we come to pick those choices over the alternatives? What else should you look for when choosing a high-fiber food for your cat? Is there a reason for your constipated feline friend to celebrate Halloween by enjoying some pumpkin?

Pour a cup of your favorite beverage, ensure your cat wont start jumping on your keyboard, and scroll down for the answers to those burning questions and more.

Feeding Indoor Cats

Our cats are obligate carnivores, which means that the optimal diet for them, at least when in the wild, consists of small prey, like birds and rodents. After consuming those delicacies, non-digestible parts like fur, bones, and feathers, end up traveling through the whole digestive system. In the process, they help clean the intestines.

Since an indoor cats food doesnt contain such gross to our human eyes tasty bits, grain can replace them to both offer similar services and enrich our pet pals diet.

Also, feral cats live a rough life. They have to be more energetic to hunt for food and avoid becoming prey for larger animals. And its not as if they enjoy searching for scraps in our garbage.

In contrast, our household cats spend most of their day sleeping, except when they eat, make a donation to our litter box to keep us happy, or get the zoomies. So, to make a long story short, what should they eat?

How Are Indoor Cats Different?

Thanks to their less energetic lifestyle, indoor cats usually need fewer calories than the cats who go on daily adventures outside.

Strictly indoor cats can also get more easily frustrated since they dont have many venues to vent their stored energy. For some, this translates to extended grooming, which in turn leads to hairballs. If that sounds like your cat, there are food formulas precisely for that, like Hills Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control.

Does Age Matter?

Young kittens are little hyperactive balls of fur who need lots of energy to thrive. As they get older, they become less active. They develop preferences and sensitivities, and need a more balanced diet, like what IAMS Proactive Health Weight & Hairball Control offers.

Then, you blink, and theyre old. Not older, plain old, and their age shows. Unlike their everlasting devotion to you, their kidneys and livers might start failing. Thats when its time to, once more, introduce them to a different, lighter type of food, like Royal Canins Feline Health Nutrition Sensitive Digestion Dry Adult Cat Food.

How Much Should You Feed Them?

Just like us, our cats need different types and amounts of food throughout their life. You should consult your vet about how much you should feed your cat and what.

Still, most commercially available cat foods target specific age groups, address their particular nutritional needs, and suggest a serving size on their packaging.

How Many Calories Do They Need?

We should stress once more that your furball is an individual and could have particular dietary needs, on which only your vet could comment with authority.

That said, a relatively healthy adult cat needs an average caloric intake of around 20 times its weight in pounds.

Food Transition

Cats dont like surprises and are creatures of habit. An abrupt change in their bowl might come as a shock to them, refusing to even look at it. In a worst-case scenario, they might even have an it-wasnt-actually-an-accident on your bed. That should show you how much they disagree with your choice of salmon-with-peas.

Low and Slow

When transitioning your four-legged friend from one food to another, do it gradually. Slowly introduce the new food into the older one. Day by day, increase the amount of the new food, easing your cat into it.

Keep the Flavor

Apart from a slow transition from one food to another, it also helps if you choose a similar flavor. Your purr-pal will be able to tell its different, but probably wont mind a transition from chicken-and-this to chicken-and-that, instead of an abrupt switch to anything-with-salmon. Thats one of the reasons many cat foods, like Natural Balances L.I.D. Indoor Grain-Free Dry Cat Food come in multiple flavors.

Tolerances and Benefits

Whenever you introduce a new type of food into your cats diet, you should keep a close eye on her appearance, behavior, but also the litter box.

It will be easy to tell theres a problem with the new food if your cat starts vomiting. There can be more subtle clues, though, for which you should be vigilant. Swap back to the previous food and contact your vet if your furball:

• Looks lethargic/noticeably less active
• Pays fewer visits to the litter box
• Has dull, non-shiny fur

Expected changes that you (probably) shouldnt worry about include increased flatulence and more visits to the litter box, with higher volume output. Apart from those quirks, if your cat is more energetic, and looks happier, congratulations, cat-parent! The new food you picked up was a nice upgrade!

Price

We would love to offer our pet pals the best in the world, but that can be a pricey endeavor. Most of us dont survive on caviar and lobster, nor can we afford the most premium cat foods.

This, though, doesnt mean you should go for the cheapest option. Just like most humans with the possible exception of Hindu mystics cant survive all our life on bread and water, the cheapest cat foods may have low nutritional value for your purr-pal.

Although your cat might accept them, cheap, sub-par foods could lead to problems in the long run. Problems demanding multiple and expensive visits to the vet, nullifying the very point of choosing the most affordable option in the first place.

Is Too Much Fiber Bad?

Cats typically dont need over 3% of fiber in their food. More fiber means less of everything else, and the average cat needs more of this everything else. A fiber value of around 6% can be considered more than enough for most felines.

Going over 10% can make both your cat and you miserable: too much fiber can cause bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and more visits to the litter box. In the long run, it can lead to decreased muscle mass, a slower metabolism, and weight gain which is also directly linked to feline diabetes.

Although some fiber can be good for our feline friends, you should always remember that they are primarily carnivores. Some fiber in their food can help enrich their diet and assist in digestion. Still, it should be far from the primary ingredient.

When we talk about rich in fiber foods for cats, rich translates to a range between 2% to 10%. The ideal target you should be looking for is 1.5% 3%.

What Are Alternatives to High Fiber Cat Foods?

If your cat only temporarily needs a fiber-boost, consider these easy options.

High-Fiber Treats

A great way to add more fiber to your cats existing diet is by introducing high-fiber treats into the mix. As a bonus, they can even help with clicker training.

Do note, though, that like other treats, those are concentrated bits of nourishment. You shouldnt use them as a replacement for actual food. Check their instructions for a suggested daily dosage and make sure not to exceed it.

Supplements

Products like the organic pumpkin supplement by Raw Paws Pet Food are another excellent option for adding extra fiber to your cats existing diet. Make sure not to exceed the suggested daily dosage, though.

Alternatives

You dont want to change your felines diet, nor use commercially available treats or supplements? Thankfully, there are other ways to boost their digestive system.

Add Some Pumpkin

Add half a teaspoon of pumpkin to their existing food. Despite being carnivores, many cats seem to enjoy it, and it supposedly helps with their digestion. See? Weve told you your cat could also enjoy Halloween!

However, theres a reason we say supposedly. Your cat would need more than two cups of pumpkin every day to get the same amount of fiber found in high-quality high-fiber products.

Serve Them Vaseline

Not all cats like it, but if yours does, half a teaspoon of Vaseline around two hours before or after eating can also help them with their digestion.

Get a Water Fountain

If you are looking for high-fiber foods as a possible solution for your cat being continuously dehydrated, maybe you could tackle the problem differently. Many cats dont like drinking from still water sources. The solution? Make the water move!

You can find water fountains explicitly created for this purpose, which can help your feline both keep hydrated and entertained.

We suggest you place them away from any cabling, though, for your, your pets, and your electric/electronic equipments safety.

Balanced Diet, Happy Cats

The very fact we make our food choices for our purr-pals is one of the reasons indoor cats enjoy two to three times longer lifespans compared to their feral cousins.

Most cats in the wild have to find food every single day if they dont, its diet time. They have to fight the elements and avoid being hurt by larger animals among which those shiny ones with wheels are probably the most dangerous.

Our household pals are lucky to have us help them with problems like those, but also in choosing the best food for them. With a balanced diet and lots of love, whos to say your feline wouldnt reach 40, braking Crme Puffs Guinness World Record?