Best High Fiber Cat Food (For Cats With Digestive Issues)
Ask every cat owner what the ideal diet for a cat is, and you will get responses like “high animal proteins, moderate carbs and fat content”.
On most occasions, many cat owners don’t consider a high fiber cat food as an important part of a cat’s diet.
Fiber is the answer to most of the digestive issues that cats face from diarrhea, constipation, and sensitive stomachs.
As obligate carnivores cats generally have a high urge for meat and fats, and they obtain most of their nutrients from these sources since they cannot get them from plant sources.
Providing a high fiber diet to your cat does not mean that you are sacrificing their regular dietary proteins, instead you are supplementing the protein in their diet with a fiber component.
This article discusses the benefits of higher fiber in your cat’s diet, how to get more fiber in their diet, and what benefits this provides for your cat.
We will also review 5 great high fiber cat food choices, so you’ll know what to look out for.
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| Wellness Core Natural Grain Free | Best Seller |
| Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein | Best Budget |
| Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Fiber Response | Veterinary |
Do Cats Need Fiber In Their Diet?
Cats often avoid the plant fiber of the intestinal contents of their prey, which is rich in crude fiber.
Veterinarians recommend adding a little fiber to a cat’s diet or transitioning to a fiber-rich diet.
However, this does NOT mean replacing the high-protein, high-fiber diet with a fiber-only diet.
Benefits Of A High Fiber Diet
While it is true that excess fiber can cause problems in cats, it is also true that some high fiber formulas can help cats in some body functions.
You can supplement the regular diet with a diet rich in fiber, rather than transitioning your cat to a fiber-only diet.
You can also introduce a rich-fiber diet on the recommendation of your vet.
Fiber is important for the following reasons:
Constipation
High fiber diet has been touted as an effective treatment for constipation.
If you notice your cat having infrequent bowel movements or being unable to pass stool, a high fiber diet is a good temporary solution.
Apart from giving your cat a high fiber meal, make sure they drink fresh water, and meals with a high moisture content (canned cat food is a perfect option).
Check out this article about how to entice your cat to drink more
Weight Control
Feeding your cat with a high fiber diet has been touted as one of the ways to help the cat loose weight. .
A majority of pet parents have report success in using a high fiber diet to help cats lose weight.
A fiber-rich meal results in fewer calories being consumed throughout the day because of an increased feeling of satiation.
Remember not to give your cat an excessive amount of fiber since this lead to an undesired weight gain.
Find out which cat food varieties are good for weight control
Diabetic Cats
For cats with special conditions like diabetes and hypoglycemia, a high fiber diet helps in regulating the cat’s blood sugar levels.
The diet contains complex carbohydrates that take a longer time to be broken down and absorbed by the cat’s body.
This results in more stable sugar levels, thereby reducing the frequent spikes of unwanted blood sugar in the cat’s body.
Diarrhea
A fiber-rich diet helps ease diarrhea by slowing digestion and adding bulk to stool.
Fiber tends to attract water and form a gel, which helps to strengthen the stool before it is passed by the cat.
How Can I Add Fiber To My Cat’s Diet?
Fruits, canned or cooked pumpkin and vegetables are great sources of crude fiber.
With your vet’s approval, add a bit of these ingredients to your cat’s current diet.
Vets recommend one teaspoon daily but divided into two meals. Make sure not to overdo it, since excessive fiber may have adverse effects.
5 Best High Fiber Cat Food Reviews
1. Wellness CORE Grain-Free
The Wellness Core Grain Free Original formula is one of the top-rated high fiber dry cat foods, and is manufactured by Wellness Company, a leading manufacturer of pet food.
Wellness Pet Food was founded by a team of animal nutrition experts, food scientists, and veterinarians.
Wellness CORE Grain-free original formula features deboned chicken and deboned turkey as the first two ingredients.
Other protein contents include whitefish meal, turkey meal, and chicken meal, representing 45% of crude proteins.
It contains plenty of animal-based fats like salmon oil and chicken fat, representing 18% crude fat content.
This formula has a 3% dietary fiber composition to help cats with certain conditions such as diabetes, constipation, and diarrhea.
The sources of fiber include chicory root extract and tomato pomace, which are natural sources of insoluble fiber.
The ground flaxseed and salmon oil not only support a healthy skin but also helps in softening the cat’s coat.
Other ingredients include antioxidants that boost overall immunity, anti-coat probiotic helps in digestion while the vitamins and minerals support the general body health.
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Dry Cat Food does not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or grains such as wheat, corn or soy.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Chicken Recipe
Blue Buffalo company is a popular manufacturer of dog and cat foods in the United States.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is a protein-rich recipe with real chicken as the first ingredient.
It is supplemented with turkey meal and chicken meal, and the total protein composition is about 36%.
This diet also comprises the cat-favorite crude fats such as flaxseed, fish oil and chicken fat, with a total fat content of 16%.
This Blue Buffalo recipe is made with mostly animal ingredients that are rich in proteins.
The fruits and vegetables provide supplementary fiber to help in digestion and weight control.
Other dietary fiber contents include potato, alfalfa mean and powdered cellulose. The total fiber content is around 5%.
Blue Buffalo Chicken recipe cat food contains LifeSource Bits, a unique blend of vitamins and minerals to strengthen the cat’s immunity.
3. Royal Canin Fiber Response
Royal Canin is a global pet food company that manufactures and supplies dog and cat food.
The company was started by a French veterinary surgeon after he successfully treated skin and coat conditions in pets using a diet he prepared in his garage.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet is created to provide dietary support to cats with food sensitivities and digestive health concerns.
It is highly digestible, palatable, high energy and balanced cat food that is formulated to help in the management of gastrointestinal diseases in cats and kittens.
The veterinarian-formulated high fiber diet is designed to encourage regular elimination and robust digestion.
It is a balanced diet with the right mix of fiber, proteins and other essential nutrients.
This diet should be given to cats according to the veterinarian’s prescription.
4. Purina ONE Indoor Advantage
This high fiber dry cat food is manufactured by Purina One, one of the most popular cat food manufacturers in the US.
Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Premium Dry Cat Food is prepared using real turkey as the first ingredient- 42 grams of lean protein/cup, to give your cat the required energy and healthy muscles.
It has a natural fiber blend to help in maintaining a healthy weight, aiding digestion and preventing hairballs.
Other ingredients include omega-6 fatty acids to support a healthy skin and coat as well as vitamins and minerals to support the overall growth and function of the body systems.
The crunchy texture of this high fiber diet keeps your cat’s teeth clean and gums healthy.
5. Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient
Nature’s Variety Company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The company specializes in the production of natural, grain-free and holistic pet foods. Its class of products ranges from canned foods, wet foods to dry kibble.
Nature’s Variety Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Rabbit formula is made with a single source of animal protein (farm-raised rabbit) and is ideal for cats with food sensitivities.
The limited ingredient cat food is gluten-free and grain-free, making it a great choice for allergic cats.
Nature’s Variety Rabbit formula contains 4% crude fiber content to help in digestion and weight control.
It is balanced with wholesome foods such as fruits and vegetables and natural sources of omega-6 fatty acids to promote a healthy body and skin.
It does not contain grains, artificial colors, by-products or preservatives.
FAQs on High Fiber Dry Cat Food
What do you give a cat for constipation?
If you notice your cat having difficulties in passing out stool, the first step you should take is to add water to your cat’s food.
Some natural laxatives like aloe vera juice are an alternative.
If constipation persists, talk to your vet so that she/he can recommend a prescription high fiber cat food for constipation
See our reviews of some high quality cat foods and remedies to help fix constipation
What Are the symptoms of a constipated cat?
A constipated cat will show the following symptoms: straining to defecate with minimal success, infrequent defecation, small amounts of stool with mucus in it, occasional vomiting and lack of appetite.
See our post discussing cat vomiting and what you can do about it
What can I do to treat my cat with constipation?
You can try a stool softener, laxative or a veterinarian-prescribed high-fiber diet.
For severe cases, you should talk to your vet to recommend a solution such as medication or surgery to remove the obstruction in the bowels.
Read More About Cats
- Can Cats Eat Apples? Find Out (Cat Health)
- Which Human Foods Are Dangerous For Cats?
- Blue Buffalo Cat Food Recalls – It It Safe?
Sources
https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Cat%27s-Fur-Soft-and-Shiny
