How Fiber Helps Your Cat
Fiber is an important carbohydrate in a cats diet. In the wild, cats would get fiber from their prey, but domestic cats who dont hunt for their food have to get it in their cat food. Fiber is broken down differently than fats and proteins. Cats dont store fiber, but it passes through their digestive tract whole from top to bottom.
Fiber is essential because it keeps other food moving through your cats intestines at a reasonable rate. It helps form stool thats not too hard and not too soft, making bathroom trips more comfortable for your kitty. By doing this, fiber prevents both constipation and diarrhea, which is why high-fiber foods are used to fix these problems.
Weight management issues often arise in domestic cats because they are less active than their outdoor and wild counterparts. They sleep longer, groom themselves more, and dont have to expend energy finding their food. So, while outdoor cats probably dont need extra fiber in their diet, your indoor cats are likely to benefit from it.
- Want to know how various cat foods stack up against one an other? Read the Best Cat Foods
How Do I Feed My Cat Dry Cat Food
Interestingly, dry foods all contain some fiber and carbohydrates, which is what makes them dry food. So, if your cat only needs minimal fiber, almost any dry cat food will do.
But, of course, if your cat needs more fiber than what theyre getting in their regular dry food it may be time to switch to a high fiber dry cat food.
You can feed your cat all dry food, or serve it along with wet cat food. Its best to ask your veterinarian what they recommend.
Wet cat food is a great way to get some liquid into your cats diet which is extremely important for digestion and overall health. So, if you are serving only dry cat food, youll want to make sure your cat is offered and is drinking plenty of fresh water.
Best Overall Blue Buffalo Hairball Control Cat Food
Blue Buffalo cat food is the best overall for us when it comes to high fiber cat food for a healthy gut. This is because it helps combat hairballs, is excellent for weight loss, and the fiber comes from natural sources. Its so much value packed into one meal.
Blue Buffalo Hairball control has a high fiber content of about 7.4% while remaining grain-free. The primary protein in this meal also comes from animal sources which are great for your kitty. Add that to the lots of vitamins and minerals available, and its clear why this is a winner.
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High Fiber Cat Food 2022 Reviews That Are Good For Constipation
Is your cat getting enough fiber in her diet? With all the questions you’ve no doubt asked yourself about getting fiber, you might have wondered if Kitty needs more fiber. Since you are the one cleaning out the litter box, this question might have crossed your mind: What are some high fiber cat foods?
While lots of human foods like to tout themselves as high in fiber, do remember that what is good for you isn’t necessarily what’s good for your cat. You and your cat are two very different organisms. You have very different nutritional needs. When thinking about your cat’s food, there is one thing you must remember above anything else.
Cats are obligate carnivores
This means cats absolutely must have meat to survive. The one nutrient your cat needs most is protein. She will also need taurine, which is found in meat products. However, man does not live by bread alone neither do cats live by meat alone. A few vegetable products will not hurt your cat and may even give her a few extra vitamins, though it should no means be a meal substitute.
And, yes, your cat does need fiber in her diet. However, it is the kind of fiber you need to be on the lookout for. You also have to ask yourself why you think your cat needs more fiber. In some cats, you may have good reason to look for more fiber.
Here at FelineLiving.Net we have a dedicated mission to provide cat owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the best care and nutrition to their cat.
How Do I Know If A Cat Food Is High
High-fiber cat food should contain between 1.5 and 3.4% of prebiotics.
Common ingredients used to add roughage to the cats diet are peas, broccoli, legumes, carrots, apples, beetroot, pumpkin, lettuce, spinach, or any leafy vegetable. Ideally, the best high-fiber cat food should have added probioticstrains that help in digestion.
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Buyers Guide: Select The Best High Fiber Cat Foods
Most of us cats owners know that our furry friends are obligate carnivores. This means that naturally, they survive on a diet made of 100% meat. So, why would high-fiber cat foods even be a thing, when the fiber is usually found in fruits and vegetables?
A wild cats meat-based diet does contain some fiber: bones, cartilage, and fur or feathers. A cat in the wild will eat at least a few of these items each time they catch food. Cats digestive systems arent designed to digest this fiber, but it does travel through their intestines to be expelled at the other end.
In terms of plant-based fibers, the only place that a wild cat would consume this would be when they eat the intestines of their prey. Whats in there? Plant-based fibers like grasses, of course! This helps clean out the cats intestines, which can help them pass anything caught in there, like fur or worms.
You may have seen your little domestic tiger eating grass, and this is thought to serve the same purpose as the animal or plant-based fiber that a wild cat would eat. Some cats always seem to throw up after eating grass, but again, its thought that this helps clear their digestive system of something that they dont want in there!
Grass also contains folic acid, which is an essential nutrient that your cat needs to stay healthy.
So, we know that cats need at least some fiber in their diet. But why would a high fiber diet be good?
High Fiber For Constipation
If kitty has been spending a lot of time in the litter box, straining or making painful yowls, she may be constipated. If Kitty is constipated, fiber may be a good short term solution. You may also want to ask yourself if she’s getting enough moisture in her diet.
Your cat should always have fresh water available. You may also want to consider switching to a canned food diet to help her get more moisture.
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The Roles Of A Low Fat High Fiber Diet
There are a number of reasons that a cat may be placed on a low fat, high fiber diet. This food can offer relief to cats with chronic diarrhea as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease. Some older cats may benefit from the increased fiber content to aid in constipation. The most common use for these diets is to help chubby kitties lose weight. As with people, obesity increases a cats chances for developing diabetes, respiratory complications, arthritis and anesthetic risks. Dietary management is the first line of defense for overweight cats.
What Cats Actually Want To Eat
Studies on both indoor, commercially-fed cats, and feral and stray cats show that cats will self-select food sources that result in a macronutrient profile in this range :
- Protein: 52-63%
- Carbohydrate: 2.8-12%
What we believe this shows is that cats have evolved to thrive on a high protein, moderate fat, and low carb diet.
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Merrick Lid Canned Cat Food
While there are complaints about changes in the recent formula, owners of cats with sensitivities still love the limited ingredients options that Merrick creates. Like this cat owner says, I have been ordering this food since last year after a search for limited ingredient canned turkey cat food. I like it.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Fiber Premium Cat Food
Rachel Ray Nutrish Super Fiber Cat food is our best choice for high fiber cat food because it is affordable and includes essential dietary fiber and digestive enzymes. This recipe features overall good fiber content because it includes salmon meat, pumpkin, chicken, and lentils.
Overall it has 4.6% of fibers, which will help to control her weight. It is the fittest best cat food for all indoor cats. The goodness of cranberries will promote a level of antioxidants in your cat which helps to minimize damage to cells, promotes healthy and strong immunity.
It is on our top priority list because many cat owners are satisfied with this high fiber cat food, plus it is budget-friendly too. They said the nutrient count of these high-fiber foods is up to the mark. It contains all the essential vitamins and mineral that helps their cat to grow healthy.
With zero food filler and by-product meals, this high-fiber cat food is a healthy option because it has no additional flavoring and colorant. It is fortified with Omega-6, has digestive proteins for a good gut. Your cat wont face hair fall issues, diabetes, or obesity.
To conclude, we think this is the overall best high fiber cat foods.
Pros
- The best part, it is inexpensive yet high-fiber cat food.
- Features pumpkin, salmon, chicken, and lentils.
- Loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals.
- It fuels your cat with easily digestible animal protein.
Cons
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How Can I Add Fiber To My Cats Diet
There are many ways that you can add fiber to your cats diet. Because most of us feed commercial cat food, our kitties are not receiving whole animals, including the plant matter that is often found in preys stomach contents. Listed below are some of the fiber supplements that you can add to your cats diet.
Best Value Purina Beyond Grain
Purina offers some of the best value when it comes to high-fiber cat food in the market. It is also more affordable than a lot of the other brands. If you have an indoor cat with a need for high fiber, this brand is the right answer.
Purina stands as the brand with the highest fiber content on our list, containing up to 11% fiber. However, please note that it contains carbohydrates, so if your cat needs to avoid that, choose something else on our list. It is grain-free with an excellent mix of protein.
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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 being around 3%. Those fiber sources include:
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?
Does It Meet Your Cats Needs?
Best High Fiber Cat Foods
Principal Ingredients: Brewers Rice, Chicken By-product Meal, Corn, Chicken Fat, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Gluten, Psyllium Seed Husk, Dried Chicory Root, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil
Calories: 362 kcal per cup
This diet boasts a unique formula for felines that require especially high fiber diets for ease in eliminating stubborn fecal matter. In addition, the kibble blend features digestible proteins, oligosaccharides, and probiotics for a cats digestive system and gut health. But Royal Canin didnt stop there.
The manufacturer has included a S/O formula in this food to support urinary tract health. The chicken flavor is appealing to most cats and is specifically designed to aid in hairball control, weight management, healthy digestion, and urinary tract health, all in one kibble. It is particularly promising for cats with sensitive stomachs.
This diet is only available with a veterinary prescription, so be sure to consult your cats health provider if you think this might be the right food for your pet.
Principal Ingredients: Chicken broth, Chicken , Tuna, Pumpkin, Sunflower Seed Oil, Fish Oil
Calories: 54kcal per 3.2-oz. can 102 kcal per 6-oz. can 172 kcal per 10-oz. can
Rich in animal protein, accounting for 72% of this food, yet low in carbohydrate content, Weruva makes this canned wet food with human-grade ingredients. I like my cats food to have pumpkin, xanthan gum, sweet potato, and healthy carrots as fiber sources.
Calories: 398 kcal per cup
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Why Should My Cat Eat A High Fiber Cat Food
Indoor cats have slightly different needs than their feral relatives. While there are now numerous quality cat foods on the market that cater to the indoor cats specific needs and health issues, there are several good reasons for your cat to eat a high-fiber diet.
Below are listed some of the most common.
How Does Fiber Help
Fiber draws water into the colon. It is essential for the formation of healthy stools . The water will soften hard, dry stools and facilitate their movement and passage. In the event of diarrhea, fiber will absorb excess moisture.
Cat food companies will often put pumpkin and beet pulp in their commercial cat foods specifically for this reason.
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The Right Amount Of Fiber Can Promote Healthy Digestion But Dont Overestimate The Need To Add Fiber To Your Cats Diet
Cats are carnivores who live on flesh, fat, and bones. The natural feline diet doesnt involve cellulose powder, dried tomato pomace, or flaxseed. In contrast to the fiber fermentation machines that are herbivores, cats have short digestive tracts and their bodies dont spend much time fermenting what they eat.
But they do need a little fiber. When cats consume prey in the wild, they ingest all sorts of indigestible matterhair, claws, teeth, and connective tissue. Though its not fiber in the traditional sense, this indigestible stuff ferments in a cats colon and aids digestion. Since most people are unable or unwilling to add back this indigestible animal matter, plant fiber works instead.
Both soluble and insoluble fiber help to promote healthy digestion. They feed good bacteria in the gut and help the stool to retain water. A little bit of fiber is essential to keep your cats gut happy and healthy.
While a pinch of fiber is a friend for your cats GI tract, theres no need to fill your cat up with piles of fiber. In fact, most normal dry foodsnot even those marketed as high-fiber or indoor foodshave more fiber than a cats natural diet would ever include. A cats natural diet of fresh, whole rodents would be about 0.55% fiber. Compare that to the 4% fiber content of a standard dry food or the 9-10% fiber content of the typical indoor cat food.
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Discover our tool that calculates the daily portion for your pet. Fill in your pet’s information and you will get their daily feeding recommendation. In case of weight issues, do not hesitate to consult your vet to adapt this portion. Note that this feeding recommendation is more precise than the feeding table, therefore the values may slightly differ.
- Ingredients
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Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, corn, chicken fat, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, psyllium seed husk, natural flavors, dried chicory root, egg product, potassium chloride, fish oil, calcium sulfate, sodium pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, fructooligosaccharides, DL-methionine, choline chloride, vegetable oil, salt, taurine, hydrolyzed yeast, vitamins , L-lysine, trace minerals , marigoldextract , rosemary extract, preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid.
Calorie Content
This diet contains 3690 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram or 362 kilocalories ME per cup on an as fed basis .
- Guaranteed Analysis
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Best High Fiber Cat Food Options For Your Constipated Kitty 2022
Posted on Last updated: January 7, 2022
Keeping your cat healthy, happy, and active is a big responsibility. And taking care of a cat requires us to understand their behavior and what they need when it comes to things like high fiber cat food.
Just like humans, cats can suffer from a number of illnesses and physical problems. This could mean excess weight gain, diabetes, digestive issues, and hairball problems. And more often than not, particular foods can help manage these things.
Considering a high-fiber food can go completely against what you thought you knew about cats. Arent they supposed to be carnivores who do best when eating meat?
But high-fiber foods may actually be the answer to most of your cats problems. With the right knowledge, specialist advice, and reputable brands, you can ensure your cat has a well-balanced, healthy diet.
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