The 10 Best High Fiber Foods For Cat
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
The most typical piece of advice offered to cat owners about food selection is to choose a meal that is strong in protein. What is less common is the advice to provide a high-fiber diet. Although we seldom consider feeding our cats significant quantities of fruits and vegetables, it is essential.
There are several advantages to feeding your cat high-fiber cat food, such as controlling their digestive movements, aiding in weight reduction, and reducing hairballs. Additionally, it may aid cats with diabetes or anal gland disease and prevent colon cancer.
To assist you in locating the best high fiber foods for cat, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) have analyzed a selection of the top brands on the market.
Reviews
Recipe for Purina Beyond Indoor Grain-Free Chicken
Purina Beyond Indoor Grain-Free Chicken Recipe is less expensive than many other high-fiber cat feeds, making it our top suggestion. It is a good source of protein in a cat food formulated for indoor use.
Carrots, cellulose, and guar gum are the sources of fiber in Purina Beyond, which has 11% fiber in total.
This makes it one of the foods on our list with the most fiber. It still contains 16.8% carbs, thus it may not be suitable for feeding cats prone to obesity on a long-term basis.
Pros
- Reasonable pricing
- Very high levels of fiber
Cons
- High quantities of carbohydrates
Wellness CORE Indoor Grain-Free Chicken & Liver Recipe
The bulk of indoor cat meals are developed on the assumption that indoor cats are susceptible to obesity, hairballs, and constipation. This supposition indicates that the majority of indoor cat meals are rich in fiber.
The Wellness CORE dish contains numerous sources of protein while limiting carbs. This food’s fiber level is increased by pea fiber, flaxseed, and a variety of gums.
Although they are not the most attractive meals in the world, they are excellent for enhancing digestion since they are high in soluble fiber.
This snack contains prebiotic fibers in the form of chicory root extract. This promotes healthy gut flora in your cat and promotes digestive wellness. This meal has around 9 percent fiber overall.
This dish is our premium option since it is more costly than other high-fiber options.
Pros
- Diverse fiber sources
- Low in fat to aid in weight control
Cons
- Not the greatest source of fiber
- Expensive
The Original Ultra Chicken Meal and Salmon Meal Formula of Natural Balance
Natural Balance Original incorporates a range of lipids, carbs, vitamins, minerals, and fiber into its high-protein chicken.
The fiber content is reported as 3%, although it is derived from numerous sources in order to aid your cat’s digestion. This meal offers appropriate nutrients for all phases of life, so you may even give it to your kitten.
This meal has no artificial colors or flavors and has calcium and phosphorus levels that have been carefully adjusted to aid in the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth.
Pros
- The assemblage of several fiber sources
- Suitable for all phases of life
- No artificial colors or flavors
Cons
- 3% fiber content only
Weruva Cats in the Cooking Area
Weruva Cats in the Kitchen is an additional high-fiber cat food. This cuisine is high in animal protein, low in carbs, and created using human-grade components of the highest quality.
Pumpkin, sweet potato, xanthan gum, and carrots have been added to this cat food to boost its fiber content. Even though it contains a significant amount of plant stuff, it has 72% protein, making it suitable for cats.
This cat food’s very high protein and fiber content makes it ideal for cats with constipation or digestive difficulties.
Pros
- High protein and fiber content
- Excellent ingredients
Cons
- More plant material than is typical in cat food
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Veterinary Diet
Royal Canin meals are prescription foods, and a prescription from your veterinarian is required to purchase them. For cats with severe digestive problems, it may be worthwhile.
This meal has 34% less calories than the high-energy version of Royal Canin, making it a perfect option for cats that need to lose weight.
Additionally, it includes prebiotic fiber to support healthy gut flora and digestive function, as well as readily digestible proteins. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids are added to decrease inflammation.
According to Royal Canin Gastrointestinal customer evaluations, allergies, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms are significantly improved.
This dish is rich in carbs because it includes a substantial quantity of maize starch and corn flour. This alone makes it a short-term remedy and not a long-term feeding choice for your cat.
Pros
- Great for stomach ailments
- Prebiotics and omega-3 fatty acids were added.
- Low-calorie
Cons
- elevated in carbs
- It includes corn starch and cornmeal.
Wellness CORE Original Grain-Free Dry Formula
This Wellness CORE kibble has 38% protein and 5% fiber. It includes solely natural sources of fiber and is formulated for less active indoor cats. The protein sources include deboned chicken and turkey of superior grade.
This food is fantastic since it does not include any fillers, grains, byproducts, or artificial additives. It has 20% less fat than typical commercial cat food, making it an excellent option for cats with weight problems.
Pros
- High-protein
- Organic fiber sources
- Low-calorie
Cons
- only 5% fiber
- Designed exclusively for indoor kitties
Recipe for Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball Control Chicken
This Blue Buffalo dry cat food is based on the diet of a wild lynx. It contains 7.4% fiber and is 100% grain-free. Deboned chicken, chicken, and fish meal are the key protein sources, while peas, potatoes, and sweet potatoes provide the carbs.
Veterinarians carefully created this meal to prevent weight gain and hairball production. This is accomplished effectively by the addition of cellulose and psyllium seeds, as well as an abundance of vitamins and minerals to promote general health.
Pros
- Food for weight control
- Natural sources of fiber and carbohydrates
- Also combats hairballs
Cons
- Indoor felines exclusively
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Duck Recipe
Merrick Limited Ingredient food is offered in varieties of duck, chicken, and salmon. This meal has a small number of components, making it easier to monitor your cat’s diet.
This is a fantastic feature if you have a sensitive stomach or gastrointestinal disorder.
This wet food is easily digestible and contains a sufficient quantity of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and fur.
Pros
- Foods with few ingredients
- Appropriate for cats with food allergies.
Cons
- Expensive
Conclusion
For the best high fiber foods for cat, Natural Balance Original Dry Cat Food is BestForPets‘ (bestforpets.org) pick. As the most cost-effective alternative, we suggest Purina Beyond as the greatest value.
These evaluations can help you select the finest high-fiber diet for your cat since they include a number of wet and dry food alternatives. Our buyer’s guide will help you know what to look for while shopping so that you can bring your cat back to optimal health.
Buyer's Guide
How Fiber Advantages Your Cat
An essential carbohydrate in a cat’s diet is fiber. In the wild, cats get fiber from their prey; however, domestic cats that do not hunt for their food must obtain fiber from their cat food.
Fiber is digested differently than proteins and lipids. Cats do not retain fiber; instead, it goes intact through their digestive system from top to bottom.
Fiber is vital because it maintains a normal pace of food transit through your cat’s intestines. It helps create a stool that is neither too firm nor too soft, making your cat’s potty outings more pleasant.
In this way, fiber reduces both constipation and diarrhea, which is why diets rich in fiber are used to treat both conditions.
Because they are less active than their outdoor and wild relatives, domestic cats often struggle with weight control. They sleep longer, groom themselves more often, and do not need to devote energy searching for food.
Therefore, although outdoor cats generally do not need more fiber in their diet, your indoor cats may benefit from it.
The rationale for Feeding a High-Fiber Diet
There are a variety of cat foods specially created to meet the nutritional requirements of indoor cats. Here is a list of particular ailments that fiber-rich foods may aid:
Hairball control
Domestic cats groom themselves more often because they have more time to do so. As they lick their fur, they will undoubtedly consume some fur.
The majority of it passes through the intestines in the same manner as food, but sometimes it may form hairballs in the stomach.
The elimination of hairballs is an unpleasant task. Cats will convulse till they vomit. Then you are forced to pick it up off the floor. Hairballs are more prevalent in elderly cats and felines with longer fur.
If your cat can vomit out the hairball, everything will be OK. However, in certain situations, these hairballs might get trapped and create problems.
Diets high in fiber may help avoid these issues by decreasing the number of hairballs your cat generates. Special hairball formula meals reduce shedding and facilitate the passage of hair through the intestinal tract.
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Obesity
Indoor cats are susceptible to weight problems and obesity because they consume more calories than they expend. In the wild, cats may spend many days without eating and cover a great distance during that period.
Our indoor cats consume numerous meals each day and spend a considerable amount of time napping or lounging. These variables contribute to weight growth.
Because it helps your cat feel fuller for longer, a high-fiber diet may assist in weight reduction and weight control. They consume less food and need fewer meals every day.
Due to the fact that fiber is not absorbed by your cat’s digestive system, it does not enhance its total calorie intake.
Constipation and loose stools
These situations are both unpleasant for your cat. The first stool is too dry and travels too slowly to make passage pleasant.
With the latter, the liquid travels too quickly and emerges runny. Both are indications that your cat’s digestive system is not functioning properly.
Fiber has a crucial part in the formation of a healthy stool. It attracts water into the intestines to soften hard feces and removes water from runny stool to impede its transit.
Both beet pulp and pumpkin are high-quality fiber foods that effectively treat constipation in cats.
Various Types of Fiber
Fiber may be derived from either animal or plant sources. Both can be digested by cats, but they function differently.
Here are the kinds of fiber found in cat chow and their respective qualities.
Soluble fiber – These fibers will be mentioned as pectin or gums on the ingredient list. As it attracts water into the colon, soluble fiber is an effective constipation remedy.
Insoluble fiber – Examples of insoluble fibers include cellulose and peanut hulls. These fibers make feces bulkier as they transit through the intestines and are excellent diarrhea remedies.
Moderately fermentable fiber – Some sources of fiber possess both soluble and insoluble characteristics. As they regulate your cat’s digestive tract, they are often the best option for digestive difficulties. Pumpkin, beet pulp, and bran pulp are common examples of moderately fermentable fibers.
Cons of High-Fiber Foods
High-fiber diets for cats may not come without drawbacks. Before altering your cat’s diet, you should always visit your veterinarian. Occasionally, extra fiber may be retained as fat, making it more challenging to regulate your cat’s weight.
It is also essential to consider the ratio of proteins to carbs in your cat’s diet. Without sufficient protein, cats will lose muscular mass, which is vital to their health.
Here are some precautions to take while purchasing cat food to prevent possible issues:
- The protein level should never be raised at the cost of fiber content in cat food. Cats are carnivores that need a diet rich in meat. Replacing this with an excessive amount of carbs will never be advantageous to the health of a cat.
- Allergens – Cats with food allergies or food sensitivities might develop digestive issues. Grain and artificial additive sensitivity is frequent.
- Cats must consume both soluble and insoluble fibers.
- This kind of fiber is the most advantageous for cats since it performs the functions of two other types.
- Protein to carbohydrate ratio – To maintain your weight, you should seek out foods that are rich in protein and low in carbs.
- Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids contribute to the optimal condition of your cat’s skin and coat. Additionally, they minimize shedding and prevent hairballs.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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