As responsible humans, it is important that we provide our companions with care and nourishment to promote their overall health and well-being. Those companions might be anyone from fellow human beings to animals.
If we talk about animals, human beings have been very fond of pet animals like cats and dogs from the start of evolution. In this blog, we focus on cats, referred to as ‘purr-friends.’ Taking care of cats is equally important as we pet them like our family members. The health and well-being of cats are both beneficial to cats and humans.
Many pet owners strive to enhance their cat’s digestive function, prevent digestive issues, and maintain a healthy weight. This blog about high-fibre cat food is designed to be informative and beneficial for experienced pet owners and those new to cat parenting.
Taking care of our cats is important for a few reasons. First, they need a balanced diet with the right protein, carbs, and healthy fats. Skipping out on this can lead to health problems like obesity, digestive issues, or even malnutrition. And, of course, regular trips to the vet for check-ups, vaccinations, and any necessary treatments are a must.
This way, we can catch and treat any health issues early and keep our cats feeling their best. Lastly, cats love to play and stay active, so giving them opportunities for mental stimulation and physical activity, like with toys or training, is key to keeping them happy and healthy. Doing all these things allows us to enjoy our time with our cats for years.
What Is Fiber and Why Is It Important for Cats?
Cats are independent by nature, but as they are domestic animals, they need our help to stay healthy. When we talk about a cat’s health, diet is prioritized, and fiber is one of the essential parts of your cat’s diet. It is a type of carbohydrate that can provide many health benefits to your cat.
Fiber is a carbohydrate that cannot be broken down or digested by the body. It moves through the digestive system and helps to keep your cat’s digestive system functioning correctly. It can also help keep your cat feeling full longer, which helps with weight maintenance. Additionally, fiber can help regulate blood sugar levels in cats, which could reduce the risk of diabetes.
Benefits of Fiber for Cats
Improved digestion, healthy weight maintenance, and reduced risk of diabetes are some of the advantages of fiber. Here are some details regarding the benefits.
Improved Digestion: Fiber helps keep your cat’s digestive system functioning correctly and can help prevent constipation.
Healthy Weight Maintenance: Fiber can help cats feel full longer and can help prevent overeating.
Reduced Risk of Diabetes: Fiber can help regulate blood sugar levels in cats, which could reduce the risk of diabetes.
Types of Fiber
There are two main types of fiber:
- Soluble
- Insoluble
Soluble fiber is those which dissolve in water and can help with digestion. Examples include psyllium husk, oats, and barley.
Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water and is not digested by the body, but it can help move food through the digestive system. Examples include wheat bran and cellulose.
Sources of Fiber for Cats
Cats are always in need of fiber for their health. Well, there are several sources of fibers, but we have picked some of them here:
Cat Food: Cat Foods are mainly made from natural sources like pumpkin, oats, and barley. You can get cat foods for your cat at any market – they are rich in fiber and are non-toxic to the body since they contain natural elements.
Supplemental Fiber Sources: Besides traditional dietary sources, various supplements can provide additional fiber to cats.
Natural Fiber Options: An alternative approach is incorporating natural fiber sources into a cat’s diet, such as canned pumpkin or sweet potato.
How Much Fiber Does Your Cat Need?
There are a few factors to consider before deciding the amount of fiber your cat needs. Your cat’s age, activity level, and overall health are some of them. The recommended fiber for cats is between 3-6 grams per day.
Health Benefits of High-Fiber Cat Food
High Fiber Cat Food comes with several health benefits for cats. One of the main benefits is improved digestion. – it helps keep your cat’s poop healthy and regular and prevents constipation. Plus, it can also improve the quality of their stool and reduce the risk of diarrhea or vomiting.
Another perk of high-fiber cat food is weight control. The fiber will help your cat feel satisfied for longer, preventing overeating and keeping them at a healthy weight. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, especially for cats with medical conditions like diabetes.
And last but not least, high-fiber food can also help reduce hairballs. The fiber helps your cat’s digestive system process hair more efficiently, reducing the chance of hairballs forming in its stomach or intestines. So, if you want to give your furry friend the best, consider switching to high-fiber cat food!
Nutritional Benefits
High-fiber cat food offers many nutritional benefits for cats. One of the most important benefits is higher protein content. High-fiber cat food typically contains more protein than regular cat food, which is essential for cats’ overall health and development.
In addition to higher protein content, high-fiber cat food contains added vitamins and minerals essential for cats’ health. Vitamins A, B-complex, D, E, and K are all necessary for cats’ overall well-being. The added minerals in high-fiber cat food can help support cat bone health and muscle function.
Finally, high-fiber cat food comes in various flavors that can help keep cats’ diets interesting. Cats are notoriously picky eaters, so having a variety of flavors to choose from can help them stay interested in their food.
How To Find The Perfect Cat Food For Your Cat?
As a pet owner, selecting the appropriate nutrition for your feline is of vital importance to maintaining their health and overall well-being. When deciding on a food, it is crucial to evaluate elements such as your cat’s age, physical condition, activity level, and any health concerns they may have.
To ensure optimal nourishment, it is advisable to select high-quality, balanced diets that are suited to their species, containing appropriate proportions of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Monitoring your cat’s weight and adjusting their food intake as necessary is also an important factor in maintaining their health.
To gain further insight and obtain personalized dietary recommendations, it is recommended to consult with a licensed veterinarian who can assist in navigating the various food options available. By taking a proactive approach to your cat’s nutrition, you can provide the essential nutrients required for optimal growth and vitality.
What Are The High Fiber Cat Foods Available Today?
High-fiber cat food is becoming super popular with pet owners because it’s really good for a cat’s health. As said before, fiber helps keep their weight in check, improves digestion, and makes their tummy feel better. Many options, from dry kibble to canned wet food, are all made with natural ingredients to meet a cat’s specific nutritional needs. Here are some of our picks on high-fiber cat foods available today at a reasonable price.
Purina Beyond Grain-Free Chicken Wet Food
There is a reason behind Purina Beyond Grain-Free Chicken Wet Food’s popularity. It is made from carrots, cellulose, and guar gum and adds up to 11% fiber to your cat. Simply, it is one of the cat foods that are rich in fiber, and if you own an indoor cat, it might be the perfect choice of food for your cat. It contains real chicken and is rich in vegetable accents – it comes as a grain-free cat food. The plus point about this cat food is it does not have artificial colors and flavors.
Similarly, Purina Beyond Grain-Free Chicken Wet Food comes at a reasonable price, so if you are on a tight budget, you don’t need to worry about buying it.
Besides all that green flags, it contains 16.8% carbohydrates, and cat scholars believe that this product might not bring good consequences in the long term.
Pros
- High Fiber for the development of kittens
- Grain-Free Product
- No Artificial Colors And Flavors
Cons
- 16.8% Carbohydrates
Primal Duck Formula Freeze-dried Nuggets Cat Food
Primal Duck Formula Freeze-dried Nuggets Cat Food also comes under high-fiber cat foods as it promotes around 4% of fiber. Its all-natural ingredients make it a first choice for many cat owners – it is gluten-free, grain-free, and does not contain antibiotics, steroids, or added hormones.
As suggested by the name, Duck is the primary source of fiber. It is regarded best for your cat’s sensitive stomach, which means it is advantageous for its digestive system. As mentioned above, it is all-natural and is made from vegetables like squash, carrots, broccoli, and pumpkin seeds. Since it is natural, there is no need to worry about the side effects of this cat food – you can go along with it without any defects on your cat.
Primal Duck Formula Freeze-dried Nuggets Cat Food helps your cat relieve inflammation and promote skin and coat health as it contains Omega-3 Fatty Acids. This product is best for adult cats – you should be more careful if feeding it to your small kitties. Serving is simple and easy, just add water and mix it before you feed your cats.
Pros
- Natural Ingredients
- Rich in Fiber (4%)
- Comes With Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Best for Adult Cats)
Cons
- Need to mix with water before serving
- Rich in Fat (35.25%)
Feline Freeze-Dried Nuggets
Feline Freeze-Dried Nuggets come in the list of high-fiber cat foods as it contains 4% of fiber. Besides, it has 2.75% of Calcium and 1.67% of Phosphorus to strengthen your cat’s bones. This cat food is made from Duck (with ground bone) and Duck Livers. It contains Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Cranberries, Organic Blueberries, Organic Kale, Organic Squash, Organic Carrots, Organic Broccoli, and Organic Sunflower Oil.
Feline Freeze-Dried Nuggets are also rich in Zinc Sulfate and Liquid Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation products. As the study said, this product increases the amino and essential fatty acids and serves vitamins A, B-complex, C, and D to the cat’s body. It does not have any synthetic Vitamins or antibiotics in its ingredients.
To serve Feline Freeze-Dried Nuggets, rehydrate them with warm water or goat milk so it gets into the process of optimum nutrient absorption. You can also soak it in a Bone Broth. A thing to be noticed, it should be stored in a cool and dry place.
Pros
- Rich in nutrients like Fiber, Calcium, and Phosphorus
- Best for the muscle and bone development of cats
- Fatty-3 Acids and Vitamins like A, B-complex, C, and D.
- No artificial ingredients
Cons
- Need to be kept in dry and cool place
- Need to soak into water, goat milk, or bone broth before serving
Freeze-Dried Raw: Bird By Smalls
Freeze-Dried Raw: Bird by Smalls is one of the high-fiber cat foods available now and is one of the popular foods for cat owners today. This product’s popularity comes from its richness in fiber, which is 3%. Similarly, it contains 45% of the protein needed for your cat and moisture of 8%.
Besides, Freeze-Dried Raw: Bird by Smalls contains 367 mg of Phosphorus, 433 mg of Calcium, 51 mg of Taurine, and 73 mg of Sodium.
Freeze-Dried Raw: Bird by Smalls is made from chicken with bone, chicken heart, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, and chicken egg. Similarly, other components include a mixture of goat’s milk, water, eggshell membrane, herring oil, and mixed tocopherols.
Apart from all the nutritional components, this product still has 15% fat, which might only be a choice for some cat owners. And it is also pricier than other cat foods, so you may not buy this cat food. But if you do, it’s a positive call.
Pros
- All natural ingredients
- Rich in Fiber, protein, and moisture
- Calcium, Phosphorus, and Sodium for bone development
Cons
- Contains Fat (15%)
- Expensive than other products
Hill’s Science Diet Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food
Hill’s Science Diet Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food falls under it when you talk about high-fiber cat foods. It has 3.5% fiber, which is good for the cat’s digestive health and more. Having an immense amount of fiber, Hill’s product stands as one of the nutritious foods for cats as it also contains 33.0% of protein, 8% of Moisture, 85 mg of Vitamin C, 525 IU of Vitamin E, and Taurine of 0.35%.
Science Diet Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food is made from Chicken, Chicken Fat, Chicken Liver Flavor, and Egg Products. Similarly, it contains Brown Rice, Wheat Gluten, Whole Grain Oats & Wheat, Cracked Pearled Barley, Flaxseed, Calcium Sulfate, Lactic Acid, and Fish Oil.
It comes in a grain-type product with chicken as a primary flavor and is best regarded for kittens. It is considered best for the kittens’ healthy brain and eye development. Also, it helps young cats build lean muscle, strong bones, and healthy teeth.
The only red flag on Hill’s Science Diet Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food is it contains 19% of fat, which might not be suitable for all kittens. But it is cheaper than other cat foods you get in the market.
Pros
- Helps in cat’s digestive system
- Rich in Fiber (3.5%)
- Contains Protein, Moisture, and Vitamin
- Fatty-3 Acids
- Cheaper
Cons
- Contains 19% Fat
WholeHearted Soft Center Crunchy Salmon Flavor Treats for Cats
(https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/wholehearted-soft-center-crunchy-salmon-flavor-treats-for-cats)
WholeHearted Soft Center Crunchy Salmon Flavor Treats for Cats is one of the cheapest but high-fiber cat food you can get today. It contains Crude Fiber of 7%, which is relatively higher than that of other cat food you can buy. The protein of 30% and Moisture of 12% are some things you should notice before purchasing this product for your cat – they are both necessary for developing your kitty.
This Crunchy Salmon Flavor Treats for Cats has several ingredients like Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Barley Flour, Chicken Fat, Natural Pork Flavor, and Pork Fat. Similarly, Rice Flour, Brewers Dried Yeast, and Dried Whey are other components that make it nutritious.
The primary food flavor is fish, which comes in a crunchy form – in addition, it is also grain-free, so it is a plus point to your cat’s eating mechanism. It can be fed to cats of all life stages, and as it does not have any artificial colors and ingredients, it is considered healthy for your cats.
You only have to simultaneously serve two calories of this Salmon Flavor Treats to your cats.
Pros
- Contains 7% Fiber
- Contains nutrients like Protein and Moisture
- All Natural Ingredients
Cons
- Contains Fat
Feline Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food
Feline Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food contains 4.7% of its fiber, making it one of the most nutritious food items for cats. As said by the manufacturers, this product helps your cat suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss. This product is made for adult cats to get rid of constipation and related illnesses.
Brewer rice, chicken by-product meal, corn, and chicken fat are the primary ingredients of Feline Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food. It also has Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, which helps shape cats’ urinary health. It also contains 3690 kilocalories of metabolizable energy and Crude Protein of 29%, while the richness in Moisture (8%) makes this product popular amongst many pet owners.
Pros
- Best for the intestinal system of cats (helps cats with constipation)
- Rich in ingredients like fiber, protein, and moisture
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil
Cons
- Contains 29.0% Fat
Intense Hairball 34 Adult Cat Dry Food By Royal Canin
(https://www.royalcanin.com/us/cats/products/retail-products/hairball-care-dry-cat-food)
Royal Canin is a familiar name for serving nutritious cat foods. Since their establishment in 1968, the manufacturers have been offering varieties of cat foods for decades.
The Intense Hairball 34 Adult Cat Dry Food is favorable for cats of all life stages and sizes as it comes with 50+ ingredients. While chicken is the primary flavor, ingredients like chicken meal, corn gluten meal, brown rice, corn, chicken fat, and natural chicken flavor are affluent in this product. Similarly, it contains natural ingredients like pea fiber, dried plain beet pulp, psyllium seed husk, powdered cellulose, and other vegetables.
Intense Hairball 34 Adult Cat Dry Food contains Crude Fiber of 8.4% and protein 34%. Similarly, other nutrients like Moisture and fat are also available in this cat food. As per the manufacturers, this product helps cats gain energy and also helps in their body development and maintenance. They are targeted exclusively for indoor cats – promoting hairball management, and elimination is considered best. Similarly, the digestion capability of the cats is increased by the intake of this product.
Pros
- 50+ All natural ingredients
- Rich in Fiber and protein
- Best for body development of cat
- Increase the digestion capability of cats
Cons
- Contain Fat (13.0%)
American Journey Turkey and Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
(https://www.chewy.com/american-journey-turkey-chicken/dp/158628)
American Journey, Turkey, and Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food are one of the high-fiber cat foods you will now get in the market. It contains 4% Crude Fiber and 40% protein that helps your cat’s body development. To get your cat a strong bone development, this product has 1.2% Calcium and 1% Phosphorus. Besides, 75 IU/kg of Vitamin E, 2.5% Omega-6 Fatty Acids, and 0.3% Omega-3 Fatty Acids are some of the nutrients you will get in this product.
This product is mainly targeted at pregnant or nursing cats, and they should always be provided with plenty of fresh water after its consumption. Similarly, it is favorable for the kittens too, but they should be fed 2-3 times the adult feeding amounts.
American Journey’s Turkey and Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food contains Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, and Dried Egg Product. Similarly, it is composed of other natural elements such as Pea Protein, Natural Flavor, Menhaden Fish Meal, and Chicken Fat.
Pros
- Rich in Fiber and Protein
- Contains Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- All Natural Ingredients
- Grain-Free
Cons
- Contains Fat
- Should be mixed with water before serving
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball And Weight Control Recipe
(https://bluebuffalo.com/dry-cat-food/wilderness/indoor-weight-control-hairball-chicken/)
It is one of the fiber-rich cat foods of this time, with around 7.4% Crude Fiber. It comes with a chicken flavor and is made of Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein, and Peas. Similarly, other elements available in this product are Chicken Fat, Sweet Potatoes, Potato Starch, and Natural Flavors.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Hairball And Weight Control Recipe also come with an affluent amount of Protein (36%), Moisture (9%), Magnesium (0.14%), and Taurine (0.15%). Moreover, it is rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Omega 6 Fatty Acids, available in 0.5% and 2.25%, respectively.
This cat food helps achieve and maintain the ideal body weight of your cats. Similarly, it also aids your cat in building and maintaining lean muscle mass. It is considered best for hairball control and also helps eliminate hairballs.
Pros
- Rich in Fiber (7.4%), Protein (36%), and Moisture (0.14%)
- Made with All-Natural ingredients
- Helps to maintain body weight of cats
Cons
- Contains 12.0% Fat
Conclusion
Overall, putting high-fiber cat food into a cat’s diet has numerous advantages. Fiber supports digestive wellness, reduces the occurrence of hairballs and constipation, and stabilizes blood sugar levels. A balanced fiber intake also helps achieve and sustain a healthy weight and satiety.
In the meantime, when considering switching your cat’s food to a high-fiber option, there are a few things pet owners should keep in mind. The first is cost – high-fiber cat food tends to be more expensive than regular cat food because it contains more nutrients and higher-quality ingredients.
Pet owners should also consider how to transition their cats from regular cat food to high-fiber cat food – a gradual transition over several weeks is usually recommended to give cats time to adjust to the new diet.
Finally, pet owners should take the time to research different brands of high-fiber cat food and find one that is appropriate for their cats’ age, weight, activity level, and any existing medical conditions they may have.