The importance of fiber in cat food

High-fiber cat food has become a staple food for animals with GI problems because dietary fiber is important in their diet.

Fiber helps improve digestion and stool quality in cats prone to digestive disorders. Foods high in dietary fiber can be helpful for constipation, diarrhea, diabetes, and even obesity.

Microbiome and fiber in cat food

The microbiome refers to the billions of microorganisms – bacteria, protozoa, fungi, viruses that live in the body of cats, as well as dogs, humans and other living creatures. This concept also includes the unique gut microbiome in the cat’s digestive system. This ecosystem of living organisms is fundamental to digestion.

Bacteria in the colon of pets help break down indigestible substances and produce beneficial compounds for digestive and overall health, such as vitamins. The last of these functions is especially clearly manifested in the breakdown of fiber. Bacteria often interact with fiber in a process called fermentation.

Even though furry cats are carnivores, fiber cat food is good for their health.

Classification of fiber in cat food

Fiber is usually classified into soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber dissolves in gastric juices and other fluids, turning into a gel from which gastrointestinal bacteria can eventually obtain energy. 

Soluble fiber is rapidly fermented. These types of fiber breakdown products can support colon cells. The soluble fiber found in cat food helps to moisten the stool and speed up the digestion of pets. For this reason, veterinarians often recommend fiber foods for cats with constipation.

Insoluble fiber also has its benefits. This bulky substance, called slow-fermenting fiber, slows down the passage of food through the intestines. Veterinarians recommend insoluble fiber foods for cats for a variety of reasons. In some cases, this may be preceded by too soft stools or inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon.

Prebiotics in cat food with fiber

Cat food containing fiber usually includes a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber. Some of these ingredients are also called prebiotics. These are usually fermentable fibers that promote the growth of “good bacteria” that live in the intestines.

Some high-fiber cat foods help with GI problems precisely because they saturate these bacterial colonies and promote ideal bacterial balance in cats that lack it. Many diseases of the digestive system, including chronic diarrhea, colitis, and constipation, can cause or result from bacterial imbalances.

Other Benefits of High Fiber Cat Foods

A high fiber diet may be beneficial for diabetic cats. This is because some fibers slow down the absorption of nutrients, allowing the sugar from starches to be absorbed more sustainably. This leads to the stabilization of blood sugar levels. 

Overweight cats may benefit from a high-fiber diet. It gives a greater feeling of satiety compared to conventional foods, and weight loss can help manage and prevent many diseases.

Cat food containing fiber can help pets suffering from gastrointestinal diseases that affect the colon. When fiber is broken down, molecules called long-chain fatty acids are formed. This can help the cat’s colon perform its basic functions.

Is dry food with fiber for cats natural (in terms of their nature)

When cats are left to their own devices, they eat many different things that people consider unnatural for them. It can be wool, bones, cartilage, feathers, fish scales and the contents of the stomachs of their prey. It’s unpleasant, but natural. Some are only digestible to a certain extent, while others may contain fiber but still be good for digestion.

While scientists still have a lot to learn about cat nutrition, they are beginning to realize that fiber can actually benefit carnivorous cats. A study on cheetah eating habits, published in the Journal of Animal Science, found that animals that ate whole prey – including fur, stomach contents and everything else – had a more favorable fecal profile than cheetahs that ate only meat. This led the researchers to believe that additional roughage is beneficial to carnivores.

The role of low fiber cat food

Your veterinarian may recommend a low-fiber cat food. This food is suitable for pets in which the small intestine is more prone to inflammation than the thick one, for example, cats with certain inflammatory diseases of this organ. Such pets require easily digestible food, consisting of simpler molecules that will not overload the intestines.

When choosing food for a cat, it is always necessary to consult a veterinarian. If a high-fiber food is prescribed for a pet, the doctor must definitely monitor the reactions of the cat’s body to dietary fiber.