We all want the best for our feline friends, and choosing the right diet for your cat can seem like a bit of a minefield. There are so many different types of cat food, from high protein and high fiber to limited ingredients and even primitive recipes designed to emulate your cat’s diet in the wild.
One type of cat food that you might be interested in is high fiber cat food. Now, not all cats will need a food with a high fiber food, so make sure you do your research before you switch your cat to this type of diet.
If your cat lives indoors, suffers from hairballs, or seems to constantly suffer from either constipation or diarrhea, then a cat food that’s higher than average in fiber may well help them to feel more comfortable. Read on for our recommendations of the best high fiber cat foods!
We selected the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Grain-Free Dry Cat Food as the best high fiber cat food available. It has a fiber content of 7.3%, achieved through a range of quality ingredients, including pea fiber, psyllium seed husks, alfalfa, and sweet potatoes. As well as being high fiber, this kibble is grain-free and contains 36% protein.
The USA made formulation is designed specifically for indoor cats, who may be more prone to being overweight and developing hairballs. The lean chicken used in this recipe helps develop healthy muscles but doesn’t contain too many calories. The natural blend of fibers helps prevent hairballs, keeping your indoor kitty healthy.
To conclude, we think this is the best high fiber cat food out there this year.
Pros
Available in two bag sizes
Includes 7.2% fiber
Grain-free
Real chicken as the first ingredient
Includes antioxidants
Made in the U.S.A.
Cons
Best used for indoor cats only
2. Iams ProActive Health Dry Cat Food — Best Value
As the best high fiber cat food for the money, we suggest the Iams ProActive Health Dry Cat Food. This kibble contains a bespoke blend of fibers, including beet pulp, carrots, blueberries, spinach, and peas. These are all designed to help your cat stay healthy and in great condition. The fiber content is optimized through the use of a prebiotic blend, helping your cat’s digestive system make the most of all the nutrients that this food contains.
With a protein content of 38%, this high fiber cat food uses real chicken as the first ingredient and includes salmon. While this is a great choice, it missed out on the best overall spot because it does also contain meat by-products, which some cat owners prefer to avoid.
As a premium choice product, the Royal Canin Fiber Response Dry Cat Food is great. This kibble has been carefully designed to help support your cat’s digestive system and is particularly useful if your cat has been suffering from appetite loss, vomiting, or diarrhea. It contains a blend of fibers designed to stimulate the movement of the intestines, including psyllium seed husks, chicory root, and corn.
This kibble also contains prebiotics to help keep your cat’s digestive system healthy. We also like the fact that it helps reduce the formation of bladder crystals, meaning it’s a great choice for cats with urinary tract issues. As a specialized feed, you’ll need authorization from your vet to purchase this. The only thing we don’t like about this feed is that it contains meat by-products and eggs, which some cats can be sensitive to.
Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Gran-Free Cat Food is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a dry kibble that provides high protein and fiber and is inspired by your cat’s needs as an obligate carnivore. Turkey and chicken meal are used to provide most of the protein, while the fiber comes from a blend of spinach, blueberries, cranberries, and apples.
Earthborn also contains probiotics, omega fatty acids, and vitamins, everything your cat needs to look and feel their best! What it doesn’t contain are any grains, gluten, or artificial preservatives or colorings, though it does have egg. As a bonus, the packaging is BPA free and is created in a plant that uses clean natural gas, so this kibble is also good for the environment!
The recipe used within the Wellness CORE Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is designed to meet your cat’s needs as a true carnivore. With a high-protein content of 45% and fiber from cranberries, potatoes, and chicory root, this premium-grade food will help keep your cat looking and feeling on top form. We like the fact that the first two ingredients are deboned turkey and chicken, and that this doesn’t contain any meat by-products is a great bonus.
Besides plenty of protein and fiber, this kibble also contains plenty of omega fatty acids, probiotics, and antioxidants to help support your cat’s immune and digestive systems. This food is made in the U.S.A. using the best quality ingredients. It’s free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives and doesn’t contain any wheat, corn, eggs, or soy.
The Natural Balance L.I.D. Indoor Grain-Free Dry Cat Food has a high fiber content of 8%, thanks to the inclusion of chickpeas, beet pulp, and peas. The formula is specifically designed for indoor cats, so it contains fewer calories than a more active outdoor cat would need. This kibble contains prebiotics to help your cat’s digestive system stay strong and healthy.
The limited list of ingredients is great if your cat suffers from allergies because it helps you control what they’re eating while making sure all their essential nutrients are covered. This cat food with fiber also helps control hairball production, which can be an issue for indoor cats.
The Nutro Wholesome Essentials Dry Cat Food contains chicken as the first ingredient, as well as a blend of fibrous ingredients designed to help support your cat’s digestive system. These include brown rice, split peas, beet pulp, and whole-grain sorghum. It also contains plenty of antioxidants to keep your cat’s immune system strong.
The formula contains omega-6 fatty acids from fish oils, which help your cat’s skin and coat look their best. If you’re looking for a food that doesn’t contain any GMO ingredients, soy, wheat, or meat-by-products, this is a good choice.
Pros
Good value for money
No meat by-products
Cons
Contains grains
Not suitable for kittens
Some cats don’t like the taste
Buyer’s 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 cat’s 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. Cat’s digestive systems aren’t 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. What’s in there? Plant-based fibers like grasses, of course! This helps clean out the cat’s 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, it’s thought that this helps clear their digestive system of something that they don’t 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?
What’s the benefit of a high fiber diet?
First off, it’s important to note that a high fiber diet is not suitable for some cats. But first, let’s see when a high fiber cat food can be a good thing.
Your cat has hairballs. If your cat is longhaired or sheds frequently, they may be more prone to developing hairballs. Some cats have no trouble vomiting these up now and again, and while they’re not exactly pleasant, they’re better out than in! Other cats, unfortunately, have more difficulty and may not be able to vomit up their hairballs. Instead, the balls can get stuck in their intestines, which is not good. Signs your cat has a hairball lodged somewhere in their system can include a lack of energy, disinterest in food, and repeated coughing, gagging, or vomiting. They may also be suffering from either constipation or diarrhea. A cat in this condition will need to see a veterinarian as soon as possible. High fiber diets are designed to prevent hairballs from getting stuck because the fiber helps everything, including hairballs, pass through your cat’s intestines more smoothly.
Your cat is overweight. Some cats, especially those living indoors, are more prone to obesity. Indoor cats won’t exercise as much as a cat that spends more time outdoors, so it’s easier for them to gain weight. High fiber cat foods can be useful for weight management because the fiber will help your cat feel full, without adding extra calories to their diet.
Your cat has diarrhea or constipation. A high fiber diet can help control both diarrhea and constipation. Fiber helps waste matter travel along your cat’s intestines at the correct rate, so your cat’s poop will end up being the correct consistency.
When not to feed your cat a high fiber diet
As a general rule, most cats don’t need a high fiber diet. If your cat is looking healthy on their current lower fiber food and their poop is regular and of a good consistency, you should probably keep them on their current food.
Too much fiber can stop protein from being absorbed correctly in the gut, and we all know the importance of protein to help our cats build lean muscle mass.
Before switching to a high fiber cat food, it’s a good idea to consult with your veterinarian. They’ll let you know whether this is a good option for your cat.
Types of fiber in cat food
There are two different types of fiber that you’ll see in cat food: insoluble and soluble.
Insoluble fibers help lubricate your cat’s intestines and can include whole grains, corn, peas, and tomatoes. They also help food travel more slowly through your cat’s gut, so they can gain the maximum benefit from all those nutrients.
Soluble fiber is highly digestible and can dissolve in water. This sort of fiber is added to cat food to help it pass through your cat’s digestive system more easily. Soluble fibers found in cat foods include fruits and vegetables, flaxseeds, psyllium husks, barley, and certain types of legumes.
What else to look out for
As well as checking the fiber percentage of each food you’re interested in, make sure to note the protein level as well. Protein is vital for helping your cat develop mean muscle and is an essential component of any cat’s diet. If a cat food has high fiber content at the expense of protein, it won’t benefit your cat in the long run.
As our best overall high fiber cat food, we chose the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. This has been specially formulated for indoor cats and contains 7.2% fiber, which will help control hairballs. The lean chicken is used to provide protein and control your kitty’s calorie consumption.
As the best value high fiber cat food, we suggest the Iams ProActive Health Dry Cat Food. This contains a blend of healthy fibers and prebiotics, all designed to help your cat’s digestive system function at its best. While it doesn’t contain artificial dyes or preservatives, it does contain meat by-products, as expected for a budget kibble.
We hope that our reviews have helped you find out more about what high fiber cat foods are, as well as the best products to consider if you’re making the switch to a high fiber diet for your cat.
Christian is the Editor-in-Chief of Excited Cats and one of its original and primary contributors. A lifelong cat lover, now based in South East Asia, Christian and his wife are the proud parents of an 11-year-old son and four rescue cats: Trixie, Chloe, Sparky, and Chopper.
