There are few things more terrible than a cat suffering from an unchecked gut. And if you don’t believe us, ask any cat owner with a kitty that has suffered from inflammatory bowel disease. They’ll clue you in.
But there is a way you can help prevent this miserable situation, and that’s through the use of probiotics.
Probiotics are live bacteria or yeast structures that are good for your body and gut health. They help humans (and your beloved feline) with digestion and maintaining a clean, infection-free intestinal tract. You can find naturally occurring probiotics within dairy products and fermented foods we eat.
But what are the best probiotics for cats? Their diets don’t generally include sauerkraut and yogurt. Fortunately, there are a bunch of options available. However, not all of them are top-notch.
That’s why we’ve put together this list of reviews to include some of the best probiotics for cats available on the market today. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly which one is right for you and what to look for in your kitten’s probiotic.
If we had to choose just one probiotic to give to our cats, it would be this one. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Probiotic is an incredible option. It comes in the form of a probiotic powder in individual sachets. To feed it to your cat, simply sprinkle it on top of their food.
A single sachet of this stuff comes loaded with 500 million colony-forming units (CFUs) to help produce healthy gut bacteria. And it carries one of our favorite strain families—enterococcus—which helps your cat stay regular.
And don’t worry about your cat not liking the powder either. There are very few cats around that can resist its savory taste. That’s because it’s made with animal digest, which is a substance made from the enzymatic hydrolysis of animal tissue resulting in an irresistible flavor.
It’s also relatively inexpensive. For just around a dollar a day, you can ensure that your furball gets their daily dose of probiotics to help them thrive. All-in-all, there’s little negative to say about this product. Sure, there’ll be rare instances where your cat might not enjoy it. But nothing’s perfect.
All in all, we think these are the overall best probiotics for cats.
Pros
500 million CFUs in a single sachet
Irresistible savory taste
Made with animal digest
Relatively cheap
Contains enterococcus
Cons
Rare instances of cats not liking it
2. VetriScience Probiotic Everyday Cat Chews – Best Value
One of the most common reasons cat parents don’t give their loved ones probiotics is because of the cost. However, VetriScience Probiotic Everyday Cat Chews throws that excuse right out the window. It’s easily the best cat probiotic for the money available. And it’s not just cheap either.
This probiotic comes in the form of a little bite-sized chew akin to a soft cat treat. This makes them super easy to administer to your kitty. Simply replace one of her daily treats with one of these probiotic chews. They’re also flavored with a novel protein (natural duck) so there’s less chance of any food allergy.
While they don’t contain one of our favorite probiotic strains for cats, it does have Bacillus coagulans (100 million CFUs worth) which helps to ease stomach pain and bloating. And the chew is also loaded down with prebiotics—in the form of fructooligosaccharides (FOS)—that amplify the effects of the probiotics.
The biggest downside to these is that they’re hit or miss with your cat when it comes to flavor and texture. Some cats will just want to spit these out the first chance they get. However, there is a workaround if you’re still looking to give these a try. Crumble up the chew and mix it in with her cat food.
If you’re looking to go the extra mile with your cat’s probiotic supplements, you might want to check out Nusentia Probiotic Miracle Premium Blend. It’s a top-of-the-line probiotic blend that works for both dogs and cats which makes it great for multiple species households. But what makes it so premium?
Instead of having a single probiotic family, this supplement includes 6 different strain families to help promote the best gut health around. And with this many strains, it’s easy to see how each scoop of this probiotic powder contains over one billion CFUs! Also, this formula contains naturally occurring FOS from chicory to help amplify their effects.
However, there are a couple of downsides to this product that keep it out of our top spot. First, it’s expensive and not widely accessible to all budgets. And second, it’s not the most appealing on this list. So, while you may be able to afford it, your cat might not want to touch it.
Sometimes, you don’t need to go the extra mile when it comes to shopping for your cat’s probiotic. A simple supplement may be all that you want to give them. If so, Finest for Pets TummyWorks works just great.
It’s a relatively affordable powder that packs a sheer wallop when it comes to strain families. It comes with 10 different varieties of probiotics with 2 billion CFUs per scoop. However, they don’t include any of our top strain families for cats, which is kind of a bummer. Although there’s an overload of probiotics, it’s not as effective as our top choice for helping control stool or gut issues.
Thankfully, it does include plenty of prebiotic compounds to help accentuate the power of the product and make up for its lack of cat-orientated compounds. At the end of the day, this probiotic is great for those looking to give a wellness boost to their little ones.
This entry on our list is a bit different than the rest because this probiotic is completely plant-based. And while cats are strictly carnivores, there’s nothing dangerous about feeding your cat this supplement. It comes in a powder form that can be easily mixed in with one of your cat’s meals.
However, picky cats may not like this one. There’s no real “meat” flavoring which cats desire. And there have been cases where cats have lost weight while on this probiotic. This could be the desired effect for overweight felines. But if your cat is of normal build, you might want to forgo this powder.
Pros
Safely vegetarian and vegan
Cons
Cats may not like this flavor
Probiotic can cause a cat to lose weight
6. Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Probiotic Cat Chews
If your cat doesn’t take to probiotic powders too well, Pet Naturals of Vermont Daily Probiotic Cat Chews could be a viable alternative. They provide 100 million CFUs with every chew and are designed to help your cat combat indigestion and diarrhea.
The chews are duck flavored and provide a combination of 9 different probiotics and prebiotic compounds—although none of our top strain families. They’re also extremely cheap. They cost less than our best value choice. But there are a few reasons why they’re further down the list.
First, these chews are completely packed with flour. Five out of the seven top ingredients of this product are flours and meals made from either oat, rye, barley, or rice. This is not ideal for cats. Second, these don’t have the mass flavor appeal that other probiotics have. And lastly, the texture of these chews make them difficult to eat. They’re not soft nor crunchy but instead have a rubber-like texture.
When it comes to CFUs per serving, there’s no other entry on our list that can even compare. Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Cat Supplement boasts a whopping 58 billion-plus CFUs per serving! And that’s because this particular formula brings together 14 of the best probiotics for cats into a single blend.
However, this kind of power comes at a cost. It’s far from the cheapest option on this list and will quickly become a real expense over time. Also, it claims to have no flavor at all when mixed into your cat’s food. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Picky eaters can tell it’s there.
NaturVet’s Advanced Probiotic is another powder to be mixed in with your cat’s food. It claims to provide almost 2 billion CFUs per scoop and at a veterinary strength. However, when it comes to probiotics, don’t be fooled by language such as veterinary strength. All probiotics are considered “vet strength”. That being said, upon review, NaturVet isn’t a terrible product.
It’s specifically designed for cats and dogs with sensitive tummies and promotes gut health in a way that’s gentle on them. However, there are only 2 different strain families of probiotics in this formula—neither of which are among our most coveted.
Pros
2 billion CFUs per scoop
Designed for cats with sensitive stomachs
Cons
Misleading sales language
Only 2 types of probiotics—that aren’t among the best for cats
At first glance, this probiotic formula looks very official and appears to be a prescription supplement. However, the VetOne Advita Probiotic supplement isn’t one at all. The formula is an OTC powder that contains 4 different active cultures and prebiotic inulin at 5 billion CFUs per serving. And when compared to other powders, it is relatively cost-efficient.
However, the major downfall of this probiotic is its lack of uniformity from batch to batch. One batch will work great, providing your kitty with top-notch protection. But the next batch might not work at all or even worsen your cat’s condition. This makes it very difficult to keep your cat on a steady regimen.
Also, the blend is made with poultry liver powder. While tons of cats love liver, many cats can’t stand it at all. This is a complete hit or miss probiotic. If there was a better execution from it, this supplement would surely rank high on our list.
When first looking at Fera Pet Organics Probiotics, we were very hopeful. It has great reviews and the ingredient list looked pretty solid. It’s another vegetarian option with probiotics coming from different plant sources that are safe for cats. And it’s even got 5 billion CFUs per serving with 12 live strains of probiotics.
However, the Fera Pet probiotics fell entirely short of our expectations. It just doesn’t seem to work. Maybe it’s because the cultures come from vegan sources and cats are obligate carnivores. Or maybe we just didn’t stick around with the product long enough to see any results. In our defense though, we should have started seeing results within 2 weeks.
Pros
12 different strains of probiotics
5 billion CFUs per serving
Cons
Not effective
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Probiotics for Cats
As you can see, there are many different probiotics available for your cat to take. But let’s take a closer look into what probiotic strains are best for cats, the incredible benefits they can have, and which cats can and should take them in the first place.
What to Look for When Choosing a Probiotic
There are several different factors you need to consider when shopping for a probiotic for your cat.
Form: This is probably going to be the trickiest part of shopping for a probiotic. Probiotics can come in many forms whether it be a powder, gel, or even a However, cats can be quite picky when it comes to textures. And it may take some trial and error before you find the right one for your cat.
CFUs: When it comes to probiotics, the higher the CFUs—the better. The more colony-forming units found within your cat’s probiotic will equate to its potential effectiveness.
Strain: There are many different strain families when it comes to probiotics. Each of which targets different aspects within your cat’s body. We’ll go more in-depth below about which two we recommend for your feline.
NASC Quality Seal: NASC stands for the National Animal Supplement Council, and they’re a nonprofit group dedicated to ensuring the safety and quality of pet products. Any probiotic that’s earned their seal of approval is likely to be a great candidate.
Price Point: You need to consider your budget when looking for a probiotic. Probiotics can run the entire spectrum of affordability, so there’s bound to be one that’s perfect for your finances.
What are the Best Strains of Probiotics for Cats?
Probiotics don’t just come in a single catch-all strain. There are several different variations. However, there are two in particular that happen to be especially helpful for felines.
Enterococcus: This strain group lives deep inside your cat’s digestive system in the large intestine—specifically the colon. Enterococcus probiotics have a direct impact on the formation of “normal” fecal matter.
Bifidobacterium bifidum: With this strain family, the bacteria live within the small intestine of the digestive tract and helps with overall health. It’s also the strain group responsible for warding off irritable bowel syndrome.
There are strain groupings other than these, though. But when you’re searching you’re your cat’s probiotic, you’ll want to make sure that at least these two are involved.
Benefits of Probiotics for Cats
There’s more to probiotics than just keeping your cat’s bowels in check. There’s a ton of different exciting benefits that probiotics can provide your cat. Here are some of the major areas that they deal with:
Better Gut Health: Believe it or not, it’s the good bacteria that live inside your cat’s digestive system that help keep it running smoothly. Probiotics are super effective at controlling gas, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, and even loss of appetite.
Lowered Cholesterol: Probiotics are also great for helping ensure that your kitten’s ticker beats Studies have shown that probiotics can lower LDL cholesterol levels which can be amazing for overweight cats.
Stronger Immune System: It’s been shown that gut health has a direct correlation to immune health. The stronger your digestive system, the stronger your immune system, and vice versa.
Lessened Allergic Reactions: Although there are several theories, there’s no clear-cut answer as to why probiotics lessen the degree of allergic reactions. However, the effect is real. So, if your cat suffers from skin or food allergies, probiotics may be a viable solution.
Post Illness Recovery: There’s a chance that if your cat does pick up a bacterial infection, your vet will prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are great at eradicating harmful bacteria, but they can also take down some of the good ones. Taking probiotics afterward will help your cat reestablish the status quo of their bellies.
Can All Cats Use Probiotics?
Probiotics are amazing, but are they amazing for all cats? There’s been no evidence to show that probiotics are anything but helpful for your feline friend! However, you shouldn’t just take our word for it.
Be sure to communicate your desire to give probiotics to your cat with their veterinarian. They may even give out their recommendation as to which is best for your situation. Just remember, your kitten needs to be at least 6 weeks old to start taking probiotics.
How Long Does It Take for Probiotics to Start Working
While probiotics might seem like nature’s miracle, they can’t perform instantaneous magic. They take a little while to start working. You might see some results within a few days, but normally it takes a couple of weeks for results to truly be prominent.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article helped to shed some light on probiotics and their effect on cats. We understand that there are tons of options available. But through our reviews, we believe that you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which choice is best for your furry friend.
Our favorite recommendation is the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets FortiFlora Probiotic. It’s an amazing choice due to its surefire efficacy in combating diarrhea and ensuring your cat has a clean bill of health.
But if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for preventative care, we’re standing behind VetriScience Probiotic Everyday Cat Chews as the best cat probiotic for the money. They’re affordable enough to give your cat one-a-day and provide tons of value for your cat’s health.
But with whatever option you choose, be sure to consult with your vet first. They’ll be able to provide you with more details as to which is best for your cat. However, one thing is for certain. Probiotics are an amazing way to help give your kitten an advantage in their life!
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.
