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Are you worried because your cat seems to have digestive issues? Gas, diarrhea, or a smelly litter box are no fun for your cat—or for you. Your veterinarian is always your first stop so they can rule out—or treat—health issues such as worms or irritable bowel disease. However, if it seems like a dietary issue, you might want to try a probiotic cat food to see if that helps your cat’s digestion.
Why Probiotics?
Probiotics are various types of bacteria and yeasts—live organisms—that exist in your cat’s digestive tract.
Dr. Gary Richter, an award-winning vet and member of Rover’s Dog People Panel, explains that “Under the right circumstances, bacteria can help with digestion and nutrient absorption, prevent diarrhea and constipation, support optimal immune system function, and prevent inflammation.”
But if the normal, healthy mix of microflora in your cat’s system gets disrupted—by illness, or by antibiotics used to treat illness—your cat’s health is likely to suffer. Probiotics can help restore a healthy balance of bacteria—plus they help if your kitty has a sensitive stomach.
Richter says of probiotics, “The benefits are positive with few if any, potential side effects.”
How to Find the Best Probiotic Cat Food
While many premium cat foods and supplements contain probiotics, not all probiotic formulas are equally effective. Probiotics are most effective when the bacteria are live and in high concentration—as much as one billion colony-forming units (CFUs) in a daily dose. For maximum effectiveness, store your probiotic dry cat food in a cool, dry place.
You’ll find that probiotic cat food is almost always dry cat food. That’s because probiotics, even freeze-dried ones, are live. They wouldn’t survive the high-heat cooking process that is part of canning food.
To check if a dry food you are considering contains probiotics, check the ingredients list. There should be an entry that looks something like this: “Bacillus coagulans—600 million CFU/lb min.” It means that the probiotic bacteria Bacillus coagulans is present at the level of 600 million colony-forming units per pound of cat food. Bacillus coagulans is just one of several types of beneficial bacteria you might find on an ingredients list.
We found several cat food formulas that include probiotics. Among them are grain-free, high-protein, and limited-ingredient recipes, so whatever your cat requires, you can probably find it with added probiotics. (For those of you who order fresh cat food or make your own cat food, check out these healthy probiotic supplements you can mix into your kitty’s meals.)
Our Top Probiotic Cat Food Picks
Many of our favorite cat food brands have formulas that include probiotics for healthy digestion—here are our top choices.
Purina Pro Plan Liveclear Probiotic Formula
This chicken-based dry cat food from Purina is fortified with probiotics. It’s also formulated with an egg-based protein that helps neutralize Fel d 1, a common allergen found in kitty saliva. The kibble comes in 3.5-pound, 7-pound, and 16-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyAddiction Grain-Free Viva La Venison
This dry probiotic cat food is rich in protein from New Zealand venison, along with fruits and vegetables and a few probiotic sources. It’s available in 4-pound and 20-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyNow Fresh Grain-Free Senior Weight Management Recipe Dry Cat Food
Is your cat age 7 or older? Here’s a weight-management dry food that’s formulated especially for senior cats. It includes turkey, salmon, and duck along with veggies, prebiotics, and probiotics. Available in 4-pound, 8-pound, and 16-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyNature’s Logic Feline Rabbit Meal Feast With Probiotics
This dry food recipe for cats of all ages starts its ingredients list with rabbit and includes a variety of vegetables, plus probiotics. It comes in 3.3-pound, 7.7-pound, and 15.5-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyInstinct Ultimate Protein Freeze-Dried Raw-Coated Dry Cat Food
This dry food is formulated to come as close as possible to a protein-rich raw food diet for your cat. It includes taurine, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids, and probiotic bacillus coagulants. It comes in an easy-to-try 1.8-pound package, as well as in 4- and 1-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyPurina Beyond Simply Grain-Free Dry Probiotic Cat Food
This simple-ingredient recipe is based on poultry and it includes probiotics as well as vitamins and minerals. Available in 3-, 5-, and 16-pound bags.
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Probiotic Cat Food
Merrick’s Backcountry Game Bird probiotic cat food is infused with freeze-dried raw bites of chicken, duck, and quail. This grain-free recipe is available in 3-pound, 6-pound, and 10-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyCanidae Grain-Free Pure Stream Limited-Ingredient Diet Cat Food
Need a limited-ingredient probiotic cat food? This recipe focuses on proteins from trout and promises no corn, wheat, or soy. It includes five types of probiotics and is available in 2.5-, 5-, and 10-pound packages.
Shop on ChewyWysong Epigen 90 Starch-Free Formula Dry Dog and Cat Food
Epigen 90 is a starch-free cat food recipe with 63 percent protein and 16 percent fat, plus probiotics and prebiotics. It includes chia seeds, apple pectin, chicory root, enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It’s available in 5-pound bags.
Shop on ChewySolid Gold Indigo Moon Dry Cat Food
This grain-free, gluten-free, high-protein food is designed for adult cats. In addition to poultry, it contains salmon oil, vegetables, minerals, taurine, and three types of probiotics. You’ll find it in 3-, 6-, and 12-pound bags.
Shop on ChewyMore Help for Cats with Digestive Issues
If your cat is having problems with diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation, you always want to start by talking with your veterinarian. They can provide guidance, including suggestions for special diets or feeding strategies. Check out our articles on cat food for cats with sensitive stomachs and slow feeder bowls for cats who eat too quickly.