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Smelly, messy litter boxes are no fun—for you or your sweet cat. But you can give your kitty’s digestion a little help. After your vet has ruled out health issues (such as worms, or irritable bowel disease), you can consider probiotics for cats.
We’ve scooped up some information on adding probiotics to your cat’s diet—how to use them, and when they are most effective—plus rounded up a shortlist of some of the best probiotics for cats.
What Are Probiotics for Cats?
Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts—live organisms—that help us digest foods and help our immune systems. This is true for people, cats, dogs, and other animals.
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 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 your cat restore their healthy balance of bacteria; as well as help cats with sensitive stomachs.
“The benefits are positive with few, if any, potential side effects,” Richter notes.
As this PetMD article points out, each species has its own unique mix of digestive system microflora. So you don’t want to give your probiotics to your kitty—it’s best to stay with probiotics formulated especially for cats—and, fortunately, there are quite a few of them available.
How to Find the Best Probiotics for Cats
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. This is why some probiotic supplements state that they should be refrigerated after opening and almost all say that you should store them in a cool, dry place.
Top Choices for Probiotics for Cats
One of the best things about the variety of probiotic supplements out there for cats is that you have many forms to choose from. You can find probiotics as scoopable powders, capsules, and chews for cats. Most powders get mixed into food, and some can be mixed into your cat’s water. Quite a few probiotic supplements include tasty ingredients such as brewer’s yeast and dried pork liver to tempt your cat. Whichever type you start with, be patient—you may have to try a few probiotics to find one that pleases your kitty.
Vetnique Labs Profivex Powder Probiotic for Cats
This formula, with five probiotic strains, earns rave reviews from pet owners. A one-scoop serving contains 12 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), which is considered a very high-strength product. It’s made in the U.S.
Shop on ChewyNutramax Proviable-DC Probiotic Capsules for Cats
These capsules, at five billion CFUs each, contain seven probiotics formulated for dogs and cats. Sprinkle capsules, which you open to distribute the powdery contents onto the cat’s food, make it easy to make sure your cat is getting the correct dose without having to measure.
Shop on ChewyFera Pet Organics Probiotics
One of the highest-rated probiotic formulas for cats, this powder contains five billion CFUs per scoop and 11 live powerful strains of living good bacteria to help with diarrhea due to inflammatory bowel disease, parasitic infection, bacterial overgrowth, or GI lymphoma. It’s made in the U.S.
Shop on ChewyPurina Pro Plan FortiFlora Probiotic for Cats
This probiotic supplement powder for cats, flavored with brewer’s yeast, is specially formulated to promote normal intestinal microflora in cats suffering from diarrhea. In addition to probiotic microorganisms, it provides vitamins, minerals, and taurine. FortiFlora comes in pre-measured packets, with a daily dose in each one.
Shop on ChewyVetriScience Vetri Mega Probiotic Capsules for Cats
Purely probiotics, this formula for dogs and cats comes in sprinkle-capsule form. For cats, give just a half-capsule daily, mixed with food.
Shop on ChewyVetriScience Gastrointestinal Health Chews for Cats
Does your kitty like chews? You can help their digestion with these tempting duck-flavored daily probiotic tidbits, formulated specifically for cats. These supplements include both probiotics and prebiotic fiber and are made in the U.S.
Shop on ChewyPet Naturals of Vermont Daily Probiotic Chews for Cats
These chews have natural duck flavoring and contain a wide range of probiotics and digestive enzymes for cats. They recommend giving your kitty one chew daily. While some cat parents report these are highly effective, others noted that their pets were reluctant to eat the chews.
Shop on ChewyTummyWorks Probiotics and Digestive Supplement for Cats
A powdered probiotic for both dogs and cats, this supplement gets rave reviews from cat parents. It includes digestive enzymes and prebiotics as well as probiotics.
Shop on ChewyVetOne Advita Probiotic Supplement for Cats
Tomlyn Pre- and Probiotic Powder for Cats
This probiotic powder for cats is designed to be mixed into your kitty’s water. It comes in pre-measured packets with more than four billion CFUs (and several types of probiotic) per packet.
Shop on ChewyBeyond Probiotics for Cats
If your cat is having problems with diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation, you always want to start by checking in with your veterinarian. They can provide guidance, including suggestions for special diets or feeding strategies. Check out our articles on food for cats with sensitive stomachs and slow feeder bowls for cats who eat too quickly.
Further Reading
- Liquid Vitamins for Cats: Does Your Kitty Need Them?
- Cat Joint Supplements: Do They Really Work?
- Exploring Omega-3 for Cats: Can It Boost Your Kitty’s Health?
Featured image by Sergei Wing/Unsplash