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10 Best High Fiber Cat Foods for 2020
Is your four-legged friend getting enough high fiber cat food in their diet?
You know that your cat needs high-quality nutrition to stay fit and healthy as they grow from a kitten, into adulthood, but many people focus on protein, meat content and other ingredients, rather than fiber.
Although cats don’t need the same kind of fiber as us humans do, they do need something to help move things along in their digestive tract. That means finding a high fiber cat food could help your kitty to overcome all kinds of problems, from constipation to hairballs.
So, how do you start searching for a cat food high in fiber solution?
Read on.
In This Article
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Our Advice
Our Selection
High Fiber Cat Food Buying Guide
Fiber might not seem like a big deal for your cats.
In fact, according to animal nutritionists, cats don’t have a nutritional demand for fiber. Cats have a shorter digestive tract than a human or even a dog – which means that they can rapidly digest meat and other foods.
However, in the wild, cats are also used to eating a very different diet to what they get in their bowl at home. As much as you might not like to think about it, your little fuzzball was designed to be eating live prey, that means that they’d be chugging down birds, mice, and other creatures, bones, fur, and all.
Though those things aren’t traditionally what most of us think of when we picture “fiber”, they are the stuff that generally helps cats to move food through their digestive tract in the wild. Because those products are indigestible, they help to push things along and keep your cat’s gut healthy.
The Benefits of Cat Food High in Fiber
Since it’s becoming increasingly common for kitties to spend more of their time indoors, and less time on the hunt- particularly in the US, it’s our job as responsible pet parents to ensure that they’re getting the nutritional extras that they don’t get from live prey.
Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean that you need to start feeding Mr. Snowball frozen mice from the pet store. Instead, you can use a high fiber cat food, to support your cat’s digestive health (the less gross way). High fiber foods:
Understanding the Cat Food with High Fiber
One important thing to keep in mind when you’re looking for a high fiber cat food, is that there are different kinds of fiber available. Crude fiber refers to the indigestible carbohydrates that just cause stomach upsets and increase your cat’s chances of weight gain.
What you really need for your fuzzy friend is the right kind of dietary fiber.
Insoluble fiber or crude fiber is the bad stuff – the things that don’t break down easily and just create mass in the intestine, leading to constipation (and bad gas).
Soluble fiber is the stuff that you do want – the kind that can be broken down reasonably easily in the body while helping the bowel to work properly.
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Often, this means checking the labels on your cat food carefully. Some low-cost options try to deliver crude fiber in the form of wheat and corn, rather than something beneficial to your kitty. The biggest factor to consider in how valuable a certain kind of fiber is for your cat is fermentability.
This refers to how well the fiber can be broken down by the bacteria in the intestine. Fermentable products like pectin and beet pulp are usually more appropriate for keeping your kitty healthy. These tools give your cat the bulk they need, without unwanted side effects.
Are There Any Problems with High Fiber Cat Foods?
Giving your cat plenty of fiber does have benefits.
However, it’s worth remembering that plant-based fibers aren’t the best option for your cat – as it’s not what he or she would get in nature.
Sure, you can’t really give them a daily dose of fur, ligaments and bones. However, if possible, it’s often a good idea to solve the fiber issue without too much of a diet change. A spoonful of canned pumpkin, or the powder option we discussed above might be better than switching out your cat’s food entirely. Some foods can:
Choosing the Best High Fiber Cat Food
If Mr Mittens has issues with constipation, or even hairballs, then it might be worth switching him to a high fiber diet. Fiber really can make a difference to a cat’s nutrition – particularly if your kitty spends most of his time indoors.
However, you should always get your vet’s insight on the kind of food to offer. My favourite choice has to be the Hill’s Science Diet and Urinary Hairball control. I use this product for my Maine Coon, and I’ve seen a huge reduction in his hairballs, and less crying in the litter tray too. He also absolutely adores the taste, to the point where I have to keep the bag locked away or he’ll chew through it.
Hill’s Science is also recommended by vets (including my vet), so you know that it’s filled with nutritious content.
But, that’s not our only choice. Read below for our Top 10 and we’ll explain how each differ and why they might be the right high fiber cat food solution for your kitty.
The Top 10 Best High Fiber Cat Food Brands and Products
We’re looking at a bunch of different cat foods here to suit a range of different kitties. That means that we’ll be examining everything from kitten food to dry kibble and treats.
1. Hill’s Science Diet High Fibre Cat Food - Urinary & Hairball (Best Overall)
Hill’s science has an excellent reputation in the cat food industry for delivering high-quality meals with plenty of nutrition. The Urinary & Hairball control version of the Hill’s Science kibble is perfect for supporting your cat’s entire urinary system, providing optimal levels of magnesium.
For cats that regularly suffer from hairballs, this product is perfect, as it helps things to move through the digestive tract more efficiently. Plus, the mixture is high in protein to help with maintaining cat muscle and growth too. I use this exact food for my Maine Coon, and he loves it.
Vet-recommended, this is an excellent choice for those who need extra fiber. Just keep in mind that the kibble is quite large, so not ideal for smaller cats or those with troubled teeth.
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2. Orijen High-Protein (Best Premium)
If you’re keen to give your cat nothing but the very best, then you might want to try Orijen High-Protein. This sensational cat and kitten food comes with everything cat’s need for a great diet, including fresh free-run chicken and turkey, cage-free eggs, and wild-caught fish.
Thanks to the fresh and raw animal ingredients in this kibble, you can rest assured that your cat’s getting all the nutrition that he or she needs. What’s more, this food is completely grain-free, so you know that your kitty’s getting an extra dose of fiber, without unnecessary bulk.
Just keep in mind that this food can cause some pretty stinky poops. You may need to clean out your litter box more often.
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3. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food (Best Kitten Food)
If your bundle of fluff is still too small to tackle the Hill’s Science kibble designed for bigger cats, then it might be a good idea to start them on this instead. This kitten food comes with DHA from fish oil to help boost eye and brain development in kittens.
The kibble is rich in balanced minerals for keeping your young kitten healthy, and it’s excellent for mixing in with wet food too. What’s more, this vet-recommended food is made in the USA, with local ingredients that you can trust.
On the downside, this kitten food can smell pretty terrible, and it does contain pea protein, which might be problematic for some cats.
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4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-Free (Best Weight Control)
If you’re looking for a food that will give your kitty some much-needed extra fibre, without causing him to pack on the pounds, try the Blue Buffalo kibble. Made with real, fresh kitten to support your cat’s carnivore side, this food is excellent for both hairball and weight control.
The grain-free weight control and hairball food from Blue Buffalo is one of the top high fiber cat foods on the market for a number of reasons. First of all, it comes with exclusive lifesource bits, which are basically blends of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. What’s more, you can get this product in a range of different sizes.
On the downside, this is quite an expensive option for some households. Additionally, your cat might go to the litterbox more often, though their poops could be less smelly.
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5. Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health (Best Whole Body Health)
While finding a high fiber cat food can be important to improving your kitty’s overall wellbeing, it’s worth noting that there are other health issues to think about too. Your furball is still going to need plenty of high-quality proteins and other nutritional substances.
This Natural Balance Kibble comes with plenty of extras alongside the fiber, such as protein for healthy muscles, and EPA and DHA to support an active brain. There’s also a balanced selection of omega fatty acids to promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
Unfortunately, some cats don’t digest this product as well as others since the ingredients changed, so that might be an issue for some customers. Additionally, this is another high fiber option that may make your litterboxes more smelly.
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6. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food for Senior Cats (Best Senior Food)
We’ve looked at the top high fiber dry cat food for kittens, so it’s only fair that we consider the other end of the spectrum. Your older kitties also deserve a brilliant meal. This Senior version of the Hill’s Science dry cat food is designed specifically for cats over the age of 11. It comes with extra taurine for heart health, and minerals for bladder and kidney support.
This easily-digestible dry cat food comes with natural fibers to support the needs of older cats. Additionally, the smaller kibble size means that this product is a little easier to chew for cats with teeth problems too. You can mix the kibble easily with wet food, and you know that you’re getting a vet-recommended product too.
One downside is that it can be hard to find this product in many local shops. Additionally, you may find that your cat gains a bit of extra weight on this food.
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7. Taste of the Wild Grain-Free (Best Grain Free Food)
Finding a food with extra fiber in it shouldn’t mean having to compromise on quality. The last thing you want is tons of grain in your kitty’s meals, bulking out what they eat. Fortunately, the taste of the Wild cat food doesn’t suffer from this problem.
With the taste of the wild, you get a wide selection of fresh meats included within the food, perfect for helping your kitty to stay strong. Along with extra fiber, you also get probiotics to support gut health and other useful ingredients too, such as fatty acids and antioxidants to support heart health and a beautiful coat.
One problem with this food is that the quality can be a little unpredictable. You might get a different style of food from one month to the next. Also the size of the package that you can get seems to change regularly too.
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8. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free (Best High Fibre Dry Cat Food)
Blue Buffalo is an excellent choice for cat owners that want to give their kitties plenty of authentic ingredients, without the extra grain. This dry food comes complete with real chicken to support your cat’s carnivorous side, and there’s no grain at all. You’ll even get a healthy dose of some extra carbohydrates in this food in the form of sweet potatoes and peas.
The Blue Buffalo high fiber dry cat food also comes with omega acids to support healthy skin and fur. What’s more, this kibble includes a range of extra vitamins and minerals to encourage better immune system health and oxidative balance.
One issue is that some cats seem to prefer avoiding certain pieces of kibble within the food, perhaps because they’re denser and harder to chew. Additionally, this cat food doesn’t quite mix well with wet foods.
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9. NUTRO Perfect Portions Grain-Free (Best Pate Food)
Dry kibble can be an excellent source of extra fiber for your cat. However, not all cats are as fond of dry foods as their wet counterparts. That’s why we’re including a pate option for your fussy cats. The NUTRO Perfect Portions grain-free food comes in packs of two, so you can deliver the perfect portion to your kitty every day.
This high fiber wet cat food wet food comes with real ingredients from fish, meats, and poultry, and it’s easy to chew for kittens with tooth problems too. There’s no soy protein, corn, or chicken by-product meal in this product. Plus, the product is 100% made in the USA, which is a nice extra.
The problem with this best high fiber wet cat food is that it’s very smelly, and it can end up going everywhere when you try to open the packaging. Be prepared to end up with splashes on your clothes.
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10. Raw Paws Pet Organic Pure Pumpkin for Cats (Best Fibre Supplement)
If your cat is already used to a specific kind of food and you don’t want to run the risk of changing their diet, then this could be a great alternative. Instead of a high fiber cat food, why not use a supplement to turn every food into the perfect meal for your kitty?
This organic pumpkin powder works for both dogs and cats. You can sprinkle it onto their wet or dry food as an added vitamin supplement, and the results should be a healthier gut. The pumpkin powder is packed full of soluble fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, beta carotene, magnesium, and potassium, among other things.
One problem with this food supplement, however, is that it can go lumpy very easily, particularly when exposed to any kind of moisture. Additionally, the powder does smell pretty intense.
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Our Advice for the Best High Fiber Cat Food
We’ve talked a lot in this article about the different high fiber cat foods that you can choose for your cat.
If your kitty has a tendency to become constipated or has a problem with hairballs then a high fiber cat food diet is very likely to help.
This high fiber approach can really improve your kitty’s nutrition, especially if they aren’t getting much other variety in their usual diet - something that is particularly relevant in indoor only cats.
As well as this advice in this article we always recommend that you get the advice of your vet on your cat’s specific dietary needs as your cat might have additional needs.
But, our pick for most cats is Hill’s Science Diet and Urinary Hairball control. Especially if you have a long-haired kitty who gets a lot of hairballs.
We’ve also found that most cats really take to the Hill’s formula’s taste and so you get a happy and healthy cat.
Good luck choosing the perfect meal for your kitty!
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