How Do Fiber Supplements Affect a Cat's Diet?

By nature, cats are carnivores, and their bodies are able to metabolize all of the nutrients they need through consumption of animal protein. Of course, most domesticated cats don't eat wild-caught animal prey, instead relying on their human companions to provide them with commercially produced cat foods. Dry, moist and wet cat foods provide varying levels of protein, fiber, carbohydrates and vitamins, the majority of which meet a cat̵7;s overall nutritional needs. The introduction of additional vitamins or fiber supplements into a cat̵7;s diet should be discussed with a vet, because an overabundance may be harmful to a cat̵7;s health.

  1. The Role of Fiber

    • Fiber acts as a bulking agent and helps facilitate the transportation of food through the digestive tract. A diet low in fiber can result in feline constipation, hard stools and difficult elimination. A diet too high in fiber can have the opposite effect, leading to runny, loose stools, bloating, diarrhea and intestinal discomfort. Most cats don't require fiber supplements beyond the levels traditionally found in high-quality, commercially produced cat foods unless otherwise indicated by a vet. Commercial cat-food standards for basic minimum nutritional requirements can be accessed through the Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

    Weight Management

    • Feline obesity results from overfeeding or allowing a cat to remain sedentary. Obesity can lead to a host of health issues, including heart disease, joint problems and feline diabetes. An overweight cat may be prescribed fiber supplements or a diet of high quality commercial cat food that has a higher-than-normal fiber content to help with weight management. Dry food tends to have a higher fiber content than wet or moist foods.

    Table Foods and Treats

    • Many cat owners like to offer tidbits of human food as treats for their animal companions. While small amounts of protein are acceptable treats, providing they don't exceed more than 15 percent of a cat̵7;s dietary intake, cat owners should pay close attention to the fiber content of these foods. Cats have a unique metabolism that can̵7;t handle fiber in the same quantities as people or dogs.

    Aging Cats

    • Cats have a tendency to become less active as they age, which leads to a change in dietary needs. Your vet may prescribe vitamin or fiber supplements designed to balance the diet of older, sedentary cats to help stave off weight gain and the potential for associated health problems down the line. For best results, have a licensed vet regularly monitor your cat's dietary needs.