The Best High Fiber Cat Food for a Healthy Gut

Many people get a little confused when they hear about high-fiber cat foods. They wonder if cats are no longer carnivores who need meat. The answer to this lies in the fact that cats have experienced lifestyle changes over time due to domestication.

You see, back then, cats had to hunt for their food and had a very different diet. Your furry friend probably stays indoors and likes to laze about now. As a result, their dietary requirements are a bit different.

There are many reasons why it is necessary to feed your cat food that is high in fiber. It is a great way to prevent hairballs and helps with digestive issues. Cats with diseases like diabetes could also benefit from taking a high-fiber diet. It has also been proven to help with weight loss.

Choosing the best high-fiber cat food for a healthy gut is important. That’s why we’ve made a list of some of the best brands to help you choose. Some of the things we considered include the percentage of fiber, price, and the quality of ingredients used.

A-Z-Animals Top Picks for High Fiber Cat Food

#1 Best Overall: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Dry Cat Food

Our selection as the best overall high fiber cat food is the Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Dry Cat Food.

This food contains real chicken and turkey as the main ingredients to provide a high-quality protein source. It also contains flaxseed and salmon oil as a leading source of omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 is essential for promoting a healthy skin and coat. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants to support the immune system and promote overall good health. Plus, contains probiotics to support the digestive system. Finally, this food is free from fillers, meat by-products, wheat, corn, soy, eggs, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

The only drawback to this food is that some cats do not like it.

Pros and Cons of the Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Dry Cat Food

Best Overall

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Original Formula Dry Cat Food

• Specifically for non-active indoor cats
• Fiber sources are natural
• No fillers, artificial additives, or grains
• Less fat

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2. Best Value: Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Pate

Choosing high fiber food for your cat doesn’t need to break the bank. Therefore, we recommend the Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Pate.

This food contains chicken as the first ingredient as a source of high-quality protein. It also contains tasty vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes. It’s packed full of vitamins and minerals to promote overall good health in your cat. It also contains taurine which is essential for maintaining a healthy heart. This food comes in a tasty pate formula that is highly palatable. Plus, it’s completely free from grain, wheat, soy, poultry by-products, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Unfortunately, some owners reported that their pets did not like this food.

Pros and Cons of the Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Pate

Best Value

Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Pate

• Affordable option
• Highest fiber content
• Grain-free
• Contain antioxidant-rich vegetables

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3. Best Prescription Diet: Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Cat Food

As the best veterinary prescribed food we recommend the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Cat Food.

This tasty chunks in gravy food contains chicken liver as the primary source of protein. It is packed full of vitamins and minerals to ensure your cat remains in the very best of health. It also contains omega-3 fatty acid to promote a healthy skin and coat. The addition of prebiotics and probiotics in this food ensure that your cat’s digestive health is looked after too. Plus, this food has a low fat content to help prevent pets from becoming overweight.

Unfortunately, as this is a veterinary prescription only food it is more expensive than others on the list.

Pros and Cons of the Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Cat Food

Best Prescription

Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Gastrointestinal Canned Cat Food

• Prescription food for cats with digestive problems
• Contains prebiotic fiber for a healthy gut
• Has fewer calories
• Supports urinary health

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4. Best Limited Ingredient: Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Limited ingredient diets are a great option for cats with sensitive stomachs, which is why we suggest the Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Canned Cat Food.

Containing only the finest ingredients, this food features deboned duck as the first ingredient. It also contains natural antioxidants to support the immune system, and omega-3 fatty acid to promote a healthy skin and coat. Plus, it contains taurine for a healthy heart and is packed with vitamins and minerals for overall good health. Finally, this food is free from potatoes, grains, and artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Although this food comes in a pate format, some customers have reported that the quality and texture is inconsistent between cans, with some being drier than others.

Pros and Cons of the Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

Best Limited Ingredient

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

• Easy to digest
• Rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6
• Grain and gluten-free
• Limited ingredients

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

Deciding which high-fiber cat food to use for your cat depends on many factors. One of those could be the reason why you feel your cat needs fiber in the first place. High fiber meals help with obesity, constipation, diarrhea, and hairball control.

However, switching to a high fiber diet could have some implications. One common one is that excess fiber could be converted to fat and stored in your cat, making it obese. Hence, you need to make sure that the fiber content of your cat food is balanced with high protein. Here are some other important things to look for when choosing the best high-fiber cat food.

Protein Content

The fiber content of your cat food should not be increased at the expense of its protein content. Fibers are a form of carbohydrates, and cats are carnivores that need lots of protein. So, make sure your high-fiber cat food still has a high protein concentration — preferably meat protein.

Carbohydrate Content

The best kind of cat food should always have high proteins and low carbohydrates. So, watch out for this with your high fiber food too.

Type of Fiber

There are three types of fiber that you can find in cat food. There is the soluble fiber which is great if your cat needs relief from constipation. It does this by drawing water into the intestine. You might find it listed as gums or pectin.

Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, is excellent for cats with diarrhea as it makes stool bulkier. Examples of insoluble fiber include peanut hulls and cellulose. So, watch out for these in your cat food if that is what you need.

Lastly, we have fiber that is moderately fermentable and has the properties of both soluble and insoluble fiber. This type of fiber creates balance and is great if your cat has digestive issues. Examples are beet pulp, bran pulp, and pumpkin.