Keeping Kitty’s Gut Healthy

Owning a cat is a vastly different experience from owning other pets, as most other pets are heavily dependent on you as their owner. Cats however are more than happy to entertain themselves, clean themselves, and even feed themselves on their own terms. This makes them a great pet for those people who lead busy lives, but still appreciate company when they do come home each night.

As a cat owner, one concern I’ve never been able to shake is whether or not my kitty is as healthy, comfortable, and happy as it could be. Gauging the happiness of a cat may be difficult, but I know one of the major contributing factors will be their gut health. After a friend recommended a probiotic for cats, I saw a tangible improvement in my kitty’s mood, and on doing some research, it quickly made sense why.

Here is a look at how adding a probiotic for cats to your kitties’ diet can help them.

What are Probiotics for Cats?

Probiotics have become exponentially popular in recent years, with yogurts, cereals, smoothies, and even some kinds of bread including them. This is largely due to the recognition of our gut microbiota and the role that plays in the general functioning of our bodies. They’ve also been used in livestock to increase their production capacity.

So it’s no surprise then that our mammalian house pets, who also rely on their gut microbiota for bodily function, can also benefit from them.  

Different Strains

The term ‘probiotics’ typically refers to the lactic acid bacteria that exist in the intestinal system, of which there are many kinds. When it comes to cats, the strains which benefit them usually come from the Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus genus. Although it’s important to note that each species and strain of bacteria can have very specific effects on the gut, and is not always beneficial.

Bifidobacterium tends to live in the small intestines and are involved in the digestion of food as it moves through the intestinal system.

Enterococci tend to live in the colon or large intestine, and are involved in the forming of normal feces as well as maintaining colonic health.

When considering different products which contain probiotics for cats, be sure to find one which includes the above genus, and ideally two or more species of each.

How They Help

We know now that these probiotics can aid in digestion and help regulate bowel movements in our kitty, but how does that help them?

Reducing Digestive Upset

Without the dexterity that our hands give us, our curious kitties are forced to interact with the world mostly with their mouths. This can lead them to upset their digestive systems in a number of ways, from:

●     Eating or biting particularly dirty birds, rodents, lizards, or insects

●     Over-grooming and subsequently consuming too much of their own hair

●     Eating the wrong plants or drinking dirty water

Although these aren’t the only causes of digestive upset in our cats, sometimes we can cause them digestive upset accidentally through:

●     Changes in food, especially sudden or a shift from dry to wet or vice versa

●     Various medications which cause gut problems as a side effect

●     Stress i.e. moving homes or introducing another cat or a dog to the family

As you can see, many of these things may be beyond our control and are simply byproducts of the modern world in which we live. If you know your cat has dietary indiscretion, or are expecting a stressful event in the future, be sure to start them on probiotics in advance.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

If your cat is unlucky enough to suffer from IBD, then you will find the introduction of a probiotic for cats to help soothe their discomfort. While there is some confusion around the prevalence of IBD in cats nowadays, it seems that artificial pet foods such as kibble may have some part to play.

Boosting Immunity

As with our own, much of a cat’s immune response is reliant on healthy gut microbiota. While the correlation between the immune system and gut microbiota is mostly anecdotal, there is evidence that specific isolated probiotic DNA has immune-stimulatory properties.

The gist of what’s being implied is that probiotics can block intestinal pathogenic bacterial effects, regulate intestinal epithelial cell functions, and regulate mucosal immune responses. The reality of how these probiotics actually affect the immune system is likely to be much more complex and multifaceted than our current understanding of them.

If your kitty is prone to sickness, or suffers from any recurrent or long-lasting conditions, the introduction of probiotics to their diet may give them the means to fight off this illness.

Be sure to consult a vet before adding any supplements to your pet’s diet, and be sure to stick to a regimented dose and routine to ensure its efficacy.