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When my cat was struggling with recurring hairballs and bad times in her litter box, I introduced my vet’s recommendation for a high fiber cat food: Blue Buffalo Blissful Belly Digestive Care Wet Cat Food and got good results!
- Specifically supports digestive health
- Easily digestible, real protein
- No wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors, preservatives
- 13.64% Fiber by Dry Matter Basis
- Flavors: Chicken
She explained that it helps with stomach and GI-related issues like diarrhea, constipation, or hairballs. And I learned fiber for cats is a neglected aspect of cat health, and that it connects to seemingly unrelated conditions like weight, lethargy, and allergies.
Every cat has different tastes and issues, so in this post I talk about the best high fiber cat foods in different categories. At the end is a complete buying guide to make your own decision.
These are the products we review in this article (not all shown):
Wellness Complete Grain Free Wet Cat Food
- Chicken, Beef & Chicken, Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Herring, and more Flavors
- 4.5% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 47.7% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Wet Cat Food
- Chicken Flavor
- 9.7% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 42.9% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
Halo Grain Free Indoor Dry Cat Food
- Chicken & Chicken Liver, Wild Salmon & Whitefish Flavors
- 5.56% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 35.6% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Hairball Control Dry Cat Food
- Chicken & Salmon Flavors
- 9.4% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 35.6% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- Chicken Flavor
- 16% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 38.3% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Dry Cat Food
- 5.1% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 31.5% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- Prescription Required
- Best Wet High Fiber Cat Food for Constipation
- Runner Up
- Best High Fiber Cat Food for Diarrhea
- Best Budget High Fiber Cat Food
- Best Dry High Fiber Cat Food for Weight Loss
- Best Dry High Fiber Cat Food for Hairballs
- Best High Fiber Cat Treats
- The Real Story About Fiber for Cats
- Why Would a Cat Need a High Fiber Diet?
- Types of Fiber in Cat Food
- What to Look for in High Fiber Cat Food
- Homemade High Fiber Cat Food: Is This a Thing? Yes!
- Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Your Cat Fiber
All cat foods included on this list meet the standard AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines for cats. Always consult with your veterinarian before making changes to your cat’s diet. Most foods mentioned are non prescription and available commercially, but a few are prescription only.
Best Wet High Fiber Cat Food for Constipation
- Specifically supports digestive health
- Easily digestible, real protein
- No wheat, corn, soy, artificial flavors, preservatives
- 13.64% Fiber by Dry Matter Basis
- Flavors: Chicken
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Potatoes, Chicken Liver, Whitefish
- Guaranteed analysis: 8.5% Crude Protein, 3% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture, 0.10% Taurine
- Life stage: Adult, senior
Blue Buffalo Blissful Belly Digestive Care Wet Cat Food, with a 13.6% dry matter fiber content, is absolutely one of best wet high fiber cat foods for constipation or related issues.
It’s actually among the best wet cat foods in general, but just happens to be a great high fiber canned cat food, too, with that crazy (in a good way) fiber percentage.
Real chicken, chicken liver, and whitefish make up the bulk of the 38% protein by dry matter. Potatoes and broth round out the super nutritious and filling recipe for Fluffy.
Besides potatoes, fibrous fruits and vegetables make an appearance: beets, carrots, apples, peas. Blue Buffalo also adds a prebiotic fiber to feed the healthy bacteria in the gut to promote overall gastrointestinal health.
All ingredients are easily digestible and won’t irritate your cat’s stomach. Fortified with vitamins, minerals, and more, this is healthy, gastrointestinal cat food all cats with constipation, vomiting, or diarrhea can enjoy.
Blue Buffalo Blissful Belly is perfect for sensitive stomachs with no wheat, no by-products or meals, corn, soy, artificial preservatives and flavors. Every ingredient has a purpose – no junk or filler allowed.
Purchasers commonly praised this food to helping their cat go in the litter box better and smoother. Others say it helped vomiting and related digestive issues in their older cat or kittens.
A few even supplement their prescription fiber cat foods with this recipe!
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 10/10
- Ingredient Quality: 9/10
- Flavor Variety: 3/10
- Price: 8/10
- Overall Score: 7.5
What We Liked:
- Real animal protein
- Very high fiber with fruits, vegetables, prebiotics
- No wheat, no corn, no soy
- No artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Just 1 flavor
Runner Up
- Chicken, Beef & Chicken, Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Herring, and more Flavors
- 4.5% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 47.7% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, turkey, chicken broth, carrots
- Guaranteed analysis: 10.5% Crude Protein, 7% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture, 0.10% Taurine
- Life stage: All
Wellness Complete Grain Free Wet Cat Food gets my next pick because it blends high-quality protein and organs with a high moisture content and carrot as a primary fiber source.
And while this is not a urinary cat food, it does have cranberries round out the fruit aisle and also help with urinary tract health!
I love the balance in this high fiber canned cat food. This is simply a functional, high quality canned wet food, with decent fiber content. It’s not the highest fiber cat food, not in the same league as our first place.
The meat is lean and well sourced. The cat food has no grains, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives, so there’s no upsetting your cat with dealing with stomach issues already.
It contains antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids to support immune system and coat health, instead of just cramming more fiber into a subpar recipe.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 7/10
- Ingredient Quality: 9/10
- Flavor Variety: 10/10
- Price: 6/10
- Overall Score: 8
What We Liked:
- Real animal protein, fruit, and vegetables
- More fiber vs average wet foods
- American made
- No grains, artificial flavors, colors, preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some complaints of quality inconsistencies
Best High Fiber Cat Food for Diarrhea
- Chicken Flavor
- 9.7% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 42.9% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- First 5 ingredients: Water, chicken by-product, pork by-product, pork liver, salmon
- Guaranteed analysis: 7.5% Crude Protein, 2% Crude Fat, 1.7% Crude Fiber, 82.5% Moisture
- Caloric content: 66 kcal/3-ounce can
- Life stage: 1 year and up
Our best high fiber cat food for diarrhea address the main concerns of the condition.
The first is a lack of fiber. So Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Wet Cat Food packs an impressive 9.7% fiber by dry matter to help plump up soft stools.
Second is an easily irritated gastrointestinal tract. That’s why this tummy-friendly recipe is full of highly digestible proteins that help your cat absorb the nutrients in the food instead of just passing them.
Importantly, the wet formula also helps to hydrate cats that are dealing with loose, watery stools. As a plus for everyone involved, the protein decreases odor, too.
Lastly, the very moist, easy-to eat appeal of this gastrointestinal cat food works even for a cat without the biggest appetite amid tummy struggles.
FYI this Digest Sensitive food is a readily available alternative to Royal Canin’s Gastrointestinal Fiber Response cat food, their prescription only line.
This Royal Canin high fiber wet cat food has more by-products than I’d like, but still very well received by over 1700 reviewers.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 8/10
- Ingredient Quality: 4/10
- Flavor Variety: 4/10
- Price: 5/10
- Overall Score: 5.25
What We Liked:
- Easily digestible protein for diarrhea
- High moisture and protein
- High fiber
- Easy to eat
What We Didn’t Like:
- More by-products that I’d prefer
- Just 2 flavors
Best Budget Cat Food for Constipation
- High in real protein
- Contains natural prebiotic fiber
- Grain free
- No artificial colors, no preservatives, no by-products
- First 6 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, liver, sweet potatoes, ocean fish, carrots
- Guaranteed analysis: 10% Crude Protein, 5% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture, 0.05% Taurine
- Caloric content: 66 kcal/3-ounce can
- Life stage: Adult
If you’ve checked out my reviews for various cat foods in the past, you know I like to throw in mainstream, affordable brands.
And Purina Beyond Chicken & Sweet Potato recipe fits the bill exactly as our best “budget” high fiber canned cat food. Now I say budget, but this food definitely costs more than typical Purina – this is their good stuff.
Check out the first five ingredients and notice the real food. Real chicken and liver make up main protein sources. Ocean fish, a bland hypoallergenic whitefish, round it out.
No meals, no by-products, no fillers. It’s entirely grain-free too, so cats who might have a grain sensitivity can eat up.
The pate texture is easy to eat for cats, and the 6.8% fiber by dry matter content comes from the sweet potato that accompanies the chicken.
Overall, you get a nice, clean cheap cat food (relatively) that won’t be heavy in your cat’s sensitive stomach at a good price.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 8/10
- Ingredient Quality: 8/10
- Flavor Variety: 8/10
- Price: 6/10
- Overall Score: 7.5
What We Liked:
- High in real protein
- Contains natural prebiotic fiber
- Grain free
- No artificial colors, no preservatives, no by-products
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some cats did not enjoy flavor
Best Dry High Fiber Cat Food for Weight Loss
- Chicken & Chicken Liver, Wild Salmon & Whitefish Flavors
- 5.56% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 35.6% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, dried egg product, dried peas, dried chickpeas
- Guaranteed analysis: 32% Crude Protein, 13% Crude Fat, 5% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture, 0.05% Taurine
- Caloric content: 397 kcal/1 cup
- Life stage: Adult
Our best high fiber cat food for weight loss, Halo Grain Free Indoor Dry Cat Food is made-in-the-USA option you can feel good feeding.
It’s a super easy-to-digest and low calorie way to get your cat’s weight and digestion in alignment.
Whole meat protein is always the way here, with real lean chicken and salmon as the first ingredients in each flavor. The 5.5% fiber content by dry weight is from non-GMO fruits and vegetables.
Added L-carnitine boosts the metabolism to further help with weight loss. It’s also a low-calorie dry cat food vs comparable kibble from other manufacturers.
Halo Grain Free Indoor Dry Cat Food has no grains and the protein is more digestible than other brands, leading to less gastrointestinal distress and better times in the litter box!
Halo never uses factory farms to source the meats for its food, and protein is from certified-sustainable cage-free farms. I personally like this is holistic, humane option.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 8/10
- Ingredient Quality: 8/10
- Flavor Variety: 6/10
- Price: 7/10
- Overall Score: 7.25
What We Liked:
- Made with real meat
- Low-calorie
- Contains metabolism-boosting L-carnitine
- No grains, no meals, no artificial ingredients or preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- Some complaints of inconsistencies between batches
Best Dry High Fiber Cat Food for Hairballs
- Chicken & Salmon Flavors
- 9.4% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 35.6% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole-grain corn, corn grits
- Guaranteed analysis: 30% Crude Protein, 11% Crude Fat, 8.3% Crude Fiber, 10% Moisture, 0.13% Taurine
- Caloric content: 302 kcal/1 cup
- Life stage: Adult
Our best high fiber cat food for hairballs is IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Hairball Control Dry Cat Food, another mainstream brand.
It’s a high-protein recipe with real chicken with 9.2% fiber content by dry matter that aims to stop hairballs before they start. In short, they pass it, rather than gagging it up on your carpet (and looking pleased).
Real chicken is the first ingredient, with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to provide support for your cat’s coat. This food uses a blend of fiber with beet pulp and prebiotics to support digestion and GI health.
If your long haired cat gets hairballs regularly, try this affordable and accessible Iams high fiber cat food.
Long haired cats swallow a lot of their own hair while grooming, despite your diligent brushing, so any help you provide is appreciated!
Be warned though, the fiber content is quite high, so mix it with their existing dry food first. Maybe 25%, then 50%. You may not need to go to 100%. My Maine Coon gets stomach discomfort like bloating and lethargy if she eats too much.
Negatives of this recipe include a reliance on by-products, meals, and corn.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 9/10
- Ingredient Quality: 3/10
- Flavor Variety: 3/10
- Price: 8/10
- Overall Score: 5.75
What We Liked:
- High fiber
- High protein
- Contains prebiotics and omega fatty acids
- No artificial preservatives, dyes, no wheat
What We Didn’t Like:
- Contains by-products, meals, and corn
Best High Fiber Cat Treats for Constipation
- Chicken Flavor
- 16% Fiber By Dry Matter Basis
- 38.3% Protein By Dry Matter Basis
- No Prescription Required
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken (including ground chicken bone), chicken liver, pumpkinseeds, chicken heart, dried pumpkin
- Guaranteed analysis: 36% Crude Protein, 30% Crude Fat, 15% Crude Fiber, 6% Moisture
- Caloric content: 18 kcal/tablespoon
- Life stage: All
Who says rich treats are all bad? Instinct Raw Boost freeze dried toppers are not only irresistible for cats, they might actually be able to successfully help your cat’s tummy issues!
With real meat, bones, and organs being the primary ingredients, you’re never worrying about filler with these treats. No grains, nothing artificial. The ingredients reads like your shopping list at Whole Foods.
Instinct Raw Boost packs a 15% fiber content via rich goodies like pumpkin, sweet potato and chicory. No other brand I’ve come across uses apple cider vinegar and probiotics for digestion.
Raw and delectable, these cats treats are freeze dried to remove moisture while locking in flavor. They are very easy to store and pour with no mess.
They also work well as a high-quality, cage-free digestive aid even if nothing’s wrong. Instinct Raw Boost is one of the most popular raw cat treats on the market.
Rating Breakdown:
- Formulated for Fiber Care : 10/10
- Ingredient Quality: 8/10
- Flavor Variety: 3/10
- Price: 4/10
- Overall Score: 6.25
What We Liked:
- Real animal protein, organs, bone
- High fiber
- Contains prebiotics
- No grains, no artificial colors or preservatives
What We Didn’t Like:
- High calorie
The Real Story About Fiber for Cats
As obligate carnivores, cats do not have biological need for fiber. You cat is a hunter, stalking and killing prey, then feasting on their flesh.
In the wild, cats have evolved to get the “perfect natural diet” that simply allows nature to takes it course in terms of fiber intake. Wild felines actually devour indigestible animal parts that act as natural fiber for cats.
Your cat’s perfect meal is a mouse. Or a few mice. So why do some cats require fiber?
Why Would a Cat Need a High Fiber Diet?
Modern cats live very different than their wild cousins. They are more sedentary and eat foods from cans, bags, and freezers. In our world, domestic cats need some help with fiber.
You see, house cats just aren’t eating bone, hair and partially digested intestinal contents the way their wild counterparts are.
When you add in their lazier lifestyle, things can start to get gnarly pretty quickly, and may necessitate a cat food high in fiber. Any of following conditions may require more fiber in a cats diet.
Constipation
A cat food high in fiber can be a wonderful tool if dealing with a constipated cat.
If this is the specific reason why you searched for fiber for cats, I want to briefly highlight one more product that is really good for constipated cats.
Raw Paws Pet Organic Pure Pumpkin for Dogs & Cats is a digestive supplement for regularity and healthy stool, and pumpkin is one of the healthiest source of fiber for cats.
While a fiber-rich food may still be a good option, this is a good tip if you want to give your cat some immediate relief from irregular stools.
Diarrhea
On the flip side of constipation, diarrhea can actually result from digestive imbalances caused by too little fiber. A high fiber cat food for diarrhea might be be exactly what cat’s GI system needs!
Diarrhea and constipation were opposites when they can actually have the same root causes. Any irregular bowel movement can actually be a sign of a fiber deficiency even if we usually associate lack of fiber with being backed up.
Hairballs
Lastly, a cat food high in fiber can be great for helping your cat with excessive hairballs. Coughing up hairballs is often a symptom of a gastrointestinal issue. In some cases, the hairballs are accompanied by vomiting and gagging.
Fiber can help your cat to simply pass hairballs naturally and smoothly instead of vomiting them up. Simply increasing your cat’s water/moisture levels can also make it much easier for your cat to pass hairballs.
Diabetic Cats and Weight Loss
A little extra fiber can also help with weight loss and feelings of satiety because it adds volume to foods and takes time to break down in the intestines.
This slowing down of the digestive process also benefits diabetic cats, as it regulates the release of blood sugar into the bloodstream, not spiking insulin.
Allergies
Many cat owners find that fiber actually helps cats with allergies. Like humans, cats can have gastrointestinal issues when they have allergies.
The gut and bacteria within is the body’s second brain, which react to foods. Feed the bacteria with good fiber, and they can do a better job of digesting foods, leading to less irritation that could manifest as allergies.
Talk to Your Veterinarian!
A cat struggling in the litter box with constipation or loose stools, constant vomiting, or seemingly random skin issues require a vet visit as soon as possible.
It’s smart to have this conversation with your vet before you go crazy with the fiber just in case there’s another issue you’re not seeing. Maybe kitty is just dehydrated. Or it may be a symptom of something else.
If your veterinarian does recommends going the high fiber route with a prescription food, then take a look at:
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry Cat Food
A globally trusted brand of pet foods, Royal Canin and their Veterinary Diet line is dedicated to managing disease and support recovery through nutrition.
This Royal Canin Gastrointestinal cat food addresses constipation head on with both soluble and insoluble fibers, as well as a proper dose of prebiotics to feed the gut. Nourish the healthy bacteria in the gut well and they do wonders for digestion and the movement.
Easily digestible protein and fish oil comfort even the most sensitive stomach. This prescription also available in Royal Canin’s high fiber wet cat food format. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
Types of Fiber in Cat Food
Fiber comes in two type: soluble and insoluble. Each type has different use cases, and the best fiber for your cat is a combination of both.
Insoluble fiber
This is indigestible fiber that does not dissolve in water. Remember how I mentioned that cats in the wild eat animal parts that can’t be digested?
We can recreate this by looking for cat food with fiber sources like cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignins. Insoluble fiber slows down digestion as food travels through the intestine, and vets recommend it for issues like diarrhea or bowel inflammation.
Soluble Fiber
Next, soluble fiber is partially digestible fiber that dissolves in water. This is added to cat foods in the form of things like chicory, barley, inulin, psyllium, pectin and beet pulp.
Your cat’s gut knows exactly how to break down these soluble fibers to provide energy to the cells that line the large intestine for optimal digestive health.
It also feeds the bacteria in the gut and actually speeds up digestion. For constipation, this is the way to go.
What to Look for in High Fiber Cat Food
Generally, the same rules for buying a cat food with high fiber vs any other cat food.
One caveat for this food type though. High fiber food is not for EVERY cat. Adding too much fiber can actually harm your cat’s health by disrupting normal digestion.
The big thing to watch out for is that excessive fiber can prevent your cat from absorbing nutrients. After all, it’s not an essential ingredient to their diet, not like protein and fats.
Right Ingredients
Go for quality, quality and quality! Only high-protein blends made from animal-based protein with minimal carbs are desirable. You also want a mix of good fats without too much filler protein ingredients like by-products or meals.
You might even consider picking a higher quality cat food instead of making the leap to a fiber-rich gastrointestinal cat food right away. Are you sure the food you’re feeding now is low carb and not full of grains, by-products, and artificial chemicals?
Fiber Amount
Fiber amounts in cat food should not be excessive. You also want to add the right kind of fiber. While soluble fiber is typically better than insoluble fiber for digestive problems, cats need a balance of both.
Again, this is where I defer to a vet if you’re looking for specific recommendations about the portions and types of fiber to give your cat.
According to IAMS research, the optimal crude fiber level for healthy cats ranges from 1.4% to 3.5%. However, situations with hairballs or digestive distress may benefit from higher fiber levels.
I must reiterate, high fiber cat food is not for all cats, only those with certain conditions. If other pets are stealing prescription or specialty food from one cat, look into a dog proof cat food bowl or a microchip feeder.
Homemade High Fiber Cat Food: Is This a Thing? Yes!
For cat owners looking for a homemade high fiber cat food recipe, I’ve tracked down what seems to be a really simple recipe that can be used if your cat has failed to pass a stool for a full day.
This recipe uses psyllium husks and bran as fiber sources. Mmm, stool softener treat!
Frequently Asked Questions About Giving Your Cat Fiber
How can I add fiber to my cat’s diet?
Switching to a cat food with high fiber that’s made for digestive support is the easiest way. Don’t give your cat fiber supplements or fiber-rich “people” food.
This can cause everything from diabetes to toxicity. If your cat is showing signs of constipation, diarrhea or digestive distress, talk to a vet to rule out any serious conditions that won’t be helped simply through a high-fiber diet.
What is good fiber for cats?
Ideally, you’re giving cats fiber from natural sources like they would get in the wild. One of the reasons why cats can be susceptible to fiber-related issues is that they’re not consuming “whole prey” like their ancestors did when they hunted in the wild!
While cats generally need both soluble and insoluble fiber, the balance needed can depend on the specific digestive symptoms your cat is having. Generally, soluble fiber is good for both diarrhea and constipation. However, insoluble fiber can be better for just constipation.
Ask your vet about the specific fiber needs for your cat if you suspect there may be an issue.
What food is best for cats with diarrhea?
A lot of cats do nicely with sweet potato or pumpkin when constipated. You want to give your cat cat-appropriate food made with real meat and vegetables without filler.
While there’s no specific food that’s “best” for cats with diarrhea, foods containing protein-rich chicken and vegetables provide good starting points.
I’m Gary Hu, a proud cat dad to a 15 lb Maine Coon. Have taken care of outdoor and indoor cats for over 10 years, and learned tons on behavior, habits, health, and products. I help new Maine Coon (or any other cat) parents with common questions and issues based on real, practical experience.
