What Are Probiotics for Cats? And Can They Improve My Kitty’s Gut Health?

Probiotics for cats can help maintain and support a healthy digestive system and immune system. But not all cats need them. Before giving a probiotic supplement to your pet, you’ll want to consider the pros and cons and how they should be used.

Probiotics for cats are nutritional supplements that contain live, naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria and/or yeast. These “good” bacteria can help support the digestive tract, treat digestive issues, maintain gut health, and boost the immune system.

Some probiotics are blended with prebiotic fiber or dietary fiber, which are nutrients that promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes, says Jennifer Coates, DVM, veterinary consultant in Fort Collins, Colorado. An example of a prebiotic is fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which can be used by “good” bacteria to build colony forming units, or CFUs.

Cat probiotic supplements may offer the following benefits:

• Boosting good gut flora: Just like in humans, many cat illnesses originate in the gut. These include leaky gut syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.
• Relieving occasional constipation, diarrhea, and loose stools, and supporting urinary health: “Probiotics can outcompete ‘bad’ microorganisms that may play a role in diarrhea or other health problems,” Dr. Coates explains. “They can help support normal gastrointestinal function and the immune system, and even reduce anxiety.”
• Calming stress: Since the gut and the brain are connected by millions of nerves, an inflamed GI tract can increase stress in cats and lead to behavioral concerns.
• Reducing hairballs: Probiotics can help boost the overall health of your cat’s digestive system, in turn helping reduce hairballs.
• Improving immune health: Cat probiotics can boost a cat’s immune system and can help to rebalance the digestive tract after antibiotics, since antibiotics eliminate both good and bad microflora. Cat probiotics can help bolster essential good bacteria in the microbiome that provide digestive support.
• Alleviating seasonal allergies: “Pets with seasonal allergic conditions may benefit from probiotic supplementation,” Dr. Coates says.

Probiotics for kittens might also be helpful for our little friends, since kittens are born without gut bacteria and are more prone to occasional digestive upset and diarrhea.

Like any supplement, probiotics can cause side effects for cats who are sensitive to them.

Side effects are rare but can include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Abdominal discomfort

“Probiotics are certainly not effective for all pets or under all circumstances, but when used correctly, they are extremely safe,” Dr. Coates says. “It is important to give pets the right strains of probiotics, at the right dose, based on the condition being treated. Follow label directions on pet-specific probiotics and talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns.”

If your cat is taking other medicine, ask your veterinarian if probiotics are safe to take. All medications and cat supplements have the potential to interact with one another. As a rule of thumb, probiotics should be stopped during antibiotic therapy since antibiotics wipe out all bacteria.

Cat probiotics come in different forms, including powder supplements, pills, and even treats infused with probiotics, like soft chews.

These products are made with probiotic strains of “good” bacteria, and each strain of bacteria can address different needs. A beneficial bacteria strain that can help ease stress in cats, for example, is Bifidobacterium longum, Dr. Coates says.

Other strains that can be helpful for a healthy gut and beyond include:

• Bifidobacterium lactis animalis
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Bacillus coagulans
• Enterococcus faecium

Vibeful™ Probiotic Gastrointestinal Support Powder Digestive Supplement, for example, includes lactobacillus acidophilus and enterococcus faecium, among many other ingredients, to support digestive system and gut health.

It’s essential for pet parents to steer clear of giving cats human probiotics. That’s because human probiotics aren’t formulated to offer the same benefits as cat-specific probiotics. Plus, there’s not enough research yet on the potential effects of human probiotics on cats.

On a similar note, don’t give your cat probiotics meant for dogs. It may come as a surprise, but cat probiotics and dog probiotics are entirely different. That’s because many pet probiotics are species- or breed-specific, meaning they’re formulated in a way that uniquely benefits cats and dogs. Be sure to only purchase a cat-specific probiotic.

Dr. Coates recommends the following products for cat supplements:

Cat probiotic supplements can be given in numerous ways.

• Probiotic powder, for example, can be mixed into cat food.
• A probiotic paste can also be added to a cat’s diet.
• Probiotics pills can be hidden in chewy pill pockets. (Or try these other tips for giving a cat a pill.)

When it comes to probiotics for kittens, you may want to give your kitten something easy to eat, such as a gel or probiotic chews, since their teeth are still very small at that age.

“A short course of probiotics may be all that is needed if the cat’s primary problem resolves, like diarrhea that develops after antibiotic therapy, for example,” Dr. Coates says. “Chronic diseases often require long-term, strain-specific probiotic therapy, given under the care and guidance of your vet.”

Cat probiotic supplements can be a helpful addition to your cat’s diet and overall wellness plan. They can improve digestion, reduce stress, and boost the immune system. However, be sure to always ask your veterinarian first if probiotics are right for your cat and if so, which type to get.

This content was medically reviewed by Chewy vets.