Optimal digestion keeps your cat healthy, happy, and active. However, cat parents often overlook the digestive health of their feline companions. Choosing the right diet can keep digestion blues at bay. This list of digestive care pet foods by Hill’s Pet Nutrition can help you protect your cat from GI issues.
Your cat’s digestion is a crucial aspect of its well-being, but most pet parents fail to give it a fair share of attention. As long as your kitty looks healthy and active, you hardly worry about its gut. Moreover, it is easy to overlook common issues like constipation and diarrhea until they become recurrent or painful. However, your pet’s health may take a blow if you ignore its digestion.
A recent study suggested that gastritis and/or enteritis are the most common feline digestive concerns, affecting 61% of cats. Other problems include stomatitis, glossitis and/or gingivitis (16%), helminthiasis (14%), poisoning (4%), anal prolapse (2%), and constipation (1%).
Surprisingly, your feline companion has hundreds of different types of microorganisms in its digestive tract. The gut microbiome of each cat is unique, making it even more complicated for pet parents. These beneficial gut bacteria optimize digestion and facilitate the absorption of nutrients from the diet. If they are out of balance, your pet may face chronic digestive disorders such as feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Taking care of your kitty’s gut health is crucial, and the good thing is that it is easier than you imagine. Choosing a diet that balances the gut ecosystem is a great start. According to Karen J Gray, a cat parent, she had a cat with Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome. She opted for probiotic products for her diet, and they did seem to help. She lived to be 20 years old.
Hill’s Pet Nutrition is an acclaimed brand offering high-quality digestive care diets for adult cats and kittens. In this article, we will share a list of products cat parents can follow to ensure the best digestive care for their pets.
#1: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Canned Cat Food
Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Canned Cat Food offers palatable nutrition for cats and also promotes microbiome health. The product contains pure protein, fiber, fats, vitamins, and amino acids, all of which strengthen a cat’s digestive system. Additionally, they lead to a healthy immune system that protects your pet from infection and diseases.
Research suggests that cats need higher levels of proteins compared to dogs. Dietary protein levels may have a direct link with disease susceptibility as they affect gut microbial communities. According to current recommendations, a commercially available cat diet contains 28-55% protein. Hill’s Pet Nutrition follows these recommendations to tailor a high-quality feline diet.
For example, prebiotic fiber in this product nurtures a healthy gut microbiome by maintaining and restoring a balanced intestinal flora. It also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that promote anti-inflammatory responses and support the integrity of the intestinal mucosa. Further, the clinically proven antioxidants in this product add an extra layer of immune defense by neutralizing free radicals.
Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care has added electrolytes and B vitamins that offer more than optimal nutrition. While electrolytes replenish lost nutrients during digestive disturbances, B vitamins contribute to energy metabolism. The product is ideal for cats with sensitive digestive systems because it has a highly digestible formula.
#2: Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Dry Cat Food
If your furry friend does not show inclination for canned diet variants, you can try Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Dry Cat Food. It is tailored to take care of the unique nutritional requirements and optimize digestive health in cats. You can trust this product to comfort your pet’s gastrointestinal system and enhance its overall vitality.
Studies reiterate the benefits of a high-fiber and high-protein diet rich in antioxidants on body weight, metabolic status, and activity levels of cats. With this product, your furry companion gets all these essential nutrients packed into one.
The highly digestible proteins and fats promote excellent stool quality in the first place. The digestible protein sources support nutrient assimilation, enabling your pet’s body to absorb and utilize essential elements in food for sustained energy. Fiber contributes to gastrointestinal health by balancing the digestive process.
Julie Roth, a former veterinary surgical technician based out of Canton, Ohio, notes that a cat should have daily bowel movements. If your cat’s stool is hard or strains a lot while passing it, your pet is constipated or falling short of hydration. Chronic constipation is a serious digestive issue, and a fiber-rich diet is the best way to curb it. That’s where this Hill’s product can help.
The antioxidants in this product control cell oxidation to facilitate faster recovery from digestive issues. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids keep the energy levels on track during the process. S+OXSHIELD technology addresses special nutritional needs, regardless of age and size. It also boosts urinary health by preventing the formation of certain crystals in the urine.
#3: Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Cat Canned Food
A groundbreaking solution, Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Cat Canned Food, can address the complex needs of your cat’s digestive health. It is specifically beneficial for providing relief from digestive upset and making your cat feel better sooner rather than later.
The product incorporates ActivBiome+ technology that activates the gut microbiome and bolsters the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Additionally, it stimulates a unique gut ecosystem according to your cat's microbiome. The blend of prebiotic fibers in it also helps address fiber-responsive GI issues. Prebiotics also stimulate the production of beneficial postbiotics that promote overall digestive health.
According to statistics, diarrhea is the second most common reason for mortality in shelter kittens. It pronounces risk for domesticated cats and kittens as well. If your cat suffers from repeated bouts of diarrhea, addressing it with dietary changes at the earliest makes sense.
With Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care food, you can expect your kitty to have regular, healthy stool within a day. The fast-acting nature of the formula limits the risk of recurrence of digestive upsets. You can rest assured that your cat is enjoying a happy and active life.
#4: Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care with Chicken Dry Cat food
With Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome Digestive/Fiber Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food, you get a scientific nutrition solution to support your cat's digestive health and well-being. Prebiotic fibers in this product work as a substrate for beneficial bacteria in the cat’s colon. They also stimulate the growth of probiotics, contributing to an optimal balance in the gut microbiome.
Studies validate the impact of the gut microbiota of companion animals on their overall health and well-being. It means you need to pick dietary products that support it. Hill’s brings this product that blends whole grain oats with folic acid, niacin supplements, and riboflavin supplements for a complete and balanced nutritional profile.
Niacin (vitamin B3) and riboflavin (vitamin B2) play vital roles in enzyme function, energy metabolism, and maintaining mucosal integrity in the digestive tract. Folic acid facilitates cell division and repair. It also helps maintain healthy tissues in the gastrointestinal tract and aids in the recovery from damage.
This formula also contains vitamin E supplements and fish oil, providing antioxidant support to your kitty. Vitamin E protects cell membranes from free radical damage. Fish oil supplies omega-3 fatty acids, which help manage inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract with their anti-inflammatory properties. It makes the product beneficial for cats with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Besides a high-value nutritional profile, Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome promotes regular, healthy stool with its optimal fiber content. It ensures digestive regularity and a well-functioning gastrointestinal system.
Digestive health is the mainstay of the overall well-being of pets, making it essential for pet parents. Rather than waiting for problems to strike, you should take a preventive approach to protect your pet’s health from digestive issues. Hill’s Pet Nutrition is a brand you can rely on because it focuses on the unique needs and health conditions of pets and creates clinically tested products.
