7 Best Probiotics For Cats And Proven Benefits

Updated 20th August 2021

If you’re searching for the best probiotics for cats you’ve come to the right place. In this post I’ll be reviewing what I consider the best on offer at this time, based on my own opinion and research.

You’ll also discover how probiotics may help boost your cat’s health including proven key benefits. It’s not just humans that can enjoy the benefits of probiotics but our pets as well.

6 Of The Best Probiotics For Cats

The following probiotics for cats are what I consider the best on offer at this time. This is based on my own opinion from research and customer ratings. The table below is to give a quick overview if you’re in a hurry. You’ll find more details later…

ImageTitleLatest Price
PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics+ Premium Gut + Immune Health Cat SupplementLatest Price
pre and probiotic powder for catsStrawfield Pets Pre + Probiotic Powder Cat Supplement, 4.2-oz jar Latest Price
Proviable KP ProbioticProviable-KP Probiotic Digestive Health Supplement Kit for Cats and Small DogsLatest Price
Pet Naturals of Vermont probioticsPet Naturals of Vermont – Daily Probiotic for Cats, Digestive Supplement, 30 Bite-Sized ChewsLatest Price
vetnique labs profivex probiotics for cats and dogsVETNIQUE LABS Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats: Daily Pet Digestive 5 Strain Probiotics Powder with Prebiotics & Added FiberLatest Price
zesty paws probiotics bundleBundle: Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites Digestion + Pure Salmon Oil Skin & Coat Support Dog & Cat SupplementLatest Price
tomlyn prebiotic and probioticTomlyn Pre & Probiotic Powder Digestive Supplement for CatsLatest Price

Best Probiotics For Cats Reviews

PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics+ Premium Gut + Immune Health Cat Supplement

PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics is a powder supplement that you sprinkle on your cat’s food. Containing 5 billion CFUs and 12 different strains, this helps promote healthy gut flora.

As PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics contains catnip, this makes it irresistible for your kitty. In addition, all ingredients are 100% natural with no preservatives, as well as being non-GMO.

Other ingredients include chicken, fish, and liver to make a tasty treat for your feline friend. However, as this supplement is in powder form you may find it easier to mix in with wet food.

Key Features
  • 5 billion CFUs
  • 12 different probiotic strains
  • Contains catnip
  • Pure ,natural ingredients
  • No fillers or preservatives
  • Non-GMO
  • Supports gut health
  • May help boost immunity
  • Promotes shiny coat and healthy skin
  • Easy to Administer
  • Veterinarian recommended

Average rating 4.4 out of 5

You can buy PetHonesty Digestive Probiotics for cats here.

Strawfield Pets Pre + Probiotic Powder Cat Supplement

Strawfield Pets Pre + Probiotic Powder contains 5 billion CFUs and 20 different strains. In addition, all ingredients are 100% natural with no artificial additives.

These include catnip to tempt your kitty as well as ease anxiety. Also, chicory root is added to boost the immune system, and add extra support for digestive health.

In addition, brewers yeast is included to support healthy digestion. As no fillers are included you can be assured you’re only giving your kitty exactly what she needs.

Also, as it contains natural chicken liver it will appeal to most cat’s taste. As Strawfield pre + probiotic powder is made in small batches and independently lab tested it assures quality.

Key Features
  • Suitable for cats and dogs
  • 5 billion CFUs
  • 20 different strains
  • Supports gut health
  • Catnip to relieve anxiety
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • No artificial additives

Average rating 4.4 out of 5

You can buy Strawfield Pets Pre + Probiotic Powder Cat Supplement here

Proviable-KP Probiotic Digestive Health Supplement Kit for Cats and Small Dogs

Proviable KP Probiotic

Proviable-KP Probiotic health supplement kit contains both capsules and paste. These are both easy to administer and should be started at he same time for maximum benefit.

The capsules can simply be sprinkled on food, and the paste either squirted in the side of your cat’s mouth or placed on your finger tip.

While the capsules contain pre and probiotics, the paste contains kaolin and soybean oil. This provides a powerful combination as the capsules support digestive health, while the paste firms stools.

Kaolin is included in the paste as well as soybean oil and pectin. While soybean oil promotes healthy digestion, kaolin helps firms stools.

While this product is designed to ease mild to moderate gastrointestinal problems, if symptoms persist see your vet. NEVER let diarrhea continue for more than a few days as your cat could become seriously dehydrated.

Key features
  • Suitable for cats and dogs100% natural
  • Probiotics for restoring gut health
  • 5 billion CFUs
  • 7 different strains
  • Prebiotics for nourishing probiotics
  • Paste for firming stools plus applicator

Average rating 4.7 out of 5

You can buy Proviable-KP Probiotic Digestive Health Supplement Kit here

Pet Naturals of Vermont – Daily Probiotic for Cats, Digestive Supplement

Pet Naturals of Vermont probiotics

Pet Naturals daily probiotics are very easy to administer as they come in chew form. Also, as they only contain natural flavors this makes them more palatable for your cat.

In addition, Pet Naturals are veterinarian formulated and NASC approved. This is very reassuring if you’re a cat parent.

Key features
  • 100 million CFUs
  • Natural duck flavor
  • Easy to administer
  • Supports gut health
  • No fillers or artificial ingredients
  • Veterinarian formulated
  • NASC approved

Average rating 4.2 out of 5

You can buy Pet Naturals of Vermont – Daily Probiotic for Cats, Digestive Supplement here.

VETNIQUE LABS Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats

vetnique labs profivex probiotics for cats and dogs

VETNIQUE LABS Profivex Probiotics has 5 billion CFUs per scoop. This makes it highly potent for both cats and dogs. In addition, there it contains 5 different strains.

As well as probiotics, Profivex contains 2 prebiotics to provide food for probiotics. These serve to increase the population of good bacteria in the gut.

These 2 prebiotics are sweet potato and FOS, both of which provide soluble fiber for your cat or dog. In addition, enzymes are included to further support the digestive tract.

Profivex probiotics comes in powder form that you sprinkle on top of food. As it’s pork liver it should appeal to most pets. You get 120 scoops in each tub, which is about 4 months supply. This makes Profivex good value for money.

Key Features
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • Veterinarian formulated
  • Pork liver powder
  • 5 billion CFUs
  • 5 different strains
  • 2 Prebiotics
  • Added enzymes and vitamins
  • Supports gut health
  • Easy to administer

Average rating 4.5 out of 5

You can buy Vetnique Profivex Probiotics for Dogs and Cats here

Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites Digestion + Pure Salmon Dog & Cat Supplement BUNDLE

You get 2 products in one with Zesty Paws. Both are formulated to support both digestive health and coat.

Probiotic bites are soft chews containing 6 strains of probiotic. These are formulated to support gut health and immune system.

Includes papaya and pumpkin for added enzymes as well as coconut glycerin. Coconut is known for it’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

In fact, you can get coconut oil products especially for pets. These include everything from pet wipes to supplements.

As well as probiotic bites you also get wild Alaskan salmon oil. This is great for improving your cat or dog’s coat and skin. In addition, OMEGA 3 fatty acids support joint and heart health.

Key Features
  • 100% natural ingredients
  • Probiotic soft chews
  • 6 different strains
  • Papaya and pumpkin for enzymes
  • Added vitamins for nutritional support
  • Supports digestive health
  • Salmon oil to promote healthy coat and skin
  • Also promotes joint and heart health
  • Easy to administer

Average rating 4.6 out of 5

You can buy Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites and salmon oil bundle here

Tomlyn Pre & Probiotic Powder Digestive Supplement for Cats

Tomlyn Pre & Probiotic Powder Digestive Supplement is water soluble making it easy to administer. This means you can either dissolve in your cats water bowl or sprinkle on top of food.

You get 30 individually packaged servings in each box. This is is designed to keep the bacteria alive until ready for use.

Each packet contains 4 billion CFUs and 5 different strains. In addition, prebiotic fibre is added to feed probiotics.

As Tomlyn pre and probiotic powder is tasteless you should have no problem getting your cat to take it. Whether you sprinkle it on her food or dissolve it in water it will be easy to digest.

Key Features
  • 100% natural
  • 30 packets in each box
  • 4 billion CFUs
  • Prebiotic fiber
  • Water soluble
  • Easy to digest
  • Easy to administer

Average rating 4.2 out of 5

You can buy Tomlyn Pre & Probiotic Powder Digestive Supplement for Cats here

Choosing the best probiotic for your cat

portrait of tortoiseshell cat

Hopefully, you found my reviews useful and helped you decide on the best supplement for your kitty. As with all health products both for human and pets, results vary.

What may work well for one my not work so well for another. Also, cats are notoriously fussy, and some crafty kitties seem to know when you’ve carefully hidden tablets in their food!

Most probiotics I’ve shared here contain natural flavorings designed to appeal to cats so you should be fine. However, for the very fussy you could always try adding to favorite treats.

Always look for products containing natural ingredients. In addition, try and avoid those with fillers such as grain or corn.

While these aren’t harmful, they provide very little nutritional benefit. Also non-GMO is always a good sign, as well as veterinarian formulated.

Your Cat’S Gut Health

Newborn kittens have a clean, healthy gut free from bad bacteria. Soon after birth, the mother passes healthy gut bacteria onto the newborns. This is done through breast feeding, and cleaning.

It doesn’t take long though before bad bacteria start entering the kitten’s guts, and there’s always a constant fight between good and bad. A lot of things can upset gut flora including antibiotics, food additives, medications, and even stress.

It’s not just us that suffer diseases caused by bad bacteria, but our pets as well. Taking control by providing them with a quality probiotic is the best way to ensure your cat or dog stays healthy.

Study has shown that many metabolic diseases begin in the gut. Although research applies to humans, it’s the same for cats and dogs as well.

In addition, probiotics are often used to treat gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and tummy upsets. This may prove effective for your cat, but always seek advice from your vet if symptoms worsen.

Probiotics As A Treatment For Diarrhea In Cats

If your kitty develops diarrhea it can be worrying. It’s not uncommon in cats, and there are many causes. Just as in people, a sudden change in diet may be the reason.

Also, antibiotics, parasites, and inflammatory bowel disease could trigger diarrhea in your cat. If bad bacteria overtakes the number of good bacteria in the gut, diarrhea can occur.

Probiotics contain live bacteria which are the good guys. Introducing them into your cat’s diet can quickly help return a normal balance of healthy bacteria in the gut.

This may help calm your cat’s diarrhea and reduce any pain or discomfort. However, results won’t be instant and may take up to a couple of days.

Actually, your vet may even recommend a short course of probiotics. It’s very rare to get any complications, and the benefits to your pet’s overall health are many.

NEVER let your cat get dehydrated as this can be dangerous. If your cat is reluctant to eat, try cooking her a piece of tasty chicken and add boiled rice.

In addition, a few teaspoons of water will help replenish fluids. If after a few days there’s no improvement you should see the vet as soon as possible.

Dehydration quickly leads to loss of fluids and deficiency in electrolytes. While often an injection of electrolytes works well, in severe cases a stay in the surgery and drip may be required.

How Probiotics Can Improve Bowel Health

Irritable bowel syndrome is very common in cats, and chances are your feline friend will develop it at some time or another in her life. It’s believed to be partly caused by commercial cat food.

Many brands contain high levels of grain, as well as additives and preservatives. It’s quite possible some of these ingredients could cause IBS.

You can easily learn how to make your own cat food, which is healthier, and free from additives. Also, adding a probiotic to your cat’s diet may help maintain healthy bowels, saving you money in vet fees!

Your Cat’s Immune System

Your cat’s immune system is very similar to yours with about 70% located in the gut. As previously mentioned many metabolic and inflammatory illnesses start in the gut.

Ensuring your kitty’s gut stays healthy can lower the risk of conditions such as diarrhea, infection, IBS, and gastroenteritis. This is why Introducing probiotics into your kitty’s diet may be beneficial.

Providing you choose a quality probiotic that’s specifically formulated for cats you should be fine. Any of the ones I’ve shared here would be ideal, though I can’t guarantee results.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve found this post on best probiotics for cats useful. We’ve covered quite a lot including a look at 6 of my top recommended probiotics.

As I don’t have any medical training I can’t advise on any health issues, but all products I recommend have been carefully chosen. If you have any concerns you must ask your vet first, especially if your cat is already on medication.

Please share this article if you’ve enjoyed reading it.

Also if you have any questions or would like to share experiences please leave a comment below.

Wishing you a purrfect day:)

Kathy

10 thoughts on “7 Best Probiotics For Cats And Proven Benefits”

  1. This is great awareness for cat owners. I used to have 3 cats when growing up and back then we never knew about this. But the fantastic research over the years, there is finally some science behind some illnesses and medication or supplements to help prevent these illnesses. I like the list of prebiotics too so people can start to try what’s best for their cat. Like you say, cats can be fussy and clever!!

    Reply
    • Thank you Lee:) Yes, there’s a lot more scientific evidence nowadays that shows the health benefits of probiotics. This applies to both humans and pets, with similar benefits to both. I’m glad you like the products I recommended, and I’m sure even the fussiest of cats would be ok with them!

      Reply
  2. I had never heard of probiotics for cats. Thankfully, my baby is quite healthy and doesn’t seem to have any issues. It’s too bad they can’t tell us when they feel sick. I recently got a recipe book for feeding cats homemade food. It’s going to take a while to convince me to actually try it. Thank you for posting this!

    Reply
    • Thank you Cathy:) Yes, such a pity our cats are unable to tell us when they’re not feeling well! Glad you got the recipe book, and hope you get to try some of the homemade cat foods! I’m glad your cat is healthy with no issues. You may want to consider probiotics as she or he ages. Many diseases start in the gut, both for us humans and our pets:)

      Reply
  3. I recently started ordering supplements on Amazon for my dogs, supplements for heart health and some others that contain fish oil and are good for their coat, bones, etc. I was also thinking of getting some good supplements for my cats, since they are outdoor cats and only come inside to sleep and also cuddle with me 🙂 It’s interesting to see Zesty Paws here since Amazon also recommended it to me in one of their promotional emails.
    Probiotics makes sense, especially since one of my cats is a hunter and he eats what he hunts. So, I guess that he could use some probiotics. The ingredients sound like he would eat them, having flavors I know he would like. Which one do you think is best for an outdoor cat?

    Reply
    • Hi Christine, good to hear you’re giving your dogs supplements, especially fish oil. Yes, fish is great for heart, skin, coat, and joints. In fact, both dogs and cats gain similar benefits to us. Your outdoor cats would definitely benefit from probiotics. I don’t think any one in particular is best, as all promote gut health. Whether your cats spend all day outside or indoors any probiotic is good. The main thing is you get them to take it! Thanks for stopping by and glad this post was of help:)

      Reply
  4. Hi Kathy,

    Before reading this article, I didn’t know that cats also need probiotic supplements, just like us. I personally don’t intake probiotics, but my parents do.

    Among all the choices, I will pick Pet Naturals Daily Probiotic since it’s the only one approved by NASC, so it gained my confidence in the product quality.

    My second pick will be Zesty Paws Probiotic Bites which combines two products in one. I’ve read another article of yours that coconut oil does good for cats. So, when I read that this product has coconut glycerin, I feel like, “This is it!”

    Cheers,
    Matt

    Reply
    • Hi Matt, yes, probiotics are good for pets as well as humans. Both Pet Naturals and Zesty Paws are a great choice, and easy to administer. Zesty Paws has the edge though as you get salmon oil as well. Also, as you mentioned, Probiotic Bites contains coconut oil. Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed this post:)

      Reply
  5. Hey Kathy,
    I always love reading from you because you provide information in a clear and straight-forward way, touching on all important aspects of a particular topic.

    I learned so much from this post! As a cat lover, there is still so much I need to learn about how their gut works and how to take care of them. I am super surprised to learn that cats can certainly have IBS too! wow, i really had no idea!

    Anyways, I am impressed with the list you have curated because each one has the best amount of probiotics for our cute little felines! Personally I prefer the powdered type because I have seen cats take out tablets from their meals, regardless of how well they are hidden! However, do you think it is a good idea to crush the tablets into powder so to ensure they are getting their probiotic supplements in?

    Reply
    • Hi Sasha, thank you for your kind comment:) Yes, it’s surprising how many diseases and ailments cats get that are similar to ours. I agree the powdered type is a good choice, but the chews are easy to administer. You don’t have to worry about your cat spitting them out as they’re formulated with a taste cats enjoy. With regard to your question about tablets, yes, you can crush them up and mix in with food. A good tip I’ve found through experience is mixing crushed tablets with a favourite treat! Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed this post:)

      Reply

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