5 Ways to Improve Your Cat’s Digestive Health
Published date: 03 July 2025
Do you have a smelly cat? If your feline friend always leaves behind a messy, stinky litter tray, they likely need more digestive support.
To help you support your moggy’s microbiome, these are our 5 top tips to improve digestive health.
Understanding Your Cat’s Microbiome.
Getting to know your cat’s digestive system is important for understanding how to improve their gut health.
The gut microbiome is a vital part of a cat’s digestive system. The microbiome is essentially an internal ecosystem, containing microscopic bacteria and microorganisms that live within the large intestine.
These friendly bacteria are essential for proper digestion and stool function. They reduce inflammation, fight off bad bacteria and support the immune system.
Much like in us, their microbiome can be disrupted, and the friendly bacteria can become weaker. Many things can impact your cat’s microbiome.
- Antibiotics (and some medications)
- Stress
- Dietary adjustments
- Viruses and bacteria from outside or from other animals.
The signs of a weakened microbiome are:
- Loose stools or diarrhoea
- Flatulence
- Bad Breath
- Bloating
Cats are sensitive creatures, and their microbiome is no exception. Stress and changes can be huge triggers for digestive upset.
5 Ways to Improve Cat Digestive Health
Luckily, there is much you can do to keep your cat’s insides running smoothly.
1) Feed a balanced natural diet
Cats need a natural, complete and balanced diet to cater to all their needs. The ideal food should contain a high level of digestible named meat, healthy fats, and plenty of fibre for bowel support.
This balance of important nutrients and ingredients will support your cat’s microbiome and their overall health.
Watch our video on What Makes a Premium Pet Food.
2) Clean their teeth
This might sound strange… but remember, dental health and digestive health are linked.
Dental disease is, unfortunately, very common in our feline friends. As oral diseases worsen, bacteria build up in the mouth. This bacteria is swallowed, enters the bloodstream and disrupts the digestive health of your cat.
Read more about cat dental disease.
Regular tooth brushing is essential for reducing the chance of dental disease. This might seem like an impossible task, but cats can be desensitised to the process.
Check out our guide to Brushing Your Cat's Teeth.
3) Give them Prebiotics
Prebiotic fibres help to feed, strengthen and protect the friendly bacteria in the gut.
The best diets will contain prebiotic fibres (often listed as prebiotic FOS & MOS).
However, for the most sensitive cats, it is also worth using a prebiotic/ digestive supplement. These extra prebiotics will strengthen your cat’s immune and digestive health.
4) Ensure they are hydrated!
Our feline friends are notoriously difficult when it comes to drinking. Cats sadly have a low thirst drive, which means we must work harder to ensure they are properly hydrated.
Fresh, clean water is essential for a healthy functioning digestive system. Cats that aren’t drinking enough are likely to suffer with constipation and hairball problems.
Watch our 3 Tips for Encouraging Cats to Drink video.
5) Keep your cat active
Our feline friends can have a reputation for becoming lazy, especially as they get older. Regular play is important for a healthy, working gut.
Physical exercise helps promote regular bowel movements, and mental exercise keeps cats happy and reduces stress, which can impact the health of the gut microbiome.
If you struggle to entice your cat into playing, watch our Guide To Playing with Your Cat.
Remember, stress and anxiety will always negatively impact your cat’s digestive health. Ensuring all your cats needs are met will go a long way in reducing stress and worry.
