Why Fiber Is Important for Your Cat’s Nutrition

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Reasons to Include Fibre-Rich Cat Food in Your Pet’s Diet

A cat’s diet largely includes other smaller animals as they are carnivorous. However, most cats avoid consuming the animal’s intestinal tract which contains most fibre. This can lead to a lack of fibre in the cat’s diet. But do cats need fibre? Yes. Lack of fibre can result in irregular bowel movement, digestive issues, and other similar health concerns.

Cats often munch on green grass and leaves to ease constipation. However, they might resist including fibre in their daily meal and only rely on it when ill. But, to ensure your cat’s best physical well-being, you should choose fibre-rich food for cats.

Understanding the classification of fibre for cats

Fibre-rich cat food is essential as it helps in maintaining their digestive health. Thus, pet parents should try to include the necessary amount of fibre in their kitty’s diet. It will help maintain their digestive health and overall well-being. Cat food fibre can be classified based on its solubility.

Soluble fibre: This type of fibre can easily dissolve in gastric juices and gut water. A certain type of soluble fibre also turns into a gel to make excretion easier for the cat. Fibre-rich cat food should include soluble fibre as it is necessary for their digestion and gut health. Cat food with fibre is easily available in the market and is necessary for their physical well-being.
Insoluble fibre: Fibre-rich cat food should contain insoluble fibre alongside soluble fibre. Insoluble fibre adds bulk to the food which ensures easy movement of food through the digestive system. This type of fibre also makes the stool consistent and reduces the chances of constipation.

While choosing cat food with fibre, you should make sure it includes both soluble and insoluble fibre. Besides, the cat’s gut bacteria can break down both soluble and insoluble fibre to produce new compound that helps in nourishing their colon cells.

Why do cats need fibre?

Fibre-rich cat food contains prebiotics, which means they also contain good bacteria that are necessary for a healthy intestine. So, as a cat parent, you should invest in high-quality cat food with fibre to keep your little fur baby’s gut health in check. However, how much fibre does a cat require??

Although fibre is essential for cats, they require it in limited quantities. Too much fibre can risk restricting absorption of nutrients in their body, whereas too little can lead to poor digestive health. The appropriate quantity of fibre for cats is between 1.4 to 3.5% of their daily calorie intake.

Good sources of fibre for cats

Planning to include cat food with fibre in your kitty’s daily diet? Consider adding the following food options to their meal to increase fibre content in your fur baby’s diet.

Animal fibre: Providing fibre-rich food made using a mixture of feathers, fur, bones, tendon, cartilage, and other animal organs can help improve your kitty’s intake of fibre while still sticking to a purely carnivorous diet.
Carrots: Occasionally, you can add a little piece of cooked carrot to the cat’s diet. Carrots are a good source of fibre and vitamin C. They are also non-toxic; hence, you can add a little piece of raw carrot or slightly steamed or boiled carrot along with their daily meal to turn their regular diet into a fibre-rich one.
Green beans: Another fibre-rich food for cats is green beans. This low-carbohydrate food is one of the richest sources of fibre. If planning to add fibre for cats, include a small amount of green beans to their diet.
Wheat bran: This byproduct of wheat is an expensive source of fibre for cats. Wheat bran’s nutty-sweet flavor intrigues cats and can easily provide them their daily fibre without much hassle.
Broccoli: Like most green food, broccoli is yet another good source of fibre. You can serve a small piece of blanched broccoli to your kitty’s diet to keep indigestion and constipation at bay.
Spinach: Rich in vitamins C and K, spinach is a very good plant-based fibre for cats. You can add a few leaves of cooked spinach to your kitty’s daily meal and ensure they get their daily dose of fibre for better gut health.
Lettuce: Lettuce contains a good amount of fibre and water. Allowing your kitty to nibble on a lettuce leaf occasionally will ensure sufficient fibre consumption while also keeping it hydrated.

Besides relying on the above-mentioned plant-based and animal-based fibre, you can also buy IAMS high-fibre cat food to ensure that your kitty gets the right amount of fibre in its meal. IAMS high-fibre cat food such as IAMS ProActive Health Adult Original with Chicken contains a moderate quantity of fermentable fibre along with the chicken. This cat food with fibre is made using fermentable fibre and chicken that your cat is sure to relish. Besides, IAMS is a popular cat food brand that is known for using best-quality ingredients, so your furry friend gets nothing but the best.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get fibre into my cat?

You can easily add fibre into your cat’s diet by choosing a cat food brand that offers fibre-rich cat food or by adding animal-based or plant-based fibre to their daily meal.

Is high-fibre diet good for cats?

Yes, cats need fibre for better gut and intestinal health. However, a cat’s fibre intake should not be more than 3.5% of its daily calorie diet.

Does wet or dry food have more fibre?

Dry food often has more fibre as it contains more bulk compared to wet food which contains more moisture.

Do indoor cats need more fibre?

Yes, all cats need fibre for better digestion and gastrointestinal health.

What fibre is best for cats?

Plant-based fibre such as broccoli, lettuce, carrots, wheat brans, spinach, wheatgrass, and green beans are good for cats. You can also add animal-based fibre such as animal feathers, cartilage, bone, and ligaments to your cat’s diet for encouraging fibre consumption.

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FVRCP Vaccine

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New cat parents often are unaware of the FVRCP vaccine and why it is essential to get their cats vaccinated for it. FVRCP vaccine stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia, and it is one of the core vaccines recommended for all cats. Feline rhinotracheitis is an infection that causes flu-like symptoms in cats. While this infection is common in outdoor cats, it can find its way to indoor cats as well. Calicivirus develops mouth ulcers and inflammation while panleukopenia attacks the cat’s immune system, putting its life in lethal danger. Hence, protecting your indoor kitty from these harmful viruses is essential for maintaining their overall health.

That’s where the FVRCP vaccine for kittens and cats comes into picture. It protects our feline creatures from three life-threatening viruses – feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. But before you get your fur baby vaccinated, let’s take a look at some important information about FVRCP vaccines for cats.

When should cats receive the Feline FVRCP vaccine?
Although we know the FVRCP vaccine is crucial for a cat’s well-being, it is also necessary to know when and how to get your kitty inoculated with this combination vaccine. Given below are some essential details related to the FVRCP vaccine for cats that every cat parent should know about:

Rhinotracheitis
FVR is caused by the FVH-1 virus. It is one of the most fatal infections that a cat can contract. The FVRCP vaccine is a core vaccine for preventing rhinotracheitis in cats. Feline viral rhinotracheitis is a highly infectious illness that causes symptoms ranging from sneezes and conjunctivitis to fever and lethargy. It spreads through bodily fluids like saliva as well as eyes and nose discharge of infected cats. If not detected and treated in time, FVR in cats can prove fatal. The FVRCP vaccine will ensure that your pet develops immunity against feline rhinotracheitis.

Calicivirus
Like feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus (FCV) is another deadly virus in cats. This virus typically attacks the cat’s respiratory tract and oral organs. Calicivirus symptoms can range from upper respiratory tract diseases to mouth ulcers and inflammations. If you observe any signs of calicivirus in your indoor cat, take it to the vet immediate as you should start medication at the earliest. However, it is always better to keep such daunting health issues at bay through vaccination, and the FVRCP vaccine acts as an effective preventive measure.

Panleukopenia
Abbreviated as FPV, feline panleukopenia is a highly contagious virus that attacks the immune system of cats. It presents symptoms like fever, vomiting, and anorexia. Unlike feline viral rhinotracheitis, which causes flu-like symptoms or calicivirus which causes mouth ulcers and eye infections, FPV attacks the bone marrow and the lymph nodes. And this further decreases the white blood cell count in cats. With FVRCP vaccination, you can prepare your purrfect pal to combat this deadly virus.

Why is the FVRCP vaccine a core vaccine?
Core vaccines are a must for all cats as they equip our feline creatures to fight off some of the most infectious and fatal viruses. FVRCP vaccine is one such core preventive measure besides anti-rabies vaccine for cats. FVR, FCV, and FPV are some of the most contagious viruses that easily spread through the body fluids of infected animals. Vaccinating your kitty with FVRCP enables its body to prepare antigens against these fatal viruses. Hence, FVRCP is said to be one of the core vaccines for cats.

When to get a cat vaccinated with the FVRCP vaccine
Kittens are inoculated with the FVRCP vaccine every three to four weeks between the ages of 16 to 20 weeks. Booster shots are needed to ensure that the cat’s immune system is completely ready to recognise the vaccine components. These jabs also ascertain that the kitten's immunity is strong enough to combat these four deadly viruses as they age. The kitty should receive a final dose of FVRCP after it turns a year old. Post this, you should revaccinate your feline friend every three years to keep its immunity intact. Please note, the FVRCP vaccine cost depends on the brand you choose to inoculate your pet.

However, before scheduling an appointment for FVRCP vaccination, you must ask the following questions to your veterinarian.
What are the side effects of FVRCP and how soon do they wear off?
How to care for the kitty post-vaccination?
How many booster shots will the kitty need based on its lifestyle, age, and breed?
FVRCP vaccine cost.
FVRCP side effects
The FVRCP vaccine might cause some discomfort and minor side effects. While minor symptoms are common, it is best to visit the veterinarian if you notice any extreme signs of discomfort. Given below are a few of the most common side effects of this vaccine.
Redness or swelling at the injected site
Low-grade fever
Low appetite
Some cats might develop an allergic reaction to the FVRCP vaccine. If you notice your kitty vomiting, itching, or suffering from diarrhea, you must consult the doctor at the earliest.
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