Cat Gut Health: 8 Tips to Improve & Restore Your Cat’s Microbiome
1. Introduction
The world of the microbiome in a cat's own body is well worth considering in protecting their health from the ground up, and this is true for any cat, whether they are purebred or of unknown ancestry. This is why this post walks through the basics and practicality of cat gut health. Our cats' guts are where a lot of our responsibilities as their caretakers lie. In addition to the behavioral adage, “the way to a cat’s heart may be through its stomach,” it seems modern research in veterinary medicine involving cat gut health is also finding some truth to that.
When we begin to understand what the cat microbiome is and all the different biological aspects of a cat’s own gut in detail, it makes it even harder to argue that everything is connected, from the cat’s behaviors to the performance of vaccines, to disease immunity, to obesity and diabetes. In cats, the more researchers look, the more the complexities of cat microbiome interactions have become evident. Wouldn’t you expect all of those to be affected by anything going on in your cat that could affect its full digestive processes, its cells, tissues, and organs? From the happenings inside the intestine to every nook and cranny of kitties, let’s start this process of thinking proactively!
1.1. Understanding the Importance of Cat Gut Health
Cat Gut Health: 8 Tips to Improve and Restore Your Cat’s Microbiome
Gut health is crucial for your cat’s overall well-being. In many ways, our cats’ digestive system is the epicenter of their body. This section will give you an overview that will help you understand the importance of gut health. The role of your pet’s microbiome is integral to digestion and immunity, and an imbalance in their microbiome can lead to allergies, obesity, and gastrointestinal illness. This and the other topics under this umbrella are advanced information that you might not want to know or might make you uncomfortable. This is why you are being given the summary first. As mentioned, our pet’s digestive system acts as an ecosystem, enabling them to digest and absorb nutrients and maintain their overall state of wellness. If the balance of 'good' bacteria to 'bad' bacteria is upset, when they eat foods that are bad for them, we see manifestations in the gut, such as IBD in cats.
The delicate balance of the gut microbiome is necessary for maintaining the health of the gastrointestinal system, the largest immune system of the body. Known as our microbiome, these microscopic bugs are a congregation of thousands of beneficial or pathogenic bacteria. When not in balance, a variety of conditions can occur, including obesity, diabetes, allergies, elevated cholesterol levels, and gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, pancreatitis, colitis, IBD, or irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Unbeknownst to many, the health of our gut also plays a key role in our emotional state and energy levels. This is why knowledge is key. If our gut is not in balance, we don't just live a long life, but a life where the quality is good. The good news is we can increase the chance of achieving this positive outcome by making the right dietary and health choices.
2. The Microbiome: Key to Cat Gut Health
All animals, including cats, have a community of microorganisms living in their digestive tract. While much of the information we have about the microbiome is still speculative, recent studies show links between gut bacteria and disease as well as changes in behavior. The feline microbiome consists of trillions of microorganisms in the digestive tract, and most of them live in the large intestine. Cats with a 'normal' microbiome do better than cats with an unhealthy balance.
We are just beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to the microbiome's role in feline health, but we do know the following: It helps with digestion and absorption of nutrients. It governs the host's immune system. It forms a protective barrier that starves and kills pathogenic bacteria. Ongoing studies of the microbiome in other species show that it can also have behavioral effects and change the course of certain diseases. These studies give us a reasonable amount of information to suggest that the same is true for cats. What can we conclude from this? That we must become familiar with the feline microbiome so that we can maintain digestive tract health and minimize infections and disease states. To treat it, we need to understand the microbiome's fundamental function inside our cats and the essential players. This, in turn, can aid us in identifying when anything goes wrong and possibly interfere.
2.1. What is the Microbiome?
The microbiome refers to the collection of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other single-celled organisms present in and surrounding the gut. Every species of animal, including cats, has a unique gut microbiota, which can be potentially disturbed by changes in diet, activity, possible infections, or episodes of inflammation. Collectively, the microorganisms present in an animal’s gastrointestinal tract are called the microbiota or 'biome.' The collection of these microorganisms is collectively referred to as the microbiome.
Current evidence has revealed that the composition of the microbiome can play a role in the overall health of the host animal. This microbiota can live in the body of the host cat like a thick biofilm, and their combined weight can be in the range of a couple of pounds. There are many of them interacting with all the parts and parcels inside the body of the host. It’s a small jungle in there full of bacteria that are used to cohabitating for a long time, so they never face a rough time. If they are functioning properly, they help the gut to work properly, and they come in the form of probiotics that are marketed and sold. They break down food into nutrients, producing vitamins and a mix of compounds called short-chain fatty acids, which provide energy through nutrition, suppress gut inflammation, develop the mucosal system with immune functions, and help control appetite. The variety of the microbiome found in the gut also offers many enzymes that make the bodies of the cat capable of breaking down some of the compounds that are not digestible.
How to Keep Your Cat’s Gut Healthy: 8 Essential Tips for a Happy Feline. Your cat’s gut health plays a crucial role in their overall well-being. From supporting digestion to boosting immunity, a healthy gut can make a big difference in their happiness. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your cat’s gut and eight simple ways to keep it in top shape.
What Is the Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome is an intricate ecosystem within your cat’s digestive system, housing various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. These tiny residents play a significant role in your cat's health, contributing to digestion, immunity, and overall wellness.
How the Microbiome Develops Cats start building their gut microbiome right from birth, and it continues to develop and change as they grow, influenced by their environment, diet, and interactions with people. Each cat’s microbiome is unique and constantly evolving. Why Your Cat’s Gut Health Matters A healthy gut ensures better nutrient absorption, promotes good stool quality, and supports a strong immune system, reducing the risk of illness. The gut microbiome also aids in producing essential nutrients for the large intestine, maintaining your cat's digestive health. Common Causes of Gut Health Problems Several factors can disrupt your cat's gut health, including: - Dietary changes - Antibiotics or other medications - Stress - infections from bacteria or other animals Imbalances in the gut can lead to inflammation, diarrhea, constipation, and even a weakened immune system. Signs of a Microbiome Imbalance : When your cat’s gut microbiome is out of balance, they may experience digestive issues, infections, or skin problems. Supporting their gut health can prevent these issues and keep them feeling their best. 8 Ways to Support Your Cat’s Gut Health 1. Provide a Balanced Diet : A balanced diet is essential for your cat’s gut health. Choose high-quality cat food rich in protein, fiber, prebiotics, whole grains, and healthy fats. Avoid foods that are toxic to cats, like garlic, chocolate, or avocado, and steer clear of raw meat or fatty human foods. 2. Incorporate Prebiotics : Prebiotics are dietary fibers that nourish beneficial gut bacteria. You can find prebiotics in certain cat foods or supplements, but introduce them gradually to avoid upsetting your cat’s stomach. 3. Use Antibiotics Sparingly : While antibiotics can be necessary for treating infections, they can also disrupt your cat's gut microbiome. Always consult your vet before using antibiotics and consider pairing them with probiotics to maintain gut health. 4. Groom Your Cat Regularly : Regular grooming helps reduce hair ingestion, which can lead to digestive issues. Plus, it’s a great bonding experience, and your cat will love the extra attention! 5. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene : Oral hygiene impacts your cat’s gut health. Bacteria from an unhealthy mouth can enter the bloodstream, affecting various organs. Regularly brushing your cat's teeth and providing dental treats can help keep their mouth clean. 6. Encourage Play and Exercise : Physical activity stimulates your cat’s digestive system, promotes regular bowel movements, and reduces stress. Offer toys, teach tricks, or take short walks to keep your cat active and happy. 7. Make Diet Changes Gradually : Cats are sensitive to dietary changes, so always introduce new foods slowly over at least a week. This gradual transition will help your cat’s gut adapt and minimize digestive upset. 8. Ensure Adequate Hydration : Cats often don’t drink enough water, especially if they’re on a dry food diet. Place water bowls around your home, provide fresh water daily, or invest in a pet water fountain to encourage more drinking. Keep an Eye on Your Cat’s Health : Monitor your cat’s stools, coat, and behavior for any changes. Cats often hide discomfort, so pay close attention to subtle signs and consult your vet if you notice anything unusual. In Summary Supporting your cat's gut health is simple: - Offer a well-balanced, digestible diet - Groom regularly - Ensure exercise and playtime - Transition diets gradually - Encourage water intake If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to consult your vet. With the right care, your cat can enjoy a happy, healthy life, full of energy and vitality.
2.2. Role of the Microbiome in Cat Health
Researchers believe the microbiome or gut flora plays a crucial role in the health of an individual. It is an important player for the health of your cat despite the limited amount of pet research to confirm this. A pet’s microbiome helps with digestion; if that is not happening well, how do you think he or she would be able to retain and/or use the nutrition from the food? In addition, the gut flora also protects your pet from opportunistic pathogens. Diseased and imbalanced gut flora may lead to weakened mucosa, the protective lining of the gut, making it easier for germs to pass through and end up in the bloodstream, potentially leading to a systemic infection. It contributes up to 70% to overall immunity, manages metabolism, and is also linked to mental health aspects like anxiety, etc.
A dysbiotic or imbalanced, inflamed gut flora may lead to pet health issues like food intolerance, inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, heart diseases, lower back pain, myalgia (muscle pain) like in humans, osteoarthritis, depression, and stress-related behaviors, hyper- and hypothyroidism, early renal failure, and many cancers. These are largely lifestyle systemic pet diseases and therefore magnify the need for the owner to become vigilant about her pet’s daily health management and watch for deviations in attitudes and activity levels, as that could be the first and subtle signs of an ailing pet. The daily preventative lifestyle measure of joint health diets, diet supplements, and medications to prevent lifestyle issues is not the entirety of health management, and the pet is not a walking malady to prevent.
3. Common Gut Health Issues in Cats
Gut health encompasses a variety of different conditions that concern the intestines and digestive processes. The most common health issue that cats face is vomiting; however, some other common gut health problems include diarrhea, constipation, and inflammatory bowel disease. Not only are these health issues distressing for both your cat and yourself, but they can also have huge impacts on your cat’s physical health and psychological well-being. For example, long-term stress can often lead to gastrointestinal issues including compromised gastrointestinal function, altered gut microbiota, or increased intestinal permeability.
Although gut health issues often cause diarrhea and vomiting, subtle changes in behavior or character can often be a direct result of a gut health problem. Cats that are experiencing undiagnosed gut health problems can become a problem to deal with in the home. This can often be mistaken for a behavioral issue; however, the problem often originates from health issues. The sooner your cat’s gut health problem is addressed, the sooner your cat can begin to feel more like themselves. Fortunately, cats often show signs that their gut is struggling before diarrhea or vomiting occurs. Being aware of these early signs means that you can be proactive about your cat’s gut health and help prevent further complications. There are a number of key contributing factors that can cause gut health issues in cats. These often include the use of antibiotics, parasites, or long-term use of medications. These factors are often unavoidable, and the only thing that we can do is to reintroduce beneficial bacteria to the gut by aggressive antibiotic therapy.
3.1. Symptoms to Watch Out For
What is the intestinal microbiome? In basic terms, it is a huge collection of different microorganisms living in and on the body. This includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other small structures. The bacteria is what we often talk about when we are discussing a pet’s microbiome. Some microorganisms are helpful to a pet’s gut and overall body health, while other harmful organisms can derail gut health. Monitoring these symptoms might indicate gut health issues. It is always important to contact your veterinarian for a proper evaluation. They can look at your cat from the inside and recognize what is happening. Eating less energy: This occurs because the gut absorbs 30% of the energy obtained in the food. An unsettling or unstable intestinal condition can lead to less nutrition being absorbed. Body weight change: For example, the small intestines, where more than 90% of the nutrients are absorbed. If there is unidentified harmful flora, the gut will not be able to absorb them, leading to overall performance issues and eventual weight loss. Behavioral issues: If your cat becomes more irritable or aggressive, or even less active and lethargic, that might be a gut-related issue: the colon is responsible for providing up to 75% hydration. Indications of altered behavior might reflect changes in water balance due to its dysregulation. Increasing the amount of time it takes from one end to the other: If you notice your cat is using the litter box more often, accompany that with a slow recovery in bowel movement; this means that your gut isn't eagerly breaking down the nutrients left in your cat's microbiome.
3.2. Causes of Imbalance
Imbalance of the gut microbiome, also called dysbiosis, can occur due to the following factors. Poor Diet A diet low in fiber, high in certain carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, or processed ingredients, and deficient in protein can contribute to an imbalance in the gut microbiome. Illness Diabetes, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, allergies, and histamines are common systemic illnesses that can contribute to poor digestive health in cats. Antibiotics Antibiotics can kill off the "good" bacteria and allow the "bad" bacteria to multiply unchecked. This leads to an overgrowth, typically of one of two bacteria, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile. These bacteria can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and marked digestive upset, which, if severe enough, can turn fatal in a short time. Stress Environmental changes, such as a move or bringing in a new pet, can stress a cat enough to contribute to a tummy upset and may even contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. Environmental Change Stress compounded by a concurrent diet change, such as a move to a different type of diet or from homemade food to a commercially available diet, will often result in loose stools, at least temporarily. It is this writer’s contention that some of the above factors do not "cause" loose stools, but rather simply contribute to the imbalance in the gut that needs to be addressed once the "cause" of the loose stools has been identified and rectified. The looseness of the stool, rather than being caused by the above factors, are signs of poor digestive health and should prompt a visit to the veterinarian’s office if they continue for more than a week. A stool sample may be in order to have evaluated for parasites. Long-standing health issues leading to poor digestive health are best managed with your choice of integrative veterinarian - one who can work with you on addressing the whole health needs of your cat rather than simply trying to manage signs.
4. 8 Tips to Improve & Restore Your Cat’s Microbiome
In conclusion, many aspects of gut health are under our control, especially for house cats. What your cat eats and how active they are, the number of health check-ups you bring them to, mitigating their stress so they never develop fur balls, and acknowledging any new treats or medications they receive can all lead to a healthier gut – and cat – overall. 1. Maintenance. Be proactive about your kitty’s health and never skip their annual wellness check-ups with your veterinarian. Keep up to date on vaccinations, avoid unnecessary medications, and fill your cat’s bowl with a diet that is food, not fillers. This means checking that whole meat is the first ingredient (usually also 3 of the top 5). 2. Quality Over Quantity. Aim for nutrient-dense, non-processed foods that are as close to freeze-dried as you can. This lack of processing can help aid cat gut health. 3. Probiotic and Prebiotic Support. Consult with your veterinarian about adding beneficial bacteria back to your feline’s tummy. 4. Extra Hydration. Many benefits come from maintaining good hydration. For a huge variety of reasons, cats with low stress are usually the healthiest. Get the kitty moving by distracting them from more disruptive activities like hunting, feeding bowls, or spending time with them with a fun toy. Offer countless game choices including laser pointers, feather games, or even bowls that disperse treats as your pet drinks.
4.1. 1. High-Quality Diet
Microbiome is effectively a nutrient refinery – each microbe plays a role in taking larger molecules from the diet, breaking them down into components that the gut can then absorb and use. Feeding your cat a balanced diet made with whole, real ingredients and free from artificial additives is key to supporting healthy digestion and promoting a healthy microbiome. Avoid cat foods that contain fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, as these can disrupt digestion.
Many common artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors used in pet foods have been linked to health problems. Feeding foods that contain these cheap and artificial additives will foster the growth of harmful bacteria and reduce the abundance of good bacteria. When reintroducing important fiber sources like fruits and vegetables, it’s crucial to consider that not all cats have the gut health to tolerate or process these foods healthfully. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their ideal diet contains a lot of bioavailable protein as well as a lot of bioavailable fat. Processed tissue of different varieties and little animal bits are used to make cat food, but this does not closely resemble what a cat would eat in nature. Many commercial foods also contain high carbohydrate ingredients like rice and peas as fillers. You always want to make sure that the nutrition you feed is species-appropriate so that your pets get the nutrients they need. This makes sense in the wild, as hunting prey provides access to a balance of muscle meat, organs, and some bone. Be careful when choosing what to feed your pets – not all food labeled 'natural' uses truly beneficial, whole ingredients. Always check the product ingredients. If you are not sure what food or nutrition is appropriate for your pet, it is essential to consult with a veterinarian or pet nutritionist.
4.2. 2. Probiotics and Prebiotics
We have previously discussed that a cat’s gut consists of a vast community of microorganisms, the gut microbiome, with various bacteria and other microorganisms. The gut microbiome influences your cat’s health in many ways, and an imbalance, or dysbiosis, in these beneficial gut bacteria and damaging bacteria can ultimately lead to chronic gastrointestinal disease and other health problems. Thus, it is clear that restoring a normal and healthy gut microbiome for your cat is absolutely critical and important for their long-term health. The question now becomes, how do we restore and help establish balance and a healthy gut microbiome in your cat? There are many ways this can be done, including supplements, diet, and sometimes medications. The rest of this text will focus on supplements and some other options that can be considered for your cat in order to help them achieve ideal gut health.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Probiotics are the good, beneficial live bacteria that, when ingested, can help to favorably influence the gut microbiome and help the pet that takes them. In contrast, prebiotics are the non-digestible fibers that help feed the probiotic bacteria that are beneficial to our pets, allowing these good bacteria to grow and help potentially outcompete the bad bacteria in their gut. These fibers may also provide other far-reaching benefits in other physiological systems. Several studies suggest that feeding some pets of different species, including cats, a diet supplemented with probiotics and/or prebiotics may have some beneficial effects in their gut. Benefits may include a reduction in the number of intestinal disease occurrences and alterations in many gut microbial communities, effectively ameliorating changes associated with the use of antibiotics, changes in diet, and other stressors.
4.3. 3. Regular Vet Check-Ups
Why regular appointments with the vet are crucial: Regular appointments with your veterinarian allow you to monitor your pet's growth, behavior, and health. Preventive care plays a crucial role in the early detection of health problems. Discuss how often you should bring your pet in for an evaluation with your veterinarian. What a veterinarian can do to assess your pet's gut health: Veterinarians may recommend various diagnostic tests for assessing your pet's gastrointestinal health depending on the specific needs of your animal, including the need to control an existing health problem, your pet's age, and other factors. Fecal tests: These tests are used to identify microbes that reveal signs of inflammation and infection, as well as to detect possible parasites and rule them out. Advanced tests, such as blood tests and specialized imaging: Blood tests may be used to check for liver or pancreas dysfunction and diagnose specific gut conditions. Imaging tests may be used to assess ulcers or masses in the digestive system. Veterinarians who are more advanced may recommend seeing an internal vet to help assess your cat's gastrointestinal health more fully and provide more specific advice and treatment. Individualized dietary and health strategies: Every cat requires a specific diet and health care plan, and your veterinarian can help you determine the best strategy for maintaining optimal gut health in the long run. If one of your cats has health problems, your veterinarian can help you devise a care plan that features evidence-based treatment choices. General ideas about what's going on: By keeping up with veterinary news, you'll know what's coming next. For example, certain types of cancer have different roots.
4.4. 4. Stress Management
Stress often has a significant impact on gut health in humans and in cats. The stress, anxiety, and fear can lead to the activation of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, resulting in dysbiosis, which involves the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria inside the intestine. It can also decrease the amounts of immune cells within the ileal Peyer’s patches, leading to an increased risk for infections, food reactions, or allergies. Chronic stress is known to have a direct impact on the balance of the microbiome and should be strongly taken into account when embarking on a reset and replenish protocol to support the growth and multiplication of good gut bacteria. Reducing and eliminating stressors in your pet's life will go a long way in helping their microbiome and themselves. Common cat stressors are common household and environmental sights, sounds, or smells. Situations where the pet guardian is angry, upset, excited, or anxious can contribute to stress. A lack of environmental security often arises from changes to part of the environment, such as moving homes, bringing in a new pet, or a new human family member, or any changes in the owner's routine. As the cat gets older, we also see geriatric cats who suffer a decline in how quickly they recover from a stressor. It is important to be able to read your cat's behavior and body language, as cats often do not display signs of stress, which is common in social environments. Make sure your cat gets enrichment and is stimulated; this is paramount in creating a nurturing environment for your cat. Keeping your cat mentally engaged and physically active helps to reduce anxiety. Remember, your cat has evolved to hunt and crave physical activity. Helping your cat stay trim can help reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other negative health conditions. Time spent connecting and bonding with them can be very rewarding for all involved.
4.5. 5. Hydration
Hydration
In a healthy cat, about 7-10% of the water intake comes from the food they consume. The water you add to the diet helps to support digestion and prevents urinary issues, but it is not a significant source of hydration. If a cat is eating only dry food, almost all hydration comes from the water bowl. The average cat drinks 6 oz of water a day, and it takes 1 oz of water to process 1 oz of dry food. It is estimated that cats need 3.5 oz of water per 5 lbs of body weight. If a cat is eating dry food, then it should drink 50% of the caloric intake. If a cat is eating only wet food, it needs to drink about 1.5 cups of water for every 1 cup of wet food. There are rarely true drinking problems, but cats are not drinkers like dogs or people, and not enough water is taken in on a daily basis. Do not rely on drinking fountains, as the cats may not be attracted to them or may learn to play in the water. Some tips to promote hydration: • Provide different types of fresh water. • Water source may be the issue; provide filtered, distilled, tap, and bottled water in different bowls. • Provide water in different bowls to ensure the pet has options. • If the pet drinks much more than average, take the pet for a check-up with a veterinarian, as it may be a sign of diabetes or other health issues. • Add water to your pet’s meal to add more moisture to their overall diet. • Feed wet food; cans of food are 78% water compared to kibble with 6-10% moisture.
4.6. 6. Exercise
Regular exercise has a lot of benefits. It also encourages the movement of food through the digestive system, which is exactly what you need for a healthy gut. Activity has the ability to balance a gut’s microbiome as well. There’s very little exercise your cat can receive outdoors that are good indoor counterparts, but examining indoor-only life has found that a life of activity promotes positive, rather than sedentary, bacterial dominance in the microbiome. You’re also encouraging fluid and food to move through your pet more quickly than if they lead a sedentary life, so instead of cutting down on solid waste, cats are less likely to become constipated. The motivation to eat or go to the bathroom will be more regular if you can get your housecat to run. Each kitty is different, but exercises can center around the following three themes. Since cats are natural hunters, interactive play and toys that jiggle and flit away will encourage them to take off after things. Flashes of movement will trigger their instinctual response and lead to food chase and capture games like fetch. Empty toilet paper rolls or tissue boxes that kibble or treats roll out physically and behaving slow feeders, for a cat’s enjoyment, can be used to fill it with material. The recipient should be encouraged to participate, rather than just wait for things to be brought to them. Many a kitty I know loves to keep busy and keep active, so they’re a perfect candidate for body toys and puzzle feeders. A less active or more aloof cat might have inertia instigating action. These might be an ideal candidate for paths leading to hidden snacks. Another suggestion might be offering several water fountains and food dishes or snacks to promote exploration day and night in an all-around easy multi-level climbing kitty-friendly zone.
4.7. 7. Avoid Overuse of Antibiotics
There are times when antibiotics are necessary and save lives. Significant trauma or surgery can be complicated by opportunistic bacteria. Just like in people, using antibiotics without significant risk for infection can cause problems. One of the issues is gut health and its effect on the microbiome in the rest of the body. The gut bacteria are necessary for digestion and produce many of the vitamins that are essential to the rest of the body. The bacteria in the gut also help to activate compounds in the food that turn off the switch for disease development. Imbalances are most commonly associated with diarrhea but can also change gut functionality in a condition that is referred to as dysbiosis.
Dysbiosis is a change in the natural balance of bacteria in the gut. It is more common than we would like to think, particularly in cats. A judicious use of antibiotics is necessary, and controlling them is even more important. That being said, we do not require reaching for an antibiotic every time an animal is ill and do have a variety of supplements that can reduce the necessity to a couple of times each year. The best benefit for prevention is in raising a kitty with a healthy immune system and a very healthy microbiome. Overuse of antibiotics for any cause can kill off many of the good bacteria that reduce the portability of disease, wipe out the really good bugs, and allow a "bad actor" to proliferate.
4.8. 8. Environmental Enrichment
We all want to ensure our cats are living their absolute best lives. The term "environmental enrichment" seeks to provide that assurance. This is the idea that engaging an animal in improved surroundings can improve its physical health as well as its attitude and mood. Happy animals are more likely to be healthy animals. What is great for animals often translates into something grand for humans as well. By creating environments that are interesting and involve the cat in its own welfare, we reduce stress and increase the likelihood of physical activity. This interaction with an interesting environment can have a direct influence on the gut's microflora. We have all been told not to be couch potatoes; the same applies in the animal kingdom.
Looking for some fun suggestions? Prowling and pouncing are part of normal behavior for all cats. Engage the cat in solitary play, and encourage some social play as well. Include interactive toys such as a laser pointer or a wand with a feather or something that dangles from a string. Encourage the cat to jump up onto a safe surface such as a climbing structure or a window perch. Outdoor enclosures are great fun for cats too. If you don't have a screened-in area, or there are other reasons an outdoor enclosure won’t work for you, then open windows or challenging toys placed on the other side of a door can provide a little daily wildlife watching. A little effort goes a long way; experiment with some cardboard boxes or brown paper lunch bags to see what kinds of toys and hiding structures are fun. Cats do thrive on change. Creating an environment that is somewhat different from day to day encourages the cat to go exploring to see what's new for the day. Consistency is great for setting down some much-needed rules, but a little change now and then can help your cat to relax. Have fun creating new and interesting places for your cat.
5. Conclusion
The microbiome is intricately connected to the overall wellness of your cat. And the microbiome can influence (or be influenced by) a wide variety of factors: lifestyle, age or life stage, genetics or breed variation, disease, medication, etc. Often, we cannot or would not change some of these. But for those we can, we absolutely should. A healthy gut makes happier, healthier, longer-lived cats. Are you already doing these things? If not…will you be? It is our stance that you absolutely can and must in order to invest in years of love from your pets. They have already given us many happy, healthy years. They love us. And now, it's our turn to chase wellness for them, to see that they get to experience — for as long as possible — a life free of gut trouble. It's our turn to change the story and the outcome for them during the golden years of their lives. You already know your cat. You recognize trouble when you hear or see it. You have the power to move beyond just recognizing, to symptom management. And now, with empowerment, you move from symptom management toward solve-mana.
5.1. Summary of Key Points
Key points for cat guardians, family veterinarians, and professional cat caregivers
Tips for cat guardians to improve and restore their cat’s gut microbiome include offering a predominantly whole food, moisture-rich diet, ensuring cats receive annual check-ups with a family veterinarian they know and trust, and providing other environmental modifications that reduce stress, such as hiding spots, elevated resting places, and pheromones, and reduce boredom through enrichment, mental stimulation, and physical exercise. Guardians should aim to minimize stress and reduce the risk of coming in contact with infectious illnesses, but also to reduce spasms and diarrhea by avoiding toxins and infectious bacteria that stimulate gastrointestinal motility. Guardians should provide daily opportunities for their cat to access fresh water in different locations throughout their home, reduce the risk of dehydration, and maintain optimum hydration. Guardians should increase mental and physical stimulation and exercise and decrease boredom and potential weight gain by offering environmental enrichment opportunities and structured daily playtimes.
Cat guardians, family veterinarians, and all other providers of care for cats should remember that “health” is not separate from behavior. The gut microbiome is a major influence on gut health, which impacts overall health and behavior. Altered or imbalanced microbiomes are observable through cats’ behavior. More research is needed to understand how the specific recommendations may encourage microbial balance and health and ultimately resolve or maintain healthy stress and gastrointestinal behaviors. For many, creating a comprehensive plan that takes into account the range and complexity of a cat’s behavior, environment, and the stressors, diet, and routine to which they are exposed is not possible. However, all providers can help cats by ensuring the cats in their care receive a consistent, high-quality, whole food diet, have annual check-ups, and have enrichment options that improve their health.
References:
Ganz, H.H., Jospin, G., Rojas, C.A., Martin, A.L., Dahlhausen, K., Kingsbury, D.D., Osborne, C.X., Entrolezo, Z., Redner, S., Ramirez, B. and Eisen, J.A., 2022. The Kitty Microbiome Project: Defining the healthy fecal “core microbiome” in pet domestic cats. Veterinary Sciences, 9(11), p.635. mdpi.com
Garcia-Mazcorro, J.F., Minamoto, Y., Kawas, J.R., Suchodolski, J.S. and de Vos, W.M., 2020. Akkermansia and microbial degradation of mucus in cats and dogs: Implications to the growing worldwide epidemic of pet obesity. Veterinary sciences, 7(2), p.44. mdpi.com
Rojas, C.A., Entrolezo, Z., Jarett, J.K., Jospin, G., Kingsbury, D.D., Martin, A., Eisen, J.A. and Ganz, H.H., 2023. Microbiome responses to fecal microbiota transplantation in cats with chronic digestive issues. Veterinary Sciences, 10(9), p.561. mdpi.com
Joubran, P., Roux, F. A., Serino, M., & Deschamps, J. Y., 2024. Gut and Urinary Microbiota in Cats with Kidney Stones. Microorganisms. mdpi.com
Ma, X., Brinker, E., Graff, E.C., Cao, W., Gross, A.L., Johnson, A.K., Zhang, C., Martin, D.R. and Wang, X., 2022. Whole-genome shotgun metagenomic sequencing reveals distinct gut microbiome signatures of obese cats. Microbiology spectrum, 10(3), pp.e00837-22. asm.org
Slead, T.S., Callahan, B.J., Schreeg, M.E., Seiler, G.S., Stowe, D.M., Azcarate‐Peril, M.A., Jacob, M.E. and Gookin, J.L., 2023. Microbiome analysis of bile from apparently healthy cats and cats with suspected hepatobiliary disease. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 37(6), pp.2178-2187. wiley.com