Are Probiotics for Cats Safe?

Probiotics are living microorganisms which are ingested to affect the gut flora (microbiota) of a larger multicellular organism. The microbiome is the term for the collective system of all microbiota in the larger body. Scientists have been investigating the human microbiome to better understand how the human body functions and repairs itself. The hope is that a better understanding will eventually lead to finding better treatment options for a wide range of medical issues.

Despite many studies, our knowledge of the exact function of microbiota is limited. Understanding of the feline microbiome is even less comprehensive, although it is believed their basic function is similar when compared to humans.

Probiotics are a type of bacteria in themselves and they function by fueling gut flora, often increasing their numbers in the process. They are supposedly indigestible by the body's gastrointestinal system, so they remain in the GI tract and affect the microbiome. They are believed to do so by directly feeding gut flora and stimulating growth.

While probiotics can remain in the GI tract for a long time, they don't always remain in the mucosal cells. Many are simply eliminated via feces and, therefore, need to be topped up regularly^[1].

Prebiotics for cats

Prebiotics have a similar outcome in that they work to benefit the gut microflora. However, their function and origin are different. They are a type of dietary fiber found in food. They are not digested by the upper intestinal tract, but they ferment when they reach the intestines. When this occurs, the fermentation feeds the microbiota.

Examples of prebiotics for cats are the fibers which can be found in vegetables, fruit skin, legumes, etc. For feline medicine, the most used cat prebiotics are:

• Beta glucans
• Mannan-oligosaccharides (glucomannans)
• Fructooligosaccharides (oligofructans)

All of these prebiotics for cats are also thought to facilitate the removal of pathogenic organisms in the cat's gastrointestinal system. This is why there are some fruit and vegetables which some believe are beneficial to cats, despite them being obligate carnivores.

Symbiotics for cats

Symbiotics are a treatment which combines both prebiotic and probiotic strains. They are commercially available in different markets, claiming to be a more complete treatment for various ailments. It has been tested as a preventive in dogs to reduce the instance of diarrhea, especially important in kennels^[2].

A stated above, the microbiome is the microbiological ecosystem found in our cat's digestive tract. It includes billions of different microorganisms, including both beneficial and harmful bacteria.

The harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, Clostridium or Shigella, cause damage to the intestinal mucosa. This can cause systematic problems and seriously affect the well-being of the cat. An acute case can be life threatening, but even smaller amounts of harmful bacteria which can cause damage. We will not be able to completely remove the harmful bacteria, but a balance can be made with beneficial bacteria to ensure the health of the cat.

Without such a balance in the feline microbiome, nutrients in the GI tract will not be properly absorbed. This can lead to inflammation of the GI tract as well as affecting their behavior.

Healthy cat food

The main way both humans and felines try to maintain a balance of their mircobiome is via nutrition. On a very basic level, a healthy diet can maintain a healthy gut and positive dietary changes can help address certain health problems related to the digestive system. Generally, the right diet for a cat is based on:

• High quality and low-fat proteins
• Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber
• Easily digestible nutrients in the form of vitamins, minerals, etc.

Commercially produce cat food is designed to meet all of the nutritional requirements of a cat, including balancing their gut flora. Proponents of probiotics for cats claim using them as a supplement helps keep cats healthy by addressing issues which diet alone cannot help. Some people try to do the same thing by providing a homemade diet for cats.

Whatever type of diet offered to a cat, it should be discussed with a veterinarian beforehand. Many homemade diets for cats do not properly address their nutritional needs and can adversely affect their health.

Causes of gastrointestinal diseases in cats

The main causes of gastrointestinal disease are, among others:

• Food indiscretion (ingestion of rotten or infected food)
• Food intolerance
• Intestinal parasites
• Inflammatory diseases

While gastrointestinal diseases are often related to the stomach and intestines, it is not limited to these body parts. The pancreas and other organs can be affected by gastrointestinal disease.

The probiotics for cats on the market have specific strains which are found in the gut flora of felines. Here, presented with their scientific name, are the most commonly used in commercial products:

• Lactobacillus (brevis, rhamnosus, buchneri, casei, acidophilus)
• Enterococcus faecium
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Saccharomyces Boulardii

All of the above probiotics are either types of bacteria or yeast, the latter being a more complex single-cell organism thanks to the presence of a nucleus.

Probiotic brands for cats

The make of probiotic for cats will depend on where you live. Some of them come in tablet form, but the most common are available in powdered form which are scooped into the cat's food. Many are not pet-specific and are used for both cat and dog dietary supplements.

In the USA and some other markets, the following are commonly sold feline probitoics:

• Purina Pro Plan FortiFlora Cat Probiotic Supplementiberica
• Pet Ultimates Probiotics for Cats
• Fera Pet Organics Probiotics
• Premo Probiotics for Cats

Knowing whether or not a probiotic brand is safe for your cat is tricky as this young industry is not yet well-regulated.

Human probiotics for cats

Similar to drugs and medicines designed for humans, the action and chemical construction are not the same for felines. Since humans and cats do not share the same microbiota, it is unsafe give human probiotics to your cat.

There are various reasons why cats may be given probiotics, all claiming to keep them safe. While they are mostly related to gastrointestinal diseases, the holistic effect of their gut health in the rest of their body theorizes that it can be used to reduce various symptoms. Proponents of probiotics for cats suggest they can help in the following areas:

• Diarrhea: or any altered consistency of feces due to a viral disease such as feline panleukopenia or parasitic diseases such as giardiasis.
• Antibiotics: probiotics have been prescribed in human medicine as a way to minimize side effects, especially diarrhea. The consumption of antibiotics, while getting ride of harmful bacteria, is thought to also kill beneficial bacteria^[3]. Taking probiotics might help to reduce this balance, although it is not yet common practice among veterinarians.
• Stress: some claim it can help reduce stress in the cat, especially that which is related to gastrointestinal problems.
• Flatulence: excessive production of gas from intestinal problems might be reduced.
• Constipation: another symptom that something occurs due to gastrointestinal issues.
• Immune system booster: kittens and senior cats are more vulnerable thanks to a reduced immune system and probiotics may be able to give it a boost.
• Overweight and obesity: the is believed to be a relationship between a bacterial imbalance in the intestines of our cats and feline obesity.
• Chronic diseases: such as inflammatory bowel disease or feline intestinal lymphoma.
• Other diseases: such as hormonal and allergies.
• Infections: probiotics may be useful in treating recurrent infections, especially those related to the GI system such as urinary tract infections.

While there are many proponents of the various benefits of probiotics for cats, concerns have also been raised. Such concerns are related not only to safety, but efficacy. While it is undeniable that bacteria in the gut affect the health of the cat, knowing the true nature of these interactions is very difficult. For example, while we know overweight and obese cats have an altered gut microbiome compared to leaner cats, this finding could not be linked to differences in specific bacterial groups^[4]. If we don't know these specific bacterial interactions, it is difficult to know which probiotics to administer.

Part of the problem in deciding whether probiotics are safe for cats is the often contrasting information from scientific studies. This occurs even within the same study. For example, one crossover trial suggests that probiotic treatment concurrent with antibiotic treatment can decrease antibiotic associated gastrointestinal signs, but that the significance is unknown and that this does not include diarrhea^[5].

What seems to be one of the main issues is that, although we know probitoics have an effect on the cat's microbiome, we do not seem to know how this can affect each individual cat. Although we cannot always transfer findings in human studies to those of cats, we can look to them for help. There is evidence that probiotic treatment in humans can lead to brain fogginess, gas and bloating^[6], suggesting the same may happen for our cat.

There is also concern that businesses may try to exploit the potential benefits of probiotics for cats by selling unnecessary supplements. Looking after a cat and their safety can be expensive enough without adding more cost to protecting their well-being.

A lack of major adverse reactions in clinical trials implies that probiotics are safe for cats. However, neither is their clear evidence of their efficacy. What does seem to be the case is that most usefulness appears to happen in cats which are unwell. Giving probiotics to healthy cats may upset the balance of their microbiome and cause problems which would otherwise not be there.

A recent report in the Lancet sums up the considerations cat guardians need to make about giving probiotics to their cats:

While the logic behind probiotics might seem sound, it is clear that we have a long way to go before understanding the complexity of the microbiota and the effects—both good and bad—that probiotics might have... Commercially available products might not contain the correct strains or quantities of bacteria to provide benefits, and most probiotic supplements contain only single strains, vastly oversimplifying the complexity of the microbiota. While taking a supplement for improved health is certainly an attractive prospect, those looking to aid their gut microbiota might be better served by consuming a healthy, varied diet.

While this is directed at probiotic use in humans, the same approach can be taken for cats. If probiotics are to be used, it should only be at the recommendation of a trusted veterinarian. They can assess the cat's overall health needs and best mitigate any potential side effects from their consumption. More important seems to be providing a healthy and balanced diet for your cat.

If you want to read similar articles to Are Probiotics for Cats Safe?, we recommend you visit our Healthy diets category.