Is Blue Wilderness high in fiber

The Best High Fiber Cat Food in 2022

Best High Fiber Cat Food Buying Guide & FAQ

Still not sure which high fiber cat food is right for your kitty? No worries, because in this part of the buying guide, we cover everything you need to know about dietary fiber in feline nutrition, including how it can be beneficial to your kitty, reasons to switch your pet onto a diet of this kind, and we also share some cautionary words and potential drawbacks of feeding a high-fiber diet.

How Does Fiber Help Your Cat?

So, is a fiber diet for cats beneficial to your feline in the first place? Well, possibly. But before we get into the potential health benefits, let's first talk about what fiber is.

Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate that does not get broken down in the body in the same way as fats and proteins do. Since it cannot be properly digested, it keeps the digestive system moving, preventing common tummy problems such as constipation and diarrhea. While sweeping the intestines clean, fiber also helps prevent the occurrence of hairballs, which is a common problem for many indoor cats. Another great thing about dietary fiber - it can help control high blood sugar.

While most outdoor felines can get this important macronutrient from their prey in the wild (through consuming feathers, fur and even some types of grass), indoor cats need to get it from the commercial cat food that they eat on a daily basis. So, if you own an indoor kitty who has diabetes, or frequently struggles with tummy problems or hairball issues, a high to moderate fiber diet may be able to improve their health.

Reasons to Feed Your Cat a High Fiber Food

• Constipation and Diarrhea

A high fiber diet for constipation and diarrhea can be useful in preventing these common stomach issues in cats. Fiber has a regulating effect, as well as ensuring that the stools arent too runny or hard. So for cats who are suffering from constipation, water is drawn from the large intestine to soften the stool, while for diarrhea-suffering felines, more water can be absorbed away from the poop. Check out our guide on cat food for constipation for more info.

One of the most common digestive blockages that cats can suffer from occur from the hair that builds up due to grooming. This is particularly common in long-haired breeds of feline. While most of the fur passes through the digestive system, some of it can sit in the stomach and congeal together. Your cat will eventually have to vomit these up in a process that both sounds and looks pretty gross! Even worse is that some cats can get hairballs lodged in their intestines, leading to symptoms such as repeated gagging, lethargy, a loss of appetite, diarrhea, and constipation. In more serious cases, you may even need to take your cat to the vet to successfully dislodge the hairball. Take a look at our article on cat food for hairballs.

High fiber diets can help to prevent the formation of hairballs. Look out for those formulas that state things like hairball formula or hairball reduction. These work in a couple of ways: they help improve coat health and reduce shedding, while allowing things to pass through the digestive tract in a smoother way.

Obesity is a growing concern for many cat owners due to the myriad of health concerns that come along with it. And since so many kitties are kept indoors these days without the access to physical exercise that their forebearers had, it is a problem that is increasingly common. Many commercial cat food brands contribute to this issue. One of the ways of combatting the obesity problem is with a high fiber diet, which helps your cat to feel fuller after they have consumed a meal. Also, it does not contribute to calorie intake as it passes through the gut without absorption. Of course, to really prevent obesity in your cat, you'll have to combine a high to moderate fiber diet with regular exercise. You may also like our guide on cat food for weight loss.

Different Types of Fiber in Cat Food

There are a few different types of fiber that are worth knowing about before selecting the right type of food for your four-legged friend.

First up, we have soluble fiber, which has the effect of drawing water from the intestines, moving it into the digested food. This type of dietary fiber has the overall effect of softening stools, making them easier to pass. For this reason, soluble fiber is the type to look for if your cat suffers from constipation. Common sources include grains like oats and barley, as well as peas, beans, carrots and apples.

Next, we have insoluble fiber, which works to make digested food bulkier as it moves through the digestive system. This can help to slow down digestion and alleviate any issues of diarrhea. So, this type of fiber is great for both preventing diarrhea and controlling blood sugar; as a nice bonus, it's good for increasing the feeling of satiety. Insoluble fiber can be found in foods like brown rice, potatoes, green beans and wheat bran.

• Moderately Fermentable Fiber

Lastly, there is a type of fiber that has both soluble and insoluble properties, making it a good addition to any feline's diet. Sources of moderately fermentable fiber include beet pulp and bran.

Warnings Before Feeding A High Fiber Food to Your Cat

It is worth bearing in mind that a high fiber diet can also have some drawbacks. Before switching your cat onto a diet such as this one, you should consult with your vet to make sure that it is the most appropriate choice. Your vet may find that there are some other dietary sensitivities that are causing your cats digestive issues.

In some situations, the additional fiber can end up being stored as fat, perpetuating weight problems. Some of this type of commercial food can also have a high carb content, which can result in less protein being absorbed. And, as you probably know, protein is essential to the healthy functioning of your kitty.

So, when you are shopping for a high fiber food for your cat, you should choose one that also has a high protein content as cats are natural carnivores. You should also look for both soluble and insoluble fiber sources. Carbohydrate quantities should be lower as these are not as necessary for the healthy functioning of cats. You should also look for other nutrients that are beneficial such as omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

In any case, whenever switching your cat from one type of diet to another, it's important to do it slowly by mixing their old kibble with the new one, gradually increasing the amount of new food as days go by. This way, digestive problems are much less likely to occur.

Our Top Pick

While we believe all recipes featured on our top list are high-quality products, our No. 1 pick has got to be Wellness Core Original Natural High Fiber Cat Food. This formula is rich in protein, which is crucial for the health and well-being of all cats, and moderately rich in fiber to help support healthy digestion without overwhelming a sensitive tummy. To maintain a nice, shiny coat and healthy skin, the recipe makes use of salmon oil and flaxseed which are packed with beneficial omega-3 fatty acids. Of course, the kibble is free from meat by-products, soy, artificial flavors and colors, so it should be well-tolerated by all cats, including sensitive kitties.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food Review (Dry)

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is dehydrated chicken. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.

Plus (unlike chicken meal) dehydrated chicken is not exposed to high temperatures during processing, so it preserves more of the meats natural nutrients.

The fourth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The sixth ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

The next ingredient is salmon meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

Fish meal is typically obtained from the clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.¹

The ninth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

After the natural flavor, we find flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Blue Buffalo product.

With 7 notable exceptions

First, we find alfalfa pellets. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds, chicken rations, hog rations and other formula feeds.

Next, we note the use of alfalfa nutrient concentrate, a vitamin and mineral-rich extract made from alfalfa.

Even though it contains over 50% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And plant-based products like this can notably affect the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

In addition, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, its also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dogs digestive tract.

Next, we find dried yeast, which can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

Whats more, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

We also note the use of taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

And lastly, this recipe uses sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 38%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 37% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 42%.

Which means this Blue Buffalo product line contains

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, alfalfa products and dried yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.