Fibre and Your Cat's Nutrition
High Fibre and Weight Loss
Fibre and Iams Cat Nutrition
Fibre refers to a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested by the enzymes in a cat's gastrointestinal tract. Fibre is important for the health of cats, providing bulk to move food through the intestinal tract. Some types of fibre can be fermented (broken down by bacteria) in the intestinal tract. This process creates short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which are an important energy source for the cells lining the intestinal tract.
What's good for you may not be good for your cat.
Today, people are more aware of fibre and its role in their diet. Studies showing the beneficial effects of higher fibre levels in humans influence the way many people think about their own food and the food of their pets. Unlike humans, cats are carnivorous, meaning their nutritional needs are better satisfied with meat rather than plant materials. So the dietary needs of humans are not the same as the dietary needs of cats!
For more than 50 years, companion animal nutritionists at The Iams® Company have been studying diets to meet the special nutritional needs of cats.
Fibre Levels and Fermentability
Iams® research shows the optimal crude fibre level for healthy cats ranges from 1.4 to 3.5%. At these levels, nutrient digestibility is maximised. In certain situations, such as a tendency to hairball formation, higher fibre levels may be of benefit.
An important characteristic of fibre is its fermentability-how well it can be broken down by the bacteria that normally reside in the intestine. This breakdown of dietary fibre produces SCFAs, which provide energy to the cells lining the intestines. Different types of fibre vary in fermentability. Fibre sources used in pet foods include cellulose, which is poorly fermentable; beet pulp, which is moderately fermentable; plus gums and pectin, which can be highly fermentable. Research has shown that moderate levels of moderately fermentable fibre, such as beet pulp, provide the benefits of energy for the intestinal lining and bulk, without the negative effects of excessive stools or gas.
High Fibre and Weight Loss
High levels of poorly fermentable fibre are used in some weight-reduction pet foods to dilute the calories in each serving. Iams® research shows that this is not a good practice because high fibre levels can decrease the digestibility of other nutrients in the food and, therefore, reduce the nutritional quality of the diet. Pet owners also see a marked increase in stool quantity in the litter box due to the undigestible fibre.
Fibre and Iams® Cat Nutrition
When choosing a pet food, fibre is an important consideration. However, remember that the dietary fibre needs of cats are not the same as those of humans. A moderate level of moderately fermentable fibre, such as beet pulp, provides proven nutritional benefits for cats. Diets containing high levels of poorly fermentable fibre to dilute calorie content do not provide nutritional benefits for cats.
All Iams products are formulated with optimal levels of moderately fermentable fibre to promote a healthy intestinal tract and enhance the well-being of your cat.
