Dietary supplements and vitamins have become increasingly popular for cats. This is certainly a good thing, but it’s important to be careful about what you give your beloved pet. For example, you should never give your cat a supplement that is formulated for humans or even for dogs. It can be harmful to your kitty.
Always choose something that’s species specific — like the dietary supplements for cats offered by Under the Weather. Most commercial cat foods approved by the Association of American Feed Control (AAFCO) already contain the necessary nutrients and vitamins your cat needs to stay healthy.
However, if your cat is dealing with a specific health issue, it might be a good idea to add supplements to their diet. For cats on raw or homemade diets, it’s always a good idea to check with a vet to see if supplements are necessary. After all, you want to make sure that your furry friend is getting the nutrition they need.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the best supplements for cats. We’ll also be talking about the ingredients in these supplements for cats, how to choose the best supplements for cats, and how to give supplements to your cat(s). Let’s get started!
Understanding Feline Health
Cats, like people, can suffer from nutritional issues. Research published in the International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine has proven that malnutrition can be a problem for pet cats, especially when factors like their age or certain medical conditions cause them to eat fewer calories than they need.
Cat obesity is becoming more common than ever these days, with around 30% of cats in the United States being overweight. If you’re wondering how supplements can help, this is an excellent example: High-calorie supplements work particularly well for managing both undernutrition and obesity in cats.
As cats get older, one of the first signs of health decline is weight loss, which usually happens because they lose their appetite. This weight loss can lead to lower energy levels, which unfortunately may signal the beginning of the end of their life. That’s why it’s so important to help older cats maintain their weight, digestive health, and energy levels with supplements.
What Are Cat Supplements?
Cat supplements, as you may have guessed, are products that are usually recommended by vets to help support a cat’s health needs. If a cat is dealing with mobility issues, digestion issues, joint issues, immune function issues, and skin health issues, to give you a few examples, supplements might help them feel better.
What Are the Best Supplements for Cats?
There are many different types of supplements available on the market. Unfortunately, this can make it more challenging to choose the right one for your cat. Here are a couple of safe and high-quality supplement options from Under the Weather:
Ready Cal High-Calorie Supplement for Cats - 100cc
This supplement is a simple-to-use, high-calorie nutritional gel that’s designed to help your cat maintain or gain a healthy amount of weight. If your cat isn’t eating enough, it can lead to problems like weight loss and low energy. This supplement is especially helpful for older cats.
Made in the USA, this vet-formulated gel includes ten essential vitamins, seven minerals, and fatty acids. It’s perfect for kitties who aren’t eating normally due to stress, illness, or recovery from medical procedures.
It comes in a dial-a-dose tube for accurate measurement and has a natural fish flavor that cats love. It’s also free from artificial flavors or dyes, which is always a plus.
Ingredients
- Malt syrup
- Soybean oil
- Corn syrup
- Cane molasses
- Salmon oil
- Vitamin E
- Sodium benzoate (preservative)
- Manganese sulfate
- Magnesium sulfate
- Calcium pantothenate
- Niacinamide
- Iron proteinate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Vitamin A
- Thiamine hydrochloride
- Mixed tocopherols
- Sodium chloride
- Trisodium phosphate
- Riboflavin
- Potassium iodide
- Choline bitartrate
- Vitamin D3 supplement
- Folic acid
- Vitamin B12 supplement
Directions
To get your cat used to the taste, you can put a small amount of gel on their nose or in their mouth. To supplement their calorie intake, give 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight daily. If your cat isn’t eating their full meal, increase the dose to 2 teaspoons per 10 pounds of body weight.
Ready Balance Probiotic Supplement for Cats
The Ready Balance probiotic supplement for cats is a fast-acting probiotic gel that’s designed to quickly relieve digestive problems in cats. Sometimes, stressful events like moving, surgery, or illness can cause issues like diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite in cats.
Thankfully, this vet-formulated gel helps restore normal digestion and firm up stools. In other words, it’ll help your cat feel better quickly. It contains six types of live probiotic bacteria, along with vitamins and prebiotic inulin, to support healthy gut bacteria and balance digestion. It’s easy to use, and most cats love the taste.
Ingredients
- Soy oil
- Coconut oil
- Sucrose
- Corn starch
- Dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product
- Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product
- Dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product
- Dried lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product
- Inulin
- Hydrolyzed yeast
- Dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product
- Dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product
- D-calcium pantothenate
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride
- Riboflavin
- Vitamin B12 supplement
Directions
Feed 1 gram per 10 pounds of body weight to your cat, twice a day.
Probiotic Powder & Anti-Diarrhea Bundle for Cats
If your cat’s digestive system is out of whack, the Probiotic Powder & Anti-Diarrhea Bundle is the perfect solution to get them back on track. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in the bundle below:
Anti-Diarrhea Liquid for Cats
This vet-formulated liquid is a great solution when your cat is dealing with stomach issues like diarrhea. With ingredients like Kaolin and Pectin, it works quickly to firm up your cat’s stool and soothe any stomach discomfort they might be having. These ingredients absorb the bad stuff — bacteria and toxins — right out of your cat’s intestines. Plus, it’s made without any artificial flavors or dyes.
Probiotic Powder for Cats
To keep your cat’s digestive system healthy, you can also give them probiotic powder. This powder supplement is packed with a billion live bacteria, which help maintain the balance of good bacteria in your cat’s gut. It doesn’t contain corn or artificial additives, and the chicken liver flavor is something your cat will enjoy. Just mix it into their food daily — your kitty will surely appreciate it!
Hairball Support Powder for Cats
If your cat struggles with hairballs (many cats do), Under the Weather’s Hairball Support Powder for Cats could be the solution you’ve been looking for. This supplement is designed to help your cat naturally eliminate and prevent hairballs in a gentle, safe way.
The magic ingredient in this powder is psyllium seed husk, which is chock-full of fiber. This fiber helps hairballs pass smoothly through your cat’s digestive system, so they won’t end up coughing them up later. It’s a simple, natural way to keep your cat comfortable (and free from hairballs — which is a plus).
This powder is made by veterinarians, so you know it’s been meticulously formulated with your cat's health in mind. It’s free from corn, artificial flavors, and dyes. Plus, the chicken liver flavor is a hit with most cats — which means it’s pretty easy to mix into their daily meals.
Ingredients
- Psyllium Seed Husk
- Brewers yeast
- Natural chicken flavor
How to Choose the Best Supplements for Cats
Supplementing your cat’s diet is a great way to make sure they’re getting the nutrition they need. Supplements can be especially helpful for picky cats, old cats, and cats with health issues. When it comes to picking out supplements for your cats, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
The ingredients, for example, are very important. If a supplement for cats contains corn, that’s probably not a good choice. If it contains plenty of essential amino acids and vitamins (like Vitamin A — which cats can’t produce on their own), your cat will benefit from taking it. You may also want to read reviews from pet owners about certain supplements before giving them to your cat.
How to Give Supplements to Your Cat
This will depend on the type of supplement you’re giving to your cat. Most of the time, you can mix the supplement into their food. Under the Weather makes their supplements with delicious flavors — so your cat will enjoy the taste, making it easier to administer necessary supplements.
If the supplement you’re giving your kitty is in tablet form, you can try wrapping it in a pill pocket. If your cat is super picky, you can try dropping it into their mouth and gently massaging it down their throat.
Conclusion
At Under the Weather, our goal is to make it easier for you, as a pet owner, to choose the right supplements for your furry companion(s). Choosing the right supplement for your cat, in particular, can be difficult. Hopefully, though, you found this guide to be a helpful starting place. Remember, when your pet is healthy, your home is happy. Help Your Pet Here.
