Digestive Wellness: Top 6 Probiotics for Happy Maine Coon Cats

Does your Maine Coon kitty have a weak stomach? Does it keep throwing up randomly and having loose stools with no apparent cause? The chances are, your cat needs probiotics to strengthen its gut and to properly digest food.

This post reviews six of the best probiotics you can give your cat, along with some discussions about why and how you should supplement them with these.

A Quick Look at the Best Probiotics for Maine Coons

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Exploring The 6 Best Probiotics for Maine Fluff

1. Best Overall: Fera Probiotics

Founded by veterinarian Dr Michelle and her friend, Fera Probiotics is a potent all-rounder that works for cats and dogs, both. So if your household has both pets, you can rely on this formula for everyone.

Featuring a whopping 12 strains, this probiotic formula targets all the areas of the GI tract to maintain overall gut health. Whether it’s gas, loose stools, or low immunity, this probiotic with the strength of its 12 strains can relieve all such issues.

Alongside essential probiotics, it has 3 different prebiotics – fructooligosaccharides, inulin, and acacia – all of which are known to be dietary fibers that boost the growth of healthy bacteria.

You can use it as an everyday supplement but also to treat acute issues like an upset stomach or stress-related diarrhea. The best part is that this product has the NASC quality seal that assures you of high-quality, responsibly sourced ingredients.

The powder formula comes with a scoop, and a Maine Coon cat weighing around 15 lbs requires half a scoop per day. Since the container holds 60 scoops, this probiotic is relatively affordable yet high-quality. Each scoop has 5 billion CFUs, so your cat gets about 2.5 billion per meal.

It’s also flavorless, so it won’t alter the taste of your cat’s food. Despite that, some cats may refuse to eat it or their tummies just don’t agree with Fera’s formula.

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2. Best Capsule: Proviable-DC

As a super effective formulation for improving the overall gut health in cats of all ages, Proviable-DC has been the go-to choice of prebiotics for many paw parents.

It has seven various strains of bacteria, including Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, and Streptococcus – the top most widely-researched microbes for feline gut health. It also has four more strains of the lactobacillus group that help support intestinal functions.

Along with this, Proviable-DC also has Fructooligosaccharide as a prebiotic, which promotes the growth of these good bacteria in the gut. With five billion CFUs per capsule, it ensures maximum efficacy inside your cat’s GI system.

That said, these probiotics are available as capsules, which you’re supposed to untwist and then dust the powder contents over the cat food. Aside from being time-consuming, it’s not always easy to release the powder from these capsules.

It’s also worth noting that Proviable DC isn’t flavorless, so cats that are finicky about their food’s taste may give you a hard time with these probiotics.

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3. Best for Loose Stools: Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora

The Purina Pro Plan Fortiflora is a surefire way to help cats have firm poops when they’re suffering from diarrhea – a supplement recommended by vets and experts around the globe.

With live microbes, this formula can prove to be more effective than those with dried ingredients. That said, it doesn’t really indicate the CFU count of the microbes, which would have been nice to know.

Fortiflora has only one strain of bacteria called Enterococcus. This bacteria proves to be super effective for intestinal health and helps cats have firm stools, which is exactly what this product is designed to do.

It also contains psyllium husk – a bulk-forming prebiotic fiber that further aids with firm stools. With 30 sachets per box, sprinkling the powder contents over the food is easy and the supply lasts an entire month for one cat.

It’s also worth noting that the powder is liver-flavored, so even the pickiest cats will enjoy this over their food.

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4. Best Chewables: VetriScience Probiotic Everyday

A more affordable option that supports overall gut health and stool regularity is the VetriScience Probiotic Everyday chews.

The star ingredient of this formulation is Bacillus coagulans – a very stable bacteria that helps cats have regular and firm poops. It also contains brewer’s yeast, which is definitely beneficial as a probiotic but it’s unclear how safe it is to use in cat diets.

Along with these probiotics, the formula also has fructooligosaccharides to support the growth of gut flora and maintain proper functioning. Although this won’t prove very useful as an urgent relief supplement for diarrhea and stomach upset, it’s a very good everyday probiotic – hence, the name – to support stool regularity and a strong immune system.

It comes as bite-sized chew tablets that are duck-flavored so most cats consider it as an everyday treat. However, some cats simply don’t like the flavor of duck, and unfortunately, it doesn’t come in any other flavor.

Also, note that the product contains gluten, so those felines with gluten sensitivities will have a hard time with these, which can be counterintuitive. 

It still stands to be a very affordable prebiotic supplement, with 60 chews in one packet that will last one cat for 2 months.

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5. Best for IBS: Bark and Whiskers Complete Probiotics

If your Maine Coon cat suffers from IBS or tummy upsets from time to time, the Bark and Whiskers Complete Probiotics might just do the trick for your furry friend.

The 14 various strains of bacteria in this potent formula ensure that all parts of the digestive tract are covered. It doesn’t just help with food sensitivities but also relieves your cat from bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, so it can certainly be used in acute cases as well. A whole scoop goes for extra care while ½ a scoop works for daily maintenance.

It’s formulated to have a highly stable formula that can survive the stomach acid, which is perhaps why this works so well for felines. And oh, you can offer it to your dogs at the same time. It also claims to have a whopping 38 billion CFUs per scoop, which is why it’s considered a very potent supplement.

That said, it doesn’t have any prebiotics. Plus, a small container of this powder won’t be enough if you’re using it for more than one pet.

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6. Best Budget Pick: TummyWorks Probiotic Powder

The probiotic powder from TummyWorks is an all-rounder that helps improve your cat’s overall digestive health. Regular use results in relief from constipation, diarrhea, and random tummy upsets due to food sensitivities. It also proves to be effective against bad breath.

Featuring 10 strains of bacteria, including Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus acidophilus, this powder can work for your cats and dogs, both, improving their gut health and supporting regular bowel movements.

Along with bacteria, the formula also has digestive enzymes such as amylase, which may help break down and digest commercial cat diets much more effectively. On top of this, the presence of fructooligosaccharides further supports the growth of gut flora and aids in digestion, so it’s a pretty effective formula for cats suffering from recurrent digestive issues.

With the container holding about 160 scoops, and the recommended dosage being 1 ⁄ 2 a scoop per cat, this probiotic is a much cheaper option comparatively. And although it’s not flavorless, most cats enjoy the taste. This does mean, though, that some cats won’t like the flavor.

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What Kind of Probiotics Do You Give a Cat?

Probiotics become essential for our feline friends when the unhealthy bacteria in their guts overpower the healthy ones. This is when tummy troubles start, such as loose stools and vomiting.

When you’re picking out a probiotic for your gut-troubled fur pal, do check the ingredient list to ensure it isn’t just full of filler ingredients and actually has useful stuff. Look for names such as Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, all of which are proven to be super helpful against digestive problems in felines.

A formula that contains more than one bacteria in the supplement is always a better choice, as each strain tackles a different issue, so you’re addressing multiple problems at once.

It’s also worth noting that probiotic blends with prebiotics – nutrients that promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut – tend to work better than probiotic-only formulations.

Additionally, it’s recommended to seek out a supplement with high CFUs (colony forming units). A higher count indicates a more potent, rich formula full of active microorganisms.

Does My Cat Need Probiotics?

If despite feeding a high-quality and nutrient-rich diet your poor kitty continues to suffer from an upset stomach, it’s time to visit a vet who can recommend some probiotics.

Your cat may need probiotics for many reasons. Older cats often need them, as digestion becomes harder for them with age. Your vet may also suggest taking probiotics if, for some reason, your cat has to undergo a course of antibiotics, which can disrupt the balance of gut flora.

Some studies also suggest that probiotics can be helpful for cats with IBS. Because commercial cat diets don’t have the probiotics that wild-caught prey provide to outdoor cats, your cat can have unexplained diarrhea and tummy upsets, which is when probiotics can come in handy.

Just be sure to consult with a vet first who can decide whether your cat is fit to take probiotics, as some medical conditions can worsen with supplements. 

How Should I Give Probiotics to My Cat?

Probiotics are available as pills, powders, chews, and sometimes pastes for young kittens. With pills, you usually have to untwist the tiny capsule and empty its contents on the food.

Powder formulas are much easier to deal with – just scoop out the right amount, dust it on the cat food, and you’re done. The problem is that many of them can alter the taste of the food and picky felines that are oh-so-particular about their taste and texture preferences will almost always reject it.

Chewable probiotics are pretty convenient and often the go-to choice for cat parents, as many of them come in irresistible flavors, and cats start to consider them as treats – a win-win situation for everyone.