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11 Best Cat Foods for Constipation in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Gray cat eating from the bowl

Seeing your cat suffer from constipation and other digestive issues can be heartbreaking. As a pet owner, the last thing you want to see is your companion in pain or discomfort. This is why many cat food companies out there have worked diligently to create cat foods to help ease constipation and make your cat’s bathroom time easier.

If you have a cat who suffers from digestive issues, this list of the 10 best cat foods for constipation is for you. This list of foods, both wet and dry, offers your cat the healthy benefits you dream of while still providing the great taste they require. Take a look at our review of these cat foods so you can make the best decision for your feline best friend.

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A Quick Glance At Our Favorites in 2023

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription
  • Human-grade cat food
  • Food is Minimally processed
  • Provides fiber-rich meals
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food
  • Budget-friendly
  • High protein levels
  • LifeSource Bits offer balanced nutrition
  • Third place
    Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food
  • Packed with protein
  • Low-calorie formula
  • Helps improve digestion and gut bacteria
  • Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets Cat Food Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets Cat Food
  • High fiber content
  • Available in multiple bag sizes
  • Formulated for weight control
  • Best for Kittens
    Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Wet Cat Food Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Wet Cat Food
  • Great for immune systems
  • Promotes healthy digestive development
  • Designed for kittens and nursing mothers
  • The 11 Best Cat Foods for Constipation

    1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall

    smalls human-grade fresh and freeze-dried raw cat food on a table

    Size:  11.5 oz
    Life Stage: All
    Food Type: Human-Grade Fresh

    Just like humans, cats can experience constipation sometimes–it’s actually quite common. Constipation is usually described as either a lack of or painful stool passing. It can occur when cats eat something they don’t like or aren’t getting enough (or too much) fiber.

    A lack of water is an important part of your cat’s diet and can often be the cause of constipation. If your cat is having trouble with regularity, it’s a good idea to increase its water intake. Canned wet food can be a great way to help your cat get more water.

    However, in more serious cases, cats may require enemas or other medical interventions for relief. But most of the time this issue is manageable and can be mitigated with simple diet changes and exercise.

    This is where Smalls Cat Food may come in handy. Smalls provides human-grade cat food that’s gently processed and made fresh before shipping. If your cat is suffering from hydration or fiber issues, you can choose from one of their fresh, fiber-rich meal options. They offer moist pate and minced meat textures to provide your cat with additional hydration during meal time. This makes it the overall best cat food for constipation.

    The downside of this food is that it is subscription only, so it’s not available in stores. The subscription is also costly. But, it’s worth the price if you can afford it for a high quality diet.

    Pros
    • Human-grade cat food
    • Fresh and freeze-dried food options
    • Food is minimally processed
    • Easy subscription cancellation
    • Provides fiber-rich meals
    Cons
    • Subscription is costly
    • Not available in stores

    2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food – Best Value

    Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    Size: 12 pounds
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Dry Food

    Our choice for the best cat food for constipation for the money is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. Blue Buffalo is known for keeping its foods as close to the diet of animals in the wild as possible. For this dry cat food, they’ve chosen to mimic the diet of the lynx. This Blue Buffalo formula is designed with real chicken to help build and maintain a cat’s lean muscle without adding on extra pounds. Sweet potatoes and peas are part of the carbs included in this food to help keep your kitty’s digestion moving better. As with other Blue Buffalo foods, LifeSource Bits are also included to provide the right amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your cat needs.

    Pros
    • High protein levels
    • LifeSource Bits offer balanced nutrition
    • Budget-friendly
    Cons
    • Larger bag sizes not available

    3. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Cat Food

    Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food

    Size: 8 pounds
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Dry Food

    Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food is another great cat food for constipation. With Royal Canin being one of the leaders in healthy food options for our pets, the addition of this dry cat food will help aid your cat’s gastrointestinal system while keeping their bellies well fed. Included prebiotics will aid in making your cat’s gut healthier while this formula helps recover from issues with vomiting and diarrhea. Along with the other needed vitamins and minerals, this cat food is also formulated with an essential blend of fibers to aid in digestion while the included omega fatty acids offer better skin and fur to your felines.

    Pros
    • Packed with protein
    • Helps the improvement of digestion and gut bacteria
    • Low-calorie formula
    Cons
    • The formula includes wheat gluten, corn, and chicken by-product meal
    • This food is quite expensive

    4. Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets OM Cat Food

    Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Cat Food

    Size: 16 pounds
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Dry Food

    Another great cat food for constipation is Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Cat Food. This cat food is great for cats who have sensitive stomachs and need help managing their digestive tract. Made with insights from researchers and veterinarians, this cat food is designed with low-fat levels and natural fibers to help keep your cat regular. This cat food is also great for weight management in adult cats. If your cat is already carrying a few extra pounds, the ratio of proteins and fats in this food will help build muscle and help your cat avoid putting on additional weight.

    Pros
    • High fiber content
    • Formulated for weight control
    • Available in multiple bag sizes
    Cons
    • More expensive than other brands

    5. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Mousse – Best for Kittens

    Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse in Sauce Wet Cat Food for New Kittens and Nursing or Pregnant Mother Cats

    Size: 24, 1-ounce cans
    Life Stage: Kitten
    Food Type: Wet Food

    Finding the perfect food for a newly weaned kitten can be difficult. Luckily, Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse Wet Cat Food has you covered. As our pick for best cat food for constipation designed for kittens, this food provides all the necessary nutrients needed for both kittens and nursing mothers. By including highly digestible prebiotics and proteins, this wet cat food is ideal for helping a kitten start on the right foot digestively. The included DHA is also perfect for their developing brains. Included antioxidants also support healthier immune systems in developing kittens.

    Pros
    • Designed specifically for kittens and nursing mothers
    • Great for immune systems
    • Helps promote healthy digestive development
    Cons
    • Expensive when compared to other foods

    6. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Pumpkin Canned Food

    Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Funk In The Trunk Chicken in Pumpkin Consomme Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

    Size: 24, 6-ounce cans
    Life Stage: Adults
    Food Type: Wet Food

    The Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Funk in the Trunk Chicken in Pumpkin Consomme Grain-Free Cat Food is perfect for pet owners who want to aid their cat’s digestive system while offering their pets foods they will love. By being a completely grain-free formula, this wet good avoids added corn and wheat and instead offers lean chicken breast and pumpkin. While your cat enjoys proteins from the tasty chicken and needed fiber from the pumpkin, they will also get a great blend of vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy and active. This tasty cat food can be served alone or as a topping to your kitty’s favorite kibble.

    Pros
    • High protein and fiber levels
    • Includes no grains or starches
    Cons
    • More costly than other brands of wet food

    7. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Canned Cat & Kitten Food

    Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food

    Size: 24, 5.5-ounce cans
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Wet Food

    The Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat & Kitten Food is full of great ingredients to keep your cat eating and feeling its best. Real turkey is the first ingredient in this food, it also includes chicken, turkey liver, tuna, and turkey broth. Although not specially formulated for constipation, this cat food does include pumpkin which is an excellent source of fiber, extra vitamins, and taurine for better heart health. This canned food is also grain-free to further promote easier digestion for cats with stomach issues. Free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, Nulo also promotes better hydration thanks to the moisture offered by the broth-based gravy.

    Pros
    • Made with top-notch ingredients
    • No meat by-products or grains
    • Made in the USA
    Cons
    • Not formulated for constipation but includes ingredients to ease symptoms

    8. Royal Canin Vet Diet Gastrointestinal Canned Cat Food

    Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Cat Food

    Size: 24, 5.1-ounce cans
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Wet Food

    The Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Cat Food is one of the best cat foods on the market for animals with digestive issues. This wet cat food is highly palatable and features a high fiber content. The included prebiotics are ideal for better gut health while dietary fibers help the health of the intestines. This food also includes all the nutrients needed to help your cat feel better after symptoms such as vomiting and an upset stomach. This cat food is also a veterinarian recommended and prescribed food. Vets may prescribe this food when cats are underweight or need help managing their weight due to overeating.

    Pros
    • Veterinarian controlled cat food
    • Helps with symptoms of upset stomach
    Cons
    • More expensive than most other cat foods

    9. Blue Buffalo Natural VetDiet GI Gastrointestinal Cat Food

    Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    Size: 7 pounds
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Dry Food

    The Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support Grain-Free Dry Cat food is the company’s effort to fully promote gastrointestinal health. This cat food features easy-to-digest foods while being part of Blue Buffalo’s best resources. This food is packed with healthy proteins and carbohydrates including deboned chicken and tapioca starch. While using ingredients ideal for easy digestion, this food is also high in protein to promote healthy muscles. Due to the high levels of fats, proteins, and fiber inside this bag of cat food, owners can only get this formula with a veterinarian’s prescription. If your cat has dietary issues or deals with digestive problems like constipation, speaking to your veterinarian will help you bring this food home to their bowl.

    Pros
    • High protein and fiber levels
    • All-natural ingredients
    Cons
    • Prescription-only
    • High-fat content

    10. Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets OM Overweight Cat Canned Food

    Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Savory Selects Overweight Management Formula Canned Cat Food

    Size: 24, 5.5-ounce cans
    Life Stage: Adult
    Food Type: Wet Food

    The Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Formula Canned Cat Food is specially formulated to help cats manage their weight while aiding their digestive systems. Like the dry cat food version, this food is popular with vets and animal researchers. This food is designed to help cats who are overweight. By using an ideal protein to fat ratio, this cat food is designed to help cats who are already carrying extra weight fill up quicker in hopes of helping control their weight and build the healthy muscles they need later in their adult life.

    Pros
    • Ideal protein to fat ratio
    • Great tasting formula
    Cons
    • Includes meat by-products
    • Very expensive

    11. FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Dry Cat Food

    FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

    Size: 10 pounds
    Life Stage: All
    Food Type: Dry Food

    FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food was created to make having a good meal easier for cats with food allergies and other sensitivities, including poor digestion and constipation. This cat food features real chicken, potatoes, and blueberries to ensure your cat receives only the best all-natural ingredients at each meal. Vitamin supplements, rich fibers, chelated minerals, and other beneficial extras are also found in this cat food to help make it easier to digest while being healthier for your cat. This amazing blend is also perfectly balanced for cats of all life stages.

    Pros
    • Features high-quality natural ingredients
    • Great for all life stages
    Cons
    • Not good for cats with chicken sensitivities

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    Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Cat Foods for Constipation

    When choosing the best cat food for constipation, understanding your cat’s needs is important. As you can see, not all foods are developed with the same ingredients. This is where you, the owner, comes into play. By knowing what ingredients are good for your cat and the ones you should avoid, you can help your feline friend’s digestive system while also keeping an eye on their weight.

    If you’re choosing the food you trust for your cat’s gut health, keep your eyes open for prebiotics, digestible fibers, proper protein to fat ratios, and lower calories. These special extras are great for improving your cat’s weight, gut health, and digestion. In some cases, these ingredients can even help eliminate symptoms of the upset stomach like vomiting and diarrhea.

    While you’re looking for the best ingredients and additives, there are also things you should avoid. Grains and meat by-products are very difficult for a cat to digest. When consuming lots of these foods, your cat may become overweight, or more sluggish than you’d expect. To help them feel better, it’s always better to choose cat food with ingredients you understand and trust.

     

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    Conclusion

    Finding the best cat food for your cat’s constipation doesn’t need to be a stressful task. By considering foods like our best overall choice, Smalls Fresh Cat Food you can offer your cat a chance at the best foods on the market and a healthier lifestyle. Our best value food, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, is ideal for families who want the best for their cat but simply can’t afford to pay expensive prices.

    We truly hope that this article helps you find a cat food that your cat will love!


    Featured Image Credit: Skrypnykov Dmytro, Shutterstock

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