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. Several cat food companies have worked diligently to formulate cat foods to help ease constipation and make your cat’s bathroom time easier.
If you have a cat who suffers from digestive issues, our reviews of the best cat foods for constipation are for you. They include wet and dry formulas that provide essential nutrients and the great taste they require.
Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different, and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s case.
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The 11 Best Cat Foods for Constipation
1. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall
Size: | 11.5 oz |
Life Stage: | All |
Food Type: | Human-Grade Fresh |
Like humans, cats can experience constipation. A lack of water is an important part of your cat’s diet and can often cause constipation. If your cat is having trouble with regularity, it’s a good idea to increase their water intake. Canned wet food can be a great way to help your cat get more water. There are occasionally serious cases, but this issue is usually manageable and can be mitigated with simple diet changes and exercise.
That’s where Smalls Cat Food may come in handy. Smalls provides human-grade cat food that is gently processed and made fresh before shipping. If your cat suffers from dehydration or fiber issues, you can choose one of their fresh, fiber-rich meals. They offer moist pate and minced meat textures to give your cat additional hydration during meal time. This makes Smalls the best overall cat food for constipation.
The downside 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.
- Human-grade cat food
- Fresh food options
- Food is minimally processed
- Easy subscription cancellation
- Provides fiber-rich meals
- Expensive
- Not available in stores
2. Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin – Budget Buy
Size: | 3, 6, and 13 pounds |
Life Stage: | Adults |
Food Type: | Dry kibble |
If your cat has a sensitive stomach and you don’t have an unlimited bank account, Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin might be what you’re looking for. It’s a more affordable cat food that also boosts digestive health, and it comes in multiple sizes, so you can try it out and order in bulk if it works.
The recipe is full of fiber and prebiotics, and Iams makes it in the United States, so it goes through a more stringent quality control process, and you can trust what you’re feeding your cat.
- Affordably priced
- Multiple sizes are available
- Made in the USA
- Plenty of fiber and prebiotics
- Large pieces are too big for some cats
3. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Kitten Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food
Size: | 4 or 7.7 pounds |
Life Stage: | Kitten |
Food Type: | Dry kibble |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Kitten Gastrointestinal Dry Cat Food is a great food for your cat if you can get a subscription. Royal Canine helps with constipation issues, making it the perfect choice for this list.
However, it’s a kitten-specific recipe, so it’s not the best choice for older cats. You also need a prescription, and even then, it’s more expensive than non-prescription foods. But it works, and that alone makes it worth every penny to us!
- Successful results
- Ideal for kittens
- More affordable than wet food
- Most cats love the taste
- You need a prescription
- Kitten-specific recipe
- Pricey
4. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Kitten Gastrointestinal Ultra Soft Mousse – Best for Kittens
Size: | 1-ounce cans, case of 24 |
Life Stage: | Kitten |
Food Type: | Wet food |
If your kitten isn’t ready to transition to kibble but has digestive issues, then Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Kitten Gastrointestinal Ultra Soft Mousse is an outstanding choice. It’s a far more expensive dietary formula than other brands, but it works great, and cats love the taste.
You will need a prescription and deep pockets to afford it, but it will solve your cat’s digestive problems and give them high-quality food.
- Great for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Soft food is easy for all cats to eat
- Kitten-specific recipe
- More expensive option
- Requires a prescription
5. Purina Pro Plan Vital Systems
Size: | 3 or 5 pounds |
Life Stage: | Senior |
Food Type: | Dry kibble |
Purina Pro Plan Vital Systems is a popular choice for older constipated cats. It’s the first senior-specific cat food on our list, and you don’t need a prescription.
Not only does it help with digestive health, but it also boosts immune, kidney, and brain health! It’s a veterinarian-recommended formula, but it only comes in small bags, is senior cat-specific, and is more expensive per ounce than most other dry cat foods.
- Great for digestive health
- It also helps with immune, kidney, and brain health
- Veterinarian-recommended formula
- Only small bag sizes are available
- Senior-specific recipe
- More expensive option
6. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Pumpkin Canned 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. This wet good avoids corn and wheat and offers lean chicken breast and pumpkin.
While your cat enjoys proteins from the tasty chicken and needs 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.
- High protein and fiber levels
- Includes no grains or starches
- More costly than other brands of wet food
7. Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Chicken 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 great. Real turkey is the first ingredient, followed by chicken, turkey liver, tuna, and turkey broth. Although not formulated for constipation, Nulo Freestyle includes pumpkin, an excellent fiber source, extra vitamins, and taurine for better heart health.
It is also grain-free to 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.
- Made with top-notch ingredients
- No meat by-products or grains
- Made in the USA
- Not formulated for constipation but includes ingredients to ease symptoms
8. Royal Canin Vet Diet Gastrointestinal 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 for animals with digestive issues. It is highly palatable and features a high fiber content. The prebiotics are ideal for better gut health, while dietary fibers help the health of the intestines.
Royal Canin also includes all the nutrients needed to help your cat feel better after vomiting and an upset stomach. It’s a veterinarian-recommended and prescribed food. Vets may prescribe this food when cats are underweight or need help managing their weight due to overeating.
- Veterinarian-recommended cat food
- Helps with upset stomach
- More expensive than most other cat foods
9. Blue Buffalo Natural VetDiet GI Gastrointestinal 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 promote gastrointestinal health. It is packed with healthy proteins and carbohydrates, including deboned chicken and tapioca starch. While using ingredients ideal for easy digestion, the Veterinary Diet is also high in protein to promote healthy muscles.
Due to the high levels of fats, proteins, and fiber, owners can only get this formula with a veterinarian’s prescription. If your cat has dietary issues or digestive problems like constipation, speaking to your veterinarian will help you bring this food home.
- High protein and fiber levels
- All-natural ingredients
- Prescription-only
- High-fat content
10. Purina Pro Plan Vet Diets OM Overweight Cat Canned 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, it is popular with veterinarians and animal researchers. Pro Plan is designed to help cats who are overweight.
With an ideal protein-to-fat ratio, the formula can help cats already carrying extra weight fill up quicker, which can help them control their weight and build the healthy muscles they need later in life.
- Ideal protein-to-fat ratio
- Great tasting formula
- Includes meat by-products
- Very expensive
11. FirstMate Chicken Meal With Blueberries 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. It 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 make it easier to digest while being healthier for your cat. This amazing blend is also perfectly balanced for cats of all life stages.
- Features high-quality natural ingredients
- Great for all life stages
- Not good for cats with chicken sensitivities
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Foods for Constipation
When choosing the best cat food for constipation, understanding your cat’s needs is essential. As you can see, not all foods are developed with the same ingredients. By knowing which ingredients are good for your cat and what you should avoid, you can help your feline friend’s digestive system while keeping an eye on their weight.
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here. At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
If you’re looking for special formulas 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 signs of an upset stomach, like vomiting and diarrhea.
While you are looking for the best ingredients and additives, there are also ingredients you should avoid. Fillers 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. Speak to a veterinarian for help providing your cat with the best nutrition.
How We Determined This List of Cat Foods for Constipation
All the cat foods reviewed in this article were chosen by our writers, editors, and team of experienced veterinary professionals to ensure that they are safe and meet the care needs of your pet. When choosing which cat foods to feature, we took into account brand reputation, personal and hands-on experience, reviews from other customers, and of course, feedback from our beloved pets, to make sure to bring you only the best of the best. We at PangoVet want to give you only the best products to choose from in our reviews, to ensure that they meet your pets’ needs for optimal health and well-being.
Why Trust PangoVet?
We are a team of experienced veterinarians, writers, and editors who are pet owners ourselves, so we understand how important your pets and the products they use and consume are to you. Whether you are caring for a furry, scaly, or feathered friend, we make sure that you have honest and unbiased reviews of the top cat foods on the market, so you can make an informed decision.

Conclusion
If you still can’t figure out which cat food is right for your cat after reading through the reviews and buyer’s guide, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food is our top choice: it will give your cat everything they need and then some with the highest quality food possible.
Of course, if you are on a tighter budget, Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin is a great choice, too. It’s vital to find the right food for a constipated cat sooner rather than later so you can get their constipation under control!
We hope this article helps you find a cat food that your cat will love!
Featured Photo Credit: Skrypnykov Dmytro, Shutterstock