Food supplemented with a novel fiber blend containing soluble and insoluble fiber supported growth and fecal parameters indicative of gastrointestinal health in kittens.

Prebiotic fiber plays a major role in the gastrointestinal health of animals. While research investigating the effects of prebiotic fiber in adult companion animals has expanded, studies in growing animals are limited. This study evaluated the effects of a patented fiber blend (with soluble and insoluble fiber and fiber-bound polyphenols) on kitten gastrointestinal health. Twenty kittens 4-9 mo of age were randomized to a control or test food after a 14-d prefeed period. The test food had a similar nutrient composition to the control food with the exception of a higher fiber content, due to the inclusion of the novel fiber blend, containing ground pecan shells, flaxseed, dried beet pulp, dried citrus pulp, and pressed cranberries. Kittens were fed for 150 d, with food intake monitored daily and body weight measured weekly. Fecal and blood samples were collected during the last week of the prefeed period (baseline), and for fecal samples on d 15, 29, 43, 57, 85, 114, and 142, and for blood samples on d 92 and 148 of the treatment period. Body weight and food intake changed as expected for cats of this age. The test food beneficially affected fecal score, which was higher in kittens fed the test food (P < 0.001). A diet-by-day interaction was observed for fecal pH (P = 0.002), which was lower in kittens fed the test food from d 29 onward versus the control food, for which fecal pH remained similar to baseline throughout the study. A diet-by-day interaction was also seen for fecal moisture (P = 0.015), which was unchanged throughout the study in control-fed kittens, but was higher than baseline on all days except for d 29 in those fed the test food. Kittens fed the test food exhibited a higher concentration of total saccharolytic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (P = 0.002) and a lower concentration of total proteolytic SCFAs (P < 0.001) in feces than kittens fed the control food. No effects of diet, day, or the interaction on serum immunoglobulin A or most inflammatory cytokines were seen. Overall, kittens fed a food formulated for growing kittens and fortified with this patented prebiotic fiber blend for 150 d grew and developed normally and had beneficial changes in stool characteristics, including fecal score, pH, and SCFA concentration. Thus, this prebiotic blend with soluble and insoluble fibers and fiber-bound polyphenols supports normal growth and promotes gastrointestinal health in kittens.