The feline gut microbiome plays a critical role in digestive health, immunity, and even behavioral wellbeing, making microbiome-supportive care a new frontier in cat welfare.
Feline microbiome health has welfare implications beyond digestive function — emerging research links gut bacteria to immune regulation, stress response, and behavioral characteristics. Supporting microbiome health through appropriate diet, minimizing unnecessary antibiotic use, and using targeted probiotics during high-risk periods (illness, stress, dietary change) represents a welfare-positive, evidence-informed approach. Species-appropriate high-protein diets maintain the carnivore-adapted feline microbiome better than high-carbohydrate alternatives.