Last Updated: 24/08/2026
Probiotics for Cats in Australia: A Vet's Guide
Probiotics are increasingly popular in human health - and your cat can reap the benefits too!
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 5 minutes - short read
Ever since Russian scientist Elie Metchnikoff linked fermented dairy to long Bulgarian lifespans in the early 1900s, probiotics have been a hot topic, for pets too. There are now dozens of cat probiotic supplements available in Australia, leaving owners wondering: should I give my cat a probiotic, and if so, which one is best?
New to probiotics? Read our full explainer on prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics, or if you're not sure whether your cat needs daily support or something for a short-term flare-up, start with our guide to when your pet needs extra gut support. Want the full picture on supplements? Check out our guide to pet supplements. Got dogs too? Check out our vet picks of the best probiotics for dogs.
DID YOU KNOW? There are 10 times more microbes in the body than cells!
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are the "friendly" bacteria and yeasts in the gut, together known as the gut microbiome or microflora. All animals, cats included, carry billions of these good bacteria, which help fight infections, strengthen immunity, digest food and produce nutrients for absorption. A healthy microbiome is a varied one, a mix known as biodiversity.
Probiotic supplements and some probiotic foods deliver live beneficial species directly into the gut, helping restore natural balance, particularly after illness or a course of antimicrobial medication.
What's the difference between a probiotic and a prebiotic?
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria. Prebiotics are the "food" for those bacteria, usually fibre, such as disaccharides (lactulose, tagatose) or oligo and polysaccharides like FOS, MOS, and inulin, to help them thrive.
What bacteria species are in your cat's gut?
Domestic cats are obligate carnivores, adapted to a low-glucose, high-protein metabolism, so they're less reliant on gut bacteria for energy than humans are. Even so, a stable, balanced microbiota remains critical to gut health3, and it looks different to a human's or dog's, with different gut sections (stomach, small intestine, large intestine, colon) hosting different populations. Most identified species fall into four phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria3, and the exact mix varies from cat to cat.
Rather than chase one "ideal" mix, the goal is a stable, biodiverse population. When that balance is lost, known as dysbiosis, problems can follow, triggered by a course of antibiotics, a change in diet, a parasite infection, food poisoning, weaning, or stress, and showing up as diarrhoea, vomiting, gas, bloating, or a dip in immunity.
The benefits of probiotics for cats
Probiotics offer real benefits by helping the good microbes thrive. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium can help reduce diarrhoea and gas, ease food allergy symptoms, and manage yeast or harmful bacteria overgrowth, while Bacillus species support the immune response. The microbiome also works as both a pro and anti-inflammatory1, and can even affect brain function: around 90% of the body's serotonin, the "happy hormone", originates in the intestines, produced under the gut microbiome's influence2.
How do probiotics work?
These benefits come down to three main functions of good bacteria:
- They compete with harmful germs like Salmonella for space on the gut lining6
- They act like a natural antibiotic, with some species secreting antimicrobial substances such as fatty acids, lactic acid and acetic acid7, and some Lactobacillus reducing toxins from bugs like Salmonella, E. coli or Clostridium perfringens
- They kick-start the immune system, particularly in the intestinal wall, where fibre-fed bacteria produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like acetate, propionate and butyrate that feed friendly bacteria, build the gut's protective mucus layer, strengthen tight junctions between cells, lower glucose levels, build immune T-cells, and help absorb calcium, magnesium and iron.
When should I give my cat a probiotic?
Any cat recently treated with antibiotics may benefit from a probiotic, as might one needing ongoing support for a chronic gastrointestinal, skin or allergic condition. Anecdotally, they're often reported to help with a sensitive stomach, recurrent diarrhoea, vomiting, food sensitivities, bloating and gas, and chronic allergies, and whatever the exact mechanism, many owners find them worth a try, and they can't do any harm.
Cats are often prescribed a probiotic after a course of antibiotics, but in practice we also see them used for chronic soft stools too.
Can I give human probiotics to my cat?
A probiotic safe for humans isn't automatically safe or effective for cats, since the two have different microbial populations and human products may contain other ingredients unsuitable for cats. That said, many probiotic foods, like unflavoured yoghurt or kefir, can be safe in small quantities.
What are the best probiotics for cats?
Science has established the link between the microbiome in the gut and immune and digestive health. The next step is figuring out how to manipulate the microbiome for good. There are actually many ways to alter the gut microbiome - including probiotics, prebiotics, faecal transplants, and dietary changes.
Other options: diets, foods, and natural prebiotics
Aside from pet-specific supplements, some everyday foods and specially formulated cat foods can support your cat's microflora too.
Probiotic foods that are safe for cats
Yoghurt and Kefir. Verdict: safe for cats in moderation. Fermented dairy like yoghurt and kefir offers real probiotic benefits from its lactic acid producing cultures (Lactobacillus and Streptococcus), which support gut microflora and have anti-pathogen, anti-inflammatory effects. Only give it low-fat, unflavoured, and free from artificial sweeteners, in small amounts (around 1 teaspoon per meal). It contains very little lactose, so most lactose-sensitive cats tolerate it well, but skip it if your cat has a dairy protein allergy.
Green Tripe. Verdict: safe for cats. Green tripe, the raw stomach lining from animals like pigs, cows and sheep, is popular in natural cat foods (Ziwi Peak, Feline Natural) and contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, which may support gut health and immunity, appealing to owners keen on an ancestral, whole-prey diet.
Fermented Vegetables. Verdict: safe depending on ingredients, but not especially beneficial for carnivorous cats. Sauerkraut and kimchi can pack a serious CFU count, but always check ingredients, onion and garlic (common in kimchi) are toxic to cats, and kimchi's chilli content is also a concern.
Prebiotic-rich Fruits and Vegetables. Verdict: safe but not especially beneficial for carnivorous cats. Artichokes, leeks, pumpkin, asparagus, bananas, flaxseed and chicory root all have natural prebiotic properties, though cats get less benefit from them than dogs do, given their need for a high animal-protein diet.
Psyllium Husk. Verdict: safe. A powerful prebiotic shown to boost microbial diversity and digestive enzyme activity (and it can help with anal gland issues too). Choose a natural, unflavoured variety and give around half a teaspoon on food daily, adjusting as needed.
Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome. This cat food supports gut microflora without additional supplements, using Hill's ActiveBiome+ blend of prebiotic fibres. Read more about improving your pet's microbiome using Hill's Prescription Diet Gastrointestinal Biome.
All in all, probiotics are a safe, simple way to support your cat's everyday gut health, especially for cats with gastrointestinal issues, chronic disease or allergies. Whether you choose a daily supplement or a few extra prebiotic foods, every cat can benefit from a little extra care for their microbiome.
References
Tizard IR, Jones SW. The microbiota regulates immunity and immunologic diseases in dogs and cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. (2018) Vol 48: 307-22.
De Vadder F, Grasset E, Manneras Holm L, Karsenty G, Macpherson AJ, Olofsson LE, et al. Gut microbiota regulates maturation of the adult enteric nervous system via enteric serotonin networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. (2018) Vol 115: 6458-63.
Lyu Y, Su C, Verbrugghe A, Van de Wiele T, Martos Martinez-Caja A, Hesta M. Past, Present, and Future of Gastrointestinal Microbiota Research in Cats. Front Microbiol. (2020) Vol 11, 1661.
Garcia-Mazcorroa J.F, Minamotob Y. Gastrointestinal microorganisms in cats and dogs: a brief review. Arch Med Vet. (2013) Vol 45, 111-124
Pila A, Suchodolski JS. The Role of the Canine Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Health and Gastrointestinal Disease. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. (2020). Vol 6: 10.3389
Collado M.C., Grzeskowiak Å. & Salminen S. Probiotic strains and their combination inhibit in vitro adhesion of pathogens to pig intestinal mucosa. Current Microbiology (2007a). Vol 55, 260-265.
Saarela M., Mogensen G., Fonden R., Meatto J. & Mattila-Sandholm T. Probiotic bacteria: safety, functional and technological properties. Journal of Biotechnology. (2000) Vol 84, 197-215.
Adolfsson O., Meydani S.N., Russell R.M. Yogurt and gut function. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2004). Volume 80, Issue 2, 245-256
Savaiano DA. Lactose digestion from yogurt: mechanism and relevance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2014) May; 99:1251S-5S
Jalanka, J., Major, G., Murray, K., Singh, G., Nowak, A., Kurtz, C., Silos-Santiago, I., Johnston, J. M., de Vos, W. M., & Spiller, R. The Effect of Psyllium Husk on Intestinal Microbiota in Constipated Patients and Healthy Controls. International journal of molecular sciences. (2019). 20(2), 433.
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Tue 25 Aug 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
