Probiotic supplementation in domestic cats has emerged as a promising non-pharmaceutical strategy to enhance gut health, immune function, and overall well-being. This review critically examines the current literature on probiotic use in feline health, highlighting evidence from studies involving both healthy and diseased cats. Probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Saccharomyces have demonstrated beneficial effects, including the modulation of the gut microbiota, a reduction in inflammation, and an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms. Mechanistically, probiotics exert effects through microbial competition, the enhancement of epithelial barrier function, and immune modulation via cytokine and antimicrobial peptide regulation. Despite promising outcomes, limitations such as short study durations, small sample sizes, and narrow breed diversity constrain generalizability. Future research should prioritize long-term, multi-omics-integrated studies to elucidate mechanisms and optimize clinical application. Overall, probiotics offer a safe, functional dietary tool for improving feline health and may complement conventional veterinary care.
Sivamaruthi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.