Effect of Dietary Postbiotics Derived from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus lactis on Lipid Metabolism, Blood Biochemistry, and Fecal Microbiota in Cats: A Pilot Study

Owing to their favorable stability and safety profile, postbiotics—defined as functional metabolites originating from probiotic microbes—have attracted growing interest in the field of companion animal health care. The present work sought to evaluate how postbiotics prepared from Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus lactis influence lipid metabolism, blood biochemistry, and the composition of fecal microbiota in felines. Eighteen clinically healthy adult cats were assigned at random to three equal-sized groups: a control treatment (n = 6, a basal diet), a L. plantarum postbiotic L-27-2 group (n = 6, a basal diet with 109 CFU equivalent/kg/day), and a P. lactis L-14-1 postbiotic group (n = 6, a basal diet with 109 CFU equivalent/kg/day). The supplementation lasted four weeks. Both postbiotics significantly lowered serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) concentrations (p < 0.05), demonstrating a modulatory action on lipid metabolism in cats. The L-27-2 postbiotic selectively enriched beneficial taxa, notably Bifidobacterium (p < 0.05). Furthermore, fecal levels of malodorous compounds were significantly decreased by both treatments (p < 0.05). The results suggested both postbiotics have potential positive effects in cats. These findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating.