Should You Enhance Your Cat’s Diet with Supplements?

March 17, 2026

Courtney DePottey

The Association of American Feed Control Officials nutrient profiles provide a complete and balanced diet for cats¹, but cat supplements may help manage certain health conditions. Conditions that can benefit from nutritional supplement use include joint and digestive health, heart health issues, and skin/coat health issues.² This article is designed to help you consider whether supplements are a good fit for your feline companion.

It’s important to note that cats should only take supplements specifically formulated for cats. Cats have different dietary requirements than dogs.³ Cats are classified as strict or true carnivores that need protein to survive.⁴

Does My Cat Need Supplements?

Cats already get protein, caloric density, fat/fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins in their daily food if it’s approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO-approved food includes the following minerals:

• Calcium
• Phosphorous
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Chloride
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Copper
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Iodine
• Selenium

Vitamins include Vitamin A, D, E, K, and B12.

AAFCO-approved cat food should provide a complete and balanced diet for your cat. However, there are cases when a cat will need a supplement to their regular diet. Veterinarians should complete a nutritional evaluation of each cat they work with, along with the standard temperature, pulse, respiration, and pain evaluations. The nutritional evaluation should take into consideration age and physiologic status, activity, body condition score, muscle condition, and nutrient-responsive disorders.⁶

 

If your cat has health and/or lifestyle issues that appear on the following list, it could be worth going to the veterinary clinic to inquire about supplements:

• Joint issues
• Digestive issues, including hairball control
• Skin and coat issues
• Cognition issues
• Heart health issues
• Urinary tract infections
• Kidney disease
• Advanced age
• Eating a home-cooked diet

While there are supplements that target each of these health issues,² always consult with a veterinarian before choosing supplements for your pet.

What Types of Supplements for Cats Are Available?     

A wide range of supplements for cats exist, ranging from multivitamins to supplements that target specific health conditions. As mentioned before, there are cat supplements for joints, digestion, and the immune system. However, supplements for behavioral issues such as anxiety and stress management are also available.²

• Multivitamins – Giving cats multivitamins is a good option for cat owners who want to ensure their cats have all their vitamins. Common ingredients include taurine for heart health, B vitamins to aid in the production of red blood cells, prebiotics and probiotics to maintain or improve the gastrointestinal system, electrolytes, Omega-3 fatty acids, and iron.⁷ A cat’s age and physiologic status, activity, body condition score, muscle condition, and nutrient-responsive disorders should be considered before carefully selecting a multivitamin for your cat. ⁶
• Joint supplements – Cats can suffer from degenerative joint disease (DJD). Research has shown that a spectrum of clinical signs can be associated with the disease.⁸ Joint supplements are a popular choice for cat owners who have a cat with DJD.
• Digestive supplements – There are two main types of supplements for the digestive system: probiotics and hairball control supplements.Probiotics are live microbes that can contribute to a cat’s healthy gastrointestinal system. A cat probiotic supplement can be recommended for gas and bloating as well as conditions such as chronic vomiting, chronic diarrhea, and inability to maintain weight. ⁷Hairball control supplements come in gel form and help the digestive track process excessive amounts of hair.²
• Skin and coat supplements – To encourage a softer, silkier coat, use supplements on the market that target good cat coat care. To address persistent skin issues, it’s important to consult your veterinarian.
• Cognition supplements – Age-related diseases for pets are on the rise. Cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) is one age-related disease found in both cats and dogs that is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Particularly at higher dosages, omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA, have resulted in significant cognitive improvement in aging cats. Other supplements, such as homotaurine, S-adenosyl methionine, medium-chain triglycerides, and apoaequorin, have shown benefits to aging cats and dogs.⁹ 
• Heart health supplements – While diet is not the singular treatment for heart disease in cats, nutrition may help to improve overall quality of life. Dietary supplements such as fish oil or taurine are options for cats with heart health issues.¹⁰
• Urinary tract infection supplements – Symptoms of urinary tract infections include urinating too frequently or not frequently enough, apparent incontinence, and bloody urine, as well as over consumption of water.¹¹ One promising supplement for alleviating urinary tract infections is cranberry, which also increases gut metabolism.¹²
• Kidney disease supplements – Clinical signs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) include decreased appetite, weight loss, halitosis, polyuria (excessive volume of urine), polydipsia (excessive thirst or drinking), and dull hair coat. In a 2014 study of cats with kidney problems, 38% of cat owners reported giving vitamins, minerals or other dietary supplements to their cat. The most common supplement administered was B vitamins, followed by fatty acids, joint supplements, a symbiotic, a prebiotic plus a probiotic along with multi-vitamins.¹³

How Do I Choose a Brand?

A quick internet search finds a wide variety of cat supplements on the market, but some are higher quality than others. Research companies and discover if they consult with a board-certified veterinary subject matter expert and provide clinical studies that support the data behind their supplements. Reputable companies will meet all of these criteria.

Look for brands from companies that are transparent and data-driven.

Monitoring Results

It’s important to note if your cat supplements are working. Monitor the effectiveness of your cat supplement with the tips below:

• Track the specific health concern: Pay close attention to the specific health concern for which your cat is taking supplements.
• Watch for side effects: Monitor for specific side effects and take notes so you can show them to your veterinarian.
• Schedule regular veterinary checkups: Ideally, you should take your adult cat to the vet at least once a year for a wellness exam. Senior cats (12 or older) should see a vet every six months or more often if they have a known health condition.¹⁴

Summary

With your veternarian’s approval, you can enhance your cat’s diet with supplements.

Consult with your veterinarian before using a cat supplement to ensure that it will be safe and effective.

When choosing a brand, consider several factors, including how data-driven and transparent a company is.

After you purchase the cat supplements, monitor how well they are working. You can accomplish this by: tracking the specific health concern, observing potential side effects, and going to regularly scheduled veterinary appointments (at least once a year for adult cats and twice a year for senior cats).

Cat supplements can be a great fit for cats with specific health issues, senior cats, and cats on a home-cooked diet.

Sources

1. Pet Food Institute. (n.d.). Cats vs. dogs: 5 differences in nutritional needs. Pet Food Institute. https://www.petfoodinstitute.org/cats-vs-dogs-5-differences-nutritional-needs/.
2. Finno, C.J. (2020, Mar-Apr). Veterinary pet supplements and nutraceuticals. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7802882/#S5.
3. Sanderson, Sherry Lynn. (2023, November). Nutritional requirements of small animals. Merck Manual Veterinary Manual. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals.
4. Armstrong, P.J., Gross K.L., Becvarova I., Debraekeleer, J. (n.d.) Introduction to feeding normal cats. https://drive.google.com/file/d/146SOXDn5SADEjUxIhBE7ZwYNT-LM2Gw4/view
5. (n.d.) AAFCO methods for substantiating nutritional adequacy of dog and cat foods. https://www.aafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Model_Bills_and_Regulations_Agenda_Midyear_2015_Final_Attachment_A.__Proposed_revisions_to_AAFCO_Nutrient_Profiles_PFC_Final_070214.pdf.
6. Witzel Rollins, A. & Murphy M. (2019, April 25). Nutritional assessment in the cat: Practical recommendations for better medical care. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814421/#bibr16-1098612X19843213
7. Morrison, B. J. (2023, September 6). What are cat supplements and how do they work? https://www.petmd.com/cat/nutrition/what-are-cat-supplements-how-do-they-work.
8. Tomas, A. Pultorak E.L., Gruen M.E., Breitschwerdt E.B., Lascelles B.D. (2014, October 18). Relationship between degenerative joint disease, pain, and Bartonella spp. seroreactivity in domesticated cats. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4407694/
9. Blanchard T, Eppe J, Mugnier A, Delfour F, Meynadier A. Enhancing cognitive functions in aged dogs and cats: a systematic review of enriched diets and nutraceuticals. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12181554/
10. Tufts University. (n.d) Optimal nutrition for pets with heart disease. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. https://vet.tufts.edu/foster-hospital-small-animals/specialty-services/cardiology/heartsmart/heart-disease-nutrition
11. Brooks, W. (2025, September 29). Veterinary Partner. Urinary tract (bladder) infection in dogs and cats. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx pid=19239&catId=254103&Id=4952574#.
12. Prasad S, Patel B, Kumar P, Mitra P, Lall R. Cranberry: A Promising Natural Product for Animal Health and Performance. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Jan 27;47(2):80. doi: 10.3390/cimb47020080. PMID: 39996801; PMCID: PMC11854524. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39996801/.
13. Markovich JE, Freeman LM, Labato MA, Heinze CR. Survey of dietary and medication practices of owners of cats with chronic kidney disease. J Feline Med Surg. 2015 Dec;17(12):979-83. doi: 10.1177/1098612X14563097. Epub 2014 Dec 22. PMID: 25535212; PMCID: PMC10816345. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25535212/.
14. Livesay, J. (2023, September 1). USA Today. How often should you take a cat to the vet? Meeting your feline friend’s veterinary needs. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/07/25/how-often-do-you-take-cat-vet/10049934002/.