Evidence cluster — feline constipation & hairball management via diet (peer-reviewed, Europe PMC + PubMed)

Representative peer-reviewed studies (verbatim abstracts)

The following studies were retrieved from Europe PMC / PubMed and are reproduced verbatim. Interpretive synthesis is left to the API user.

PMID:42254911 — Can cultivated hamster cells compete with chicken meat? Insights on acceptance and digestibility in domestic cats.

Source: Front Vet Sci 2026
Front Vet Sci. 2026 May 21;13:1781530. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1781530.

eCollection 2026.

Can cultivated hamster cells compete with chicken meat? Insights on acceptance and digestibility in domestic cats.

Bortolazzi F(1), Stringhetti S(2), Hesta M(1).

Author information: (1)Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. (2)Bene Meat Technologies a.s., Prague, Czechia.

In response to the challenges posed by a growing human and pet population and the climate crisis, novel ingredients such as cultivated meat have emerged as promising solutions to address concerns related to sustainability, ethics and food security. However, data on its nutritional performance and suitability for use in animal nutrition remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the acceptance and apparent total tract digestibility (AD) of a complete feline diet containing cultivated hamster cell biomass as the sole animal-derived ingredient, compared to a control diet based on chicken breast meat. A two-day, double-blinded, cross-over acceptance test was conducted on 10 adult research cats. Subsequently, eight of these cats were enrolled in a double-blinded, cross-over digestibility trial. Each cat received both the test and control diet for a 7-12 day adaptation period, followed by 5 days of fecal collection. The diets were identical in ingredient composition except for the protein source and were formulated to achieve comparable nutritional profiles. Celite® (acid-insoluble ash) was added as an indigestible marker to calculate AD using an indicator method. Cats were closely monitored for clinical signs. Body weight, body and muscle condition score were assessed weekly, and total food intake was recorded for each meal. Acceptance was optimal in 9 out of 10 cats, with minimal food leftovers. AD results were comparable between diets, except for protein digestibility which was significantly higher in the control diet (85.3 ± 1.6% vs. 83.9 ± 1.2%; p-value: 0.033). Interestingly, leftovers were significantly lower for the test diet (2.4 ± 3.3% vs. 8.5 ± 7.8%; p-value: 0.025), despite its lower inclusion of palatability enhancer compared to the control diet (1.5 vs. 10 g/kg). Fecal consistency was overall in the ideal range throughout the trial and both diets were well tolerated during the feeding period of up to 17 days. These findings suggest that the cultivated hamster cell biomass tested is well accepted by cats and adequately digestible for use in feline diets. Further research is warranted to explore its impact on palatability and to assess long-term health outcomes in cats.

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1781530 PMCID: PMC13235436 PMID: 42254911

Conflict of interest statement: The author(s) declared that this work received funding from Bene Meat Technologies a.s. The funder had the following involvement in the study: study design, writing of the article and decision to submit it for publication. SS was employed by Bene Meat Technologies a.s. MH has been paid for several consulting services by a variety of pet food companies. The remaining author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):

JOURNAL:Front Vet Sci 2026

Front Vet Sci. 2026 May 21;13:1781530. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1781530.

eCollection 2026.

Can cultivated hamster cells compete with chicken meat? Insights on acceptanc

PMID:41748338 — Therapeutic Applications of Dietary Fiber: Managing Fiber-responsive Gastrointestinal Conditions in Dogs and Cats.

Source: Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2026
Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2026 May;56(3):603-617. doi:

10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.12.004. Epub 2026 Feb 26.

Therapeutic Applications of Dietary Fiber: Managing Fiber-responsive Gastrointestinal Conditions in Dogs and Cats.

Rudinsky AJ(1), Parker VJ(2).

Author information: (1)Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon L. Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. (2)Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon L. Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: Parker.888@osu.edu.

Gastrointestinal disorders are some of the most common diseases in dogs and cats, and treatment can be challenging. Practicing clinicians who understand the physiochemical properties of dietary fiber, the clinical scenarios in which fiber may be effective, and how to appropriately utilize dietary fiber in dogs and cats can see significant improvement in patients' clinical signs. Specifically, core gastrointestinal concerns including acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, hairball vomiting, and constipation may be effectively managed via alterations in dietary fiber intake.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.12.004 PMID: 41748338 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Disclosure The authors have working relationships with pet food and supplement companies that offer fiber-based diets and supplements. The article does not specifically endorse any particular diets, companies, or products. The authors have no financial, nonfinancial, other relationships to disclose in relation to the submitted work, which would create a conflict of interest. The authors disclose no intellectual property related to the submitted article.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):

JOURNAL:Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2026

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2026 May;56(3):603-617. doi:

10.1016/j.cvsm.2025.12.004. Epub 2026 Feb 26.

Therapeutic Applications of Dietary

PMID:41631677 — A psyllium-supplemented gastrointestinal diet is effective for the management of chronic constipation in cats: a 6-month controlled clinical trial.

Source: J Feline Med Surg 2026
J Feline Med Surg. 2026 Mar;28(3):1098612X261420519. doi:

10.1177/1098612X261420519. Epub 2026 Feb 3.

A psyllium-supplemented gastrointestinal diet is effective for the management of chronic constipation in cats: a 6-month controlled clinical trial.

Rochon J(1), Charles H(1), Biourge V(1), Laxalde J(1), Goñi García-Falces M(1), Dito D(1).

Author information: (1)Royal Canin Research & Development Centre, Aimargues, Occitanie, France.

ObjectivesThis study evaluated the efficacy of a psyllium-enriched diet for the management of chronic constipation in cats.MethodsA multicentre, controlled, blinded, 6-month trial randomly assigned client-owned cats to a gastrointestinal test diet containing 6% psyllium or similar control diet containing 0.5% psyllium (as-fed values). Inclusion criteria included two or more constipation episodes in the previous 6 months and two or more constipation signs for 14 days or longer. Constipation severity (stool consistency and frequency, and defecation pain/difficulty) was scored on days 7, 30, 60, 90 and 180. Cats could switch diets if constipation signs did not improve or the diet was not tolerated. Diet failure was defined as study withdrawal due to lack of improvement in constipation, new gastrointestinal signs or diet switch. Cats switching diets were considered as new cases in the group into which they moved, and statistical analyses (linear and linear mixed models) included them in both diet groups.ResultsOf 49 cats enrolled, two were removed for non-compliance, leaving 26 in the test group (18 assigned, eight switched from control) and 30 in the control group (29 assigned, one switched from test). Of the remaining cats, 19/26 and 11/30 completed 6 months of the test and control diets, respectively. The rate of diet failure for gastrointestinal reasons was significantly higher in the control group than in the test group (22/30 [73.3%] vs 7/26 [26.9%]; P = 0.0005). Constipation signs improved significantly from baseline in both groups at each visit after day 7. For stool consistency, improvement was significantly greater in the test group vs control group except at day 30.Conclusions and relevanceIn cats with chronic constipation, a 6% psyllium-supplemented gastrointestinal diet resulted in sustained improvement of clinical signs, a significantly lower probability of diet failure and greater improvements in stool consistency than a control gastrointestinal diet.

DOI: 10.1177/1098612X261420519 PMCID: PMC13009942 PMID: 41631677 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of interestJulie Rochon, Hélène Charles, Vincent Biourge, Jeremy Laxalde, Mikel Goñi García-Falces and Danielle Dito are employees of Royal Canin SAS.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):

JOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2026

J Feline Med Surg. 2026 Mar;28(3):1098612X261420519. doi:

10.1177/1098612X261420519. Epub 2026 Feb 3.

A psyllium-supplemented gastrointestinal diet is effective fo

PMID:42072044 — X-Linked Muscular Dystrophy in a Cat with a Putative Variant in the <i>DMD</i> Gene.

Source: Animals (Basel) 2026
Animals (Basel). 2026 Apr 21;16(8):1278. doi: 10.3390/ani16081278.

X-Linked Muscular Dystrophy in a Cat with a Putative Variant in the DMD Gene.

Cridge H(1), Erger C(1), Thelen Strong K(1), Guo LT(2), An H(3), Xu C(3), Shelton GD(2).

Author information: (1)Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA. (2)Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, LaJolla, CA 92093, USA. (3)Bioinformatics and Analytics Core, University of Missouri-Colombia, Colombia, MO 65211, USA.

X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy (DD-MD) is an uncommon neuromuscular disorder in cats. We described an adult male cat with chronic tongue protrusion, dysphagia, muscle hypertrophy, and a history of rhabdomyolysis associated with anesthesia. Clinical pathology revealed markedly increased CK activity, muscle histopathology demonstrated a dystrophic phenotype, and an absence of dystrophin protein was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. Whole genome sequencing identified two potential disease-causing variants, including a new missense variant in the DMD gene (c.2207T>C; p.Gln736Arg), which was considered causative of the clinical phenotype. A second variant in the CLIC2 gene was also detected but was considered unlikely to cause myopathic signs. The clinical course remained stable over 1.5 years with supportive management and dietary modification, and no further episodes of rhabdomyolysis occurred. This case expands the known spectrum of feline DMD variants and highlights the value of genetic testing combined with muscle histopathology for diagnosing chronic presentations of MD. Avoidance of inhalant anesthetics may be important in managing affected cats due to the risk of acute muscle injury.

DOI: 10.3390/ani16081278 PMCID: PMC13113721 PMID: 42072044

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):

JOURNAL:Animals (Basel) 2026

Animals (Basel). 2026 Apr 21;16(8):1278. doi: 10.3390/ani16081278.

X-Linked Muscular Dystrophy in a Cat with a Putative Variant in the DMD Gene.

Cridge H(1), Erger C

PMID:40678920 — Quantification of defecation frequency in cats with and without chronic kidney disease.

Source: J Feline Med Surg 2025
J Feline Med Surg. 2025 Jul;27(7):1098612X251348011. doi:

10.1177/1098612X251348011. Epub 2025 Jul 18.

Quantification of defecation frequency in cats with and without chronic kidney disease.

George ZM(1), Quimby JM(1), Jones S(1), Brusach KB(1), Rudinsky AJ(1)(2).

Author information: (1)Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. (2)Comparative Hepatobiliary and Intestinal Research Program (CHIRP), College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to objectively measure defecation frequency in cats with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cats with CKD are at higher risk for presenting with constipation. It was hypothesized that cats with CKD would defecate less frequently than healthy cats.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted of healthy cats (n = 9) and cats with CKD (n = 9). Serum biochemistry, complete blood count, total thyroxine measurement, urinalysis and blood pressure measurement were performed in all cats to confirm their health status. The Petivity Smart Litter Box Monitor System was utilized to collect real-time defecation data. Data were collected via the Petivity app for 30 days, during which medical management and husbandry remained consistent. A Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to compare the total number of days without defecation between CKD cats and healthy cats over 14, 21 and 30 days.ResultsCats with CKD had significantly more total days without defecation than healthy cats over 14 days (P = 0.001), 21 days (P = 0.0004) and 30 days (P = 0.0003). The median total days without defecation over 14, 21 and 30 days was 5 (range 1-8), 7 (range 3-9) and 10 (range 5-13), respectively, for cats with CKD, compared with 0 (range 0-4), 2 (range 0-4) and 2 (range 0-7) for healthy cats. Cats with CKD had a lower mean number of defecation events per day over the 30-day study period (0.86 ± 0.22 defecations/study day) compared with the healthy cats (1.07 ± 0.13 defecations/study day) (P = 0.02).Conclusions and relevanceCats with CKD defecate less frequently than healthy cats. The use of litter box monitors could allow for earlier interventions and therapies, possibly preventing episodes of overt constipation.

DOI: 10.1177/1098612X251348011 PMCID: PMC12276494 PMID: 40678920 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of interestJessica Quimby is an advisory board member for Nestlé Purina Petcare Company.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):

JOURNAL:J Feline Med Surg 2025

J Feline Med Surg. 2025 Jul;27(7):1098612X251348011. doi:

10.1177/1098612X251348011. Epub 2025 Jul 18.

Quantification of defecation frequency in cats with and with

PMID:42121775 — A Tolerance Study of Turmeric Extract in Healthy Adult Cats.

Source: Animals (Basel) 2026
Animals (Basel). 2026 Apr 28;16(9):1355. doi: 10.3390/ani16091355.

A Tolerance Study of Turmeric Extract in Healthy Adult Cats.

Raynaud E(1), Raasch M(1), Sanders W(1), Mitchell D(1), Laxalde J(1), Biourge V(1), Venet C(1), Cohen T(1).

Author information: (1)Royal Canin Research Center, 650 Avenue de la Petite Camargue, 30470 Aimargues, France.

Turmeric has a long history of use as a colorant and flavoring agent. Turmeric extract (TE) is a feed additive containing at least 90% total curcuminoids, comprising mainly curcumin, desmethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin. The published antioxidant effects of TE in humans have sparked interest and feeding studies in companion animals. Studies describing the feeding of TE to cats are scarce and do not provide adequate toxicology data; regulatory approval is required to allow use of TE as a nutritional antioxidant in pet food. The current study describes a safety test of TE in cats. Control cats were fed a standard extruded dry diet whilst two groups of test cats were fed the same diet supplemented with two different levels of TE for four months. Physical examination, body weight, body condition score, food intake, fecal score, monitoring of adverse effects (vomiting, diarrhea, clinical signs), complete blood count, and blood biochemistry (particularly liver enzymes) were used to monitor toxicity signs. The lack of statistically significant effects of clinical or toxicological concern concludes that feeding TE to cats at a dietary level providing up to 1040 ppm total curcuminoids is safe. This allows future application of this ingredient in cat food as a nutritional antioxidant.

DOI: 10.3390/ani16091355 PMCID: PMC13162889 PMID: 42121775

Conflict of interest statement: All authors were employees of Mars Petcare (Royal Canin) at the time the study was conducted. Mars Petcare (Royal Canin) provided funding for this study. Employees of Mars Petcare designed the study with guidance of federal authorities, were involved in analysis and interpretation of the data and with writing of the manuscript, as well.

Abstract (verbatim excerpt):