Psyllium Seed Husk
Our ingredient score: 4 / 5 · Fiber source · How We Score
Psyllium is a soluble fiber that holds water and turns into a gel. Thanks to this property, it softens stool and regulates bowel movements in cats, especially when they are constipated. It is one of the fiber sources veterinarians recommend for constipation. It is also said to ease hairball problems, but a recent study found no meaningful effect on this.
Psyllium Seed Husk also appears on labels as Powdered Psyllium Seed Husk.
Common Questions
Does psyllium help with hairballs in cats?
It is often said to, but a recent study found no meaningful effect on hairball problems. Its clearer benefit is for constipation.
Is psyllium safe for cats?
Psyllium seed husk is the outer coating of seeds from Plantago plants, a fiber that absorbs water and forms a gel. A six-month controlled clinical trial reported that a psyllium-supplemented gastrointestinal diet was effective for managing chronic constipation in cats. Psyllium is also sold as a supplement, but dosing is a decision for the veterinarian. For a cat with constipation or another condition, ask your veterinarian.
Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Why is psyllium in cat food?
Psyllium is added for its effect on stool. It is a fiber with soluble and insoluble parts that holds water and forms a gel. A 2024 study found that psyllium husk powder increased how often cats without bowel problems defecated, along with the bulk and moisture of their stool, and their stool was softer. That effect is why it appears in some digestive and hairball recipes.
Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Is psyllium soluble or insoluble fiber?
Mostly soluble. Psyllium husk holds water and forms a gel, which softens hard stool and can also firm up loose stool. Tufts veterinary nutritionists describe it as a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber, along with beet pulp and oat bran, and name psyllium seed husk as a common fiber supplement added to pet foods.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
What does powdered psyllium seed husk mean on a label?
It is the same ingredient milled into a fine powder. Psyllium husk is sold as whole flakes or powder, and the powder mixes more evenly into kibble dough. Pettings groups psyllium seed husk and powdered psyllium seed husk on one page. The word powdered describes texture only and says nothing about the amount used, which you can judge from its place on the ingredient list.
How does Pettings score psyllium seed husk?
Pettings gives psyllium seed husk 4 out of 5 and lists it as a fiber source. It appears on 11 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Foods with it average 44 out of 100 on our Ingredients score, compared with 58 for foods without it, though that average reflects the whole food and not psyllium. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Psyllium Seed Husk Compare
Psyllium Seed Husk is on the label of 11 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Their average Ingredients score is 44 out of 100. The 138 foods without it average 58.
An average describes the foods, not this ingredient alone: one ingredient is only a small part of a food's score.