In the wild, cats eat the intestinal tract of their prey last — that’s the part full of plant fiber. Instead, they prefer animal fiber found in fur, bone, cartilage and tendons.
Whichever type you consider, fiber is key for strict carnivores like cats — especially those with intestinal motility problems like megacolon where the colon becomes large and flabby and progressively loses function. In these cats, diet is an especially important part of management. One option is to feed a high-fiber diet, which produces bulk and helps stool pass through the colon.
In these cats, offering lots of fresh water is just as important for softening the colon’s contents and preventing dehydration. Cats being cats, they prefer to drink the top one-third of their water, so water bowls should be freshened often or replaced with pet fountains.