Research overview: gut microbiome of obligate carnivores and protein fermentation

Even strict carnivores host gut microbes, and this overview reviews what is known about the feline gut microbiome and its role in a meat diet. The cat intestinal microbial community is adapted to a high-protein, low-fibre intake, with microbes that ferment proteins and contribute to nutrient processing differing from the fibre-fermenting communities of herbivores. Diet strongly shapes this community. Researchers study it through sequencing and metabolic profiling. Why it matters: the carnivore microbiome adds a microbial dimension to feline nutrition, influencing digestion, health, and possibly the production of certain nutrients. Understanding it complements the study of the cat own metabolism and gut anatomy, showing that obligate carnivory shapes not only the cat physiology but also the microbial partners that live within it and help process a diet of meat.