Best Foods for Cats with a Sensitive Stomach

How Does Sensitive Stomach Cat Food Help? 

Cat food formulated especially for sensitive stomachs, can help your kitty recover from an upset tummy quickly and prevent flare-ups in the future. With vomiting, not eating enough, or having diarrhea, your companion may be feeling weak and nauseous. 

The best cat food for sensitive stomachs will have the right nutrition to soothe their gut and intestines, reduce their nausea, and provide them with enough energy and nutrients to recover and return to their usual selves. 

Cat food made for sensitive stomachs is easier to digest than typical adult cat food. It allows the gut to rest and heal while making it easier for all the necessary nutrients to be readily absorbed. Usually, these diets are also highly palatable to help tempt cats that have a decreased appetite or are feeling nauseous. 

Some of the sensitive stomach cat food options are specially formulated to help with food allergies, such as hypoallergenic diets. Others have limited ingredient diets with only one protein or vegetable source to simplify the work of digestion for your kitty.  

Probiotics, or friendly gut bacteria, are frequent additions to cat food for sensitive stomachs, to help boost intestinal health. Other common ingredients include omega-3 and -6 fatty acids and antioxidants, which help soothe the inflamed intestinal tract and boost the immune system. 

What Causes an Upset Stomach in Cats?   

Knowing the factors that may lead to belly trouble can save a lot of trouble for both you and your feline companion. There are lots of possible reasons why an upset stomach can occur. Sometimes the reason is obvious if you caught your kitty eating something from the garden or you have suddenly changed to new cat food. However, it could also be a sign of a more serious underlying illness.  

Causes for an upset tummy in cats include: 

• Eating plants/insects/toxic substances
• Eating certain human foods or spoiled foods
• Sudden change in diet or a new dietary ingredient
• Food allergy or food intolerance
• Bacterial or viral infection
• Stress or pain
• Intestinal obstruction (objects that get stuck in the stomach or intestine)
• Urinary tract problem
• Parasites
• Liver disease or Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease or Diabetes
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Cancer

 If you are concerned that your cat is ill and showing signs of an upset stomach, then you should call your veterinarian as soon as possible. They can diagnose what is wrong with your kitty and rule out any severe underlying conditions that may be causing her symptoms.   

What Are the Signs of an Upset Stomach in Cats? 

The most common signs of a simple upset stomach are: 

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Decreased or total loss of appetite

However, depending on the underlying cause, there are many other signs, such as increased water intake, salivation, or even weakness. If your cat has had recurrent bouts of an upset tummy, she might have other signs such as weight loss and a dull coat. 

What is the difference between Food Allergies and Food intolerances? 

Two common reasons why your kitty may have a sensitive stomach are food allergies or food intolerances. Although they sound similar, they are two very different conditions. 

The term food allergy describes an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily safe ingredient. Many cats will have eaten a food for years before it starts causing an allergic reaction involving the immune system. Common symptoms include itchy skin, skin lesions, hair loss, and less commonly, there may be gastrointestinal signs, such as vomiting and diarrhea. One study found the most common food allergens to be beef, fish, and chicken. In rare instances, other protein sources, dairy, grains, certain carbohydrates, or even additives may be the culprit for a food allergy.   

Whereas, food intolerance is when your feline has an adverse reaction to a food product or ingredient. In this case, the immune system is not involved, but it causes gut problems. The most common symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Often a food intolerance will occur quickly after the initial exposure to the food.  

There are many different types of food intolerances including 

• Food poisoning: Eating spoiled food, eating plants that cause gut irritation (e.g., rhubarb), eating raw food due to the risk of containing harmful bacteria.
• Toxic foods: Grapes, onions, and garlic can all be poisonous to cats.
• Lactose intolerance: Lactose is a sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Adult cats lack the enzyme lactase, which is needed to break down and digest lactose.
• Dietary indiscretion: Although more common in dogs, cats can still eat things they shouldn’t that can cause them physical harm. Examples include cat litter, wool, bones, excess fat, or grease.    

Do you Need to Take Your Cat to The Veterinarian? 

If your kitty throws up once but seems happy with no other signs of illness, then you don’t need to rush to see your veterinarian. However, if your cat looks extremely ill all of a sudden or regularly has an upset tummy, then it is best to schedule a vet visit to make sure your cat’s sensitive stomach isn’t a symptom of something more serious. 

It isn’t pleasant for you or your feline friend if you are regularly finding little piles of vomit around your home or smelly contents in the litter tray. So as a responsible parent, you should do the right thing and try to make your fur baby feel better. Sometimes, all it takes is a change in diet to a sensitive stomach cat food. However, if a cat food for sensitive stomachs does not help, then medication or treatment may be necessary. 

Your veterinarian will complete a full physical examination of your kitty and ask you specific questions about the symptoms your cat is showing, his diet and his lifestyle. Further tests may be recommended, such as blood tests to check your cat’s internal organs or to rule out diseases like diabetes and hyperthyroidism, or a stool sample to check for intestinal parasites. To reach a diagnosis, your veterinarian may need to take x-rays or complete an ultrasound scan of your cat’s tummy. 

What are the Treatment Options for an Upset Stomach in Cats?   

The treatment depends on the underlying cause. But the goals are the same, to make your cat feel better, return to a healthy appetite, and prevent the symptoms from occurring again.   

If your kitty’s sensitive tummy is due to a food allergy, your vet may recommend a strict diet trial or a permanent change to cat food for sensitive stomachs. 

If your feline ate something she shouldn’t have or some spoiled food, she might need anti-nausea medication and a few days of sensitive cat food until her tummy is back to normal. 

If she ate something toxic or has a diagnosis of pancreatitis, she may need intensive hospitalization to receive medications and intravenous fluids. 

If a high worm burden is the source of your cat’s symptoms, then your cat will likely need a dewormer, and her stools rechecked in the future.  Surgery may be necessary if there is intestinal obstruction, or a course of antibiotics will be required to treat a bacterial infection. 

These are just some examples of possible treatment options for some causes of an upset stomach. Your veterinarian will guide you through the treatment options. 

What Are Hypoallergenic Diets? 

Hypoallergenic diets are specialized diets for pets with allergies. They usually contain limited ingredients and avoid including common feline allergens such as beef, chicken, or dairy. Often they use only one novel protein source like duck, venison or salmon, and one novel carbohydrate source like sweet potato. 

Some hypoallergenic cat foods are hydrolyzed, meaning the proteins have been broken down and should no longer be recognized as an allergen by the cat’s digestive system. 

Be careful when choosing a hypoallergenic diet, as not all cat food brands have the same high-quality production standards. For example, many cat foods that are labeled “fish,” may still include trace amounts of chicken, beef, or eggs because production occurs with the same equipment as many other types of pet food. Choose a reliable, high-quality brand, and do some research into which diets are truly hypoallergenic.   

Some hypoallergenic diets require a veterinary prescription, and your veterinarian can help choose the best one for your cat’s needs. 

What is a Food Trial? 

A food trial is also known as an elimination trial, and it’s the only way to diagnose a food allergy accurately. It involves feeding your kitty a strict and controlled diet for 10-12 weeks to see if her symptoms resolve. If you want accurate results, you can’t give your feline companion any snacks, treats, or human food during this trial! 

Your veterinarian can give you their recommendation for which diet would be best for your cat. The diet must use a novel protein and carbohydrate source for your cat.  

Usually, veterinary prescription hypoallergenic diets are best, or you could cook homemade cat food if you wish. Although it can be challenging to make sure a home-cooked diet contains all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, your cat needs, and in the right ratios. If you decide that you want to cook food, you should ask a veterinary nutritionist for help. 

If your cat’s signs don’t clear up with a food trial, you and your vet need to think about other causes for your cat’s sensitive tummy.   

What Foods NOT to Feed a Cat with a Sensitive Stomach? 

Each kitty with a sensitive tummy is different, and each one will have various sensitivities or intolerances. Unfortunately, there is no single product that will suit every cat. For example, one cat may be unable to digest dairy products, one might not tolerate grains and wheat, and one may have a fish food allergy. 

It can take time, patience and hard work to slowly figure out which foods and ingredients your feline friend can and cannot handle, and try to avoid them in the future. 

As a general rule, you should avoid cat food that contains artificial additives, colorings, flavorings, and preservatives. Don’t’ choose a diet with poor quality mixed meats and lots of meat by-products. Most adult cats struggle to digest dairy products, some are more intolerant than others, so it is best to avoid dairy too. 

How to Encourage Your Cat with an Upset Stomach to Eat? 

If your cat is having a flare-up with his sensitive stomach, then he probably won’t have his usual appetite. However, your kitty must continue to drink water and eat even a little bit. If your cat hasn’t eaten in over 24 hours, then it’s time to get your vet involved. 

Refusing to eat can quickly become life-threatening because weakness and dehydration become a real concern. After a few days of anorexia (little to no eating), your feline companion could be at risk of developing fatty liver disease, which causes the liver to stop functioning correctly. 

Some tips to encourage your cat to eat include: 

• Serve food warm so that it will smell much more appealing (Test the food to make sure it is not too hot!).
• Try offering some sensitive cat canned food; this is usually very tasty and easy to digest.
• Offer your cat smaller portions more regularly throughout the day.
• Offer your cat some home-cooked healthy chicken broth (provided she doesn’t have any chicken allergies).

How to Stop Your Cat Vomiting After Eating? 

There are some small changes you can make to your cat’s routine to help prevent vomiting after eating.  

Is your feline eating very fast? Not enough chewing can cause vomiting. Instead of feeding your cat once or twice a day, you can try giving smaller portions of cat food more frequently throughout the day. You could also try using puzzle feeders to slow your cat down while eating. 

Is your kitty regularly bringing up hairballs? Then you need to groom your cat more, it is a great way to bond and spend time together. You can also transition onto a specialized diet to help reduce the hairball frequency. 

Transition your cat onto a cat food formulated for sensitive stomachs. Usually, the transition time takes around a week, and you slowly mix increasing amounts of the new food in with the old food. Feeding a diet for sensitive cats is usually much simpler for your cat to digest, and your cat’s vomiting will hopefully improve. 

What Else Can You Do for a Cat with a Sensitive Stomach? 

Keep your cat hydrated 

Make sure your cat is getting enough water, especially if your cat mainly eats dry cat food, as they tend to have a lower water intake than cats who eat canned wet cat food. Have a few different water bowls for your kitty in various locations around your home. You could also try a cat water fountain as a fun way to encourage your cat to drink.  

Stop the treats 

Many types of cat treats contain artificial flavors and preservatives, which cats with sensitive tummies can find difficult to digest. Make sure your cat treats aren’t the underlying cause for your cat’s upset stomach in the first place. 

Reduce stress 

Although most cats seem to have a very relaxed and chilled out lifestyle, stress can change a cat’s eating habits or cause them to have an upset stomach. A common reason for your cat to feel stressed is if it has competition from another cat when it is eating, or it’s food bowl is placed in a “busy” area of the home. Try feeding your sensitive cat alone in a quieter area of the house; that way, they can slowly enjoy their food without worry or the need to rush. You could also use a natural pheromone product such as the Feliway Diffuser to help your cat feel less stressed. 

• Make gradual changes

If you want to change your cat’s diet, make sure that you transition into the new diet slowly. A sudden change in food is one of the most common causes of an upset tummy for cats. The transition should take about a week, gradually mixing the new food with the current diet. 

Prevent accidents 

Keep anything which your cat may be tempted to eat, including string, small toys, thread, and tinsel out of reach. Also, check that your houseplants are safe for cats and keep medications (for both humans and pets) in a locked cupboard. Don’t give your feline human leftover food; they often are too rich and salty for your cat to digest efficiently, and are another common cause of an upset tummy. 

Final Thoughts 

There are lots of reasons why your cat may have a sensitive stomach, and it is essential to visit your veterinarian to make sure your cat doesn’t have any serious underlying problems. While whipping up some bland homemade food such as chicken and rice is often recommended to help with digestive upsets, your cat could be missing out on critical nutrients to help them fully recover and manage their problem. There are lots of convenient feline diets specially formulated to help cats with digestive sensitivities. We hope this list of the best cat foods for sensitive stomachs will help to make a big difference to the quality of your cat’s life and might help clear up her tummy issues once and for all!