Have you noticed a change in the eating habits of your cats? Perhaps they are sick or regurgitating their food. Maybe they are constipated or have diarrhea. In addition, they could have increased or decreased thirst. Of course, you should seek advice from a vet, but the answer could be very simple and that is that your cats have sensitive stomachs.
Buyer’s Guide
In this guide we have delved into the causes of sensitive stomachs and suggested foods which will relieve the effects. There are plenty of both wet and dry cat foods out there which should help your cats with their problems. It should make their lives more normal until your vet has identified the culprit which is causing their sensitive stomachs.
Causes of Sensitive Stomachs
The first possible cause of a sensitive stomach is a food allergy. Some cats can be allergic to normal foods like protein, in particular beef, chicken or pork. There can just be too much protein for them which I know does seem strange as cats do need a lot of protein. They are carnivores by nature.
Secondly, they may be intolerant to certain foods. They are unable to digest these foods properly and so they are passed through their systems in almost an unchanged form.
Thirdly, they could have intestinal parasites or a disease of the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder. If this is the case they won’t be able to digest food properly. Intestinal parasites can stop nutrients being absorbed and as a result watery stools are passed. Your vet will be able to diagnose digestive problems.
Cats groom a lot and this can lead to hairballs.These hairballs can change the way the stomach digests food. They can definitely lead to stomach problems and in addition the hairballs have to be got rid of. The best way to do this is by regurgitating which isn’t very pleasant for the cats or for you to clear up.
If you have outdoor cats, they tend to catch and eat anything that moves. This in turn can lead to a sensitive stomach.
A sudden change in the diet of your cats can also cause stomach problems. If you want to change the food your cats eat, it is best to do it gradually. This is especially important for kittens who are just getting used to solid food.
Finally, your cats could be sick simply because they are eating too quickly. You should give them the right portion size as recommended by the manufacturer. Another good idea is to feed them smaller, but more frequent meals. By doing this and transitioning onto a sensitive stomach diet at the same time, you might get an indication of what is causing the vomiting.
Worst Foods for Cat with Sensitive Stomachs
If you sometimes feed your cats homemade food, avoid dairy as cats are unable to digest it. You can, however, give them a commercially produced cat milk replacement as it is very similar to a mother cat’s milk.
Always choose grain-free food for cats with sensitive stomachs. They are unable to digest them properly and anyway things like wheat, corn, and soy are empty fillers and have no place in the diet of cats.
Try and buy food with a low fat content. Bile is needed to emulsify fat and if there isn’t enough,, the undigested fat can cause diarrhea.
It is advisable to buy food with as few additives as possible as they can also lead to sensitive stomachs. Commercial cat food with artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives should also be avoided.
Certain proteins can also cause problems and beef is one of the culprits.
What to do if Your Cats Have Sensitive Stomachs
You may want to go and see your vet first as you will want to prevent vomiting as soon as possible. However, you could alternatively change the food you feed your cats to one which is beneficial for sensitive stomachs. Do this gradually by adding a little to their normal food and increasing it daily until they are only eating the sensitive stomach food. Keep records of their reactions to the food.
If they are still vomiting after eating only the sensitive stomach food for a few days, then it’s definitely time to see the vet. He or she can test for inflammatory bowel disease or chronic small bowel disease. The vet can also test for food allergies. In fact it could just be one item that is making your cats sick. Once this is identified your cats will be on the road to recovery.
Once you find a food that works for your cats, keep feeding it whether or not they are still being sick. Sensitive stomach cat food contains all the right nutrients and can be fed for the life span of your cats. If you go back to their old food they could easily start to vomit and have diarrhea again.
Dry Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs
If your cats only eat dry food, you should stick to this when you introduce the new food. You don’t want to confuse them too much otherwise they might not eat at all. The same goes if they only eat wet food.
The best sensitive stomach dry cat food only has a single source protein. It should also have natural ingredients, amino acids, and antioxidants. Always make sure that you read the ingredient list on the packet or look it up online. If your cats are allergic to grains, choose a grain-free formula, though grains should be avoided whether or not your cats have sensitive stomachs. It is much better for your cats if the food contains such fillers as rice and oatmeal.
Wet Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs
Wet food should have easily digestible ingredients, again no grain and no additives. Wet food has the advantage of having a lot of liquid so offers extra hydration. This can help cats with constipation or diarrhea. If you cats won’t eat wet food, make sure that there is plenty of water on offer for them to drink.
Cat Food for Older Cats with Sensitive Stomachs
If you have cats over eleven years and they start being sick, your best bet is to visit the vet first for tests. If nothing serious is found, then you should transition onto a sensitive stomach diet. As always this should be taken slowly, perhaps even more slowly than with younger cats as they will be more set in their ways. Try not to give them any commercial treats while you are doing this and table scraps are out as well.
How Can a Sensitive Stomach Cat Food Help?
Sensitive stomach cat foods are specially formulated to reduce the risks of vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. It is better to pay a little more for your cat food and be assured that you are getting the best. These brands don’t usually use by-products and shy away from grain as it is an empty filler. Cheaper foods often contain grains and have additives which are no good for cats with sensitive stomachs.
What Else Can You do for a Cat with a Sensitive Stomach?
Of course seeing the vet as well as changing the diet of your cats is important. However there are things you can do at home to make life easier for your cats.
We have already mentioned hydration, but if your cats don’t seem interested, try a cat water fountain. The trickling sound it makes is likely to attract your cats and they will probably start drinking again.
If you give your cats treats this will have to stop. There’s no point buying them food for sensitive stomachs and then giving them rich treats.
If your cats are stressed out, this could lead to a sensitive stomach. Perhaps there is rivalry going on among the cats in your household which is causing them to get stressed. Try to separate them at mealtimes so they can eat in peace.
If you have more than one cat, put them all on the new diet. It won’t do the others any harm, but it will stop the sick cat stealing ordinary food from the others..
Checklist for Choosing Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs
- If your cats keep vomiting or have constipation or diarrhea, consider placing them on a sensitive stomach diet
- The new diet can be either wet or dry, whichever they’re used to!
- Look for a food which is grain-free
- The food should have no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Check all the ingredients to make sure it doesn’t have the specific allergen which causes problems for your cats
FAQ
Which of these cat foods is best for cats with sensitive stomachs?
There isn’t a straight answer to this as all the foods I have described are excellent. Really, it is trial and error as to what your cats will like. Every cat is different so what one likes, another might hate. If your cats only eat wet food, choose a canned food to give them, and the same goes for dry food. If they eat both, carry on giving them both. Start with small packs or cans while you are trying out the food on them so there will be as little waste as possible. In addition, take it slow and introduce the new food a little at a time with the old food until you are just feeding the new food .
Some of these foods need a prescription. Why?
The reason for this is that special diets require precise ingredients and nutrients for whatever the medical issue is. You won’t want a food that is for a completely different medical condition after all. This is why you need to take your cats to the vet to be properly diagnosed. If you are ordering online, companies like Chewy can contact your vet if you don’t have a prescription and he or she will give them the details about your cats. If you do have a prescription, you can take a copy and email or fax it. You can set up auto refills, but remember that prescriptions expire and there will come a time when you have to return to your vet. However, it’s all worth it if your health of your cats improves.