Cats with sensitive stomachs may suffer gas, diarrhea, or vomiting. Allergies, intolerances, illnesses, and stress may cause this. If your cat has a sensitive stomach, switch to mild cat food.
This article discusses the indications of a sensitive stomach in cats, how to pick the best cat food for sensitive stomachs, and how to make your cat feel better.
Signs of a Sensitive Stomach in Cats
Determining if your cat suffers from a delicate stomach involves spotting a few key indicators: regular upchucking or food rejection, unsettled bowels, high gas levels, a decrease in eating or weight, discomfort in the stomach region, or a decline in energy.
If any of these symptoms surface, it’s wise to consult a vet promptly to eliminate the possibility of severe health issues.
Further, the vet may run tests to identify potential food allergies or sensitivities exacerbating your cat’s condition.
Choosing the Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs
If your cat has a sensitive stomach, you may need to switch to a different cat food. Consider these things while purchasing sensitive stomach cat food:
Easily digestible ingredients
Cats have digestive troubles because they can’t digest certain dietary elements. Therefore, choose cat food with digestible elements like chicken, turkey, lamb, rice, oats, or pumpkin. These chemicals are stomach-friendly and reduce inflammation.
High-quality ingredients
Cat food ingredient quality is another aspect. Avoid cat meals with low-quality ingredients such as by-products, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Cats may respond to these items. Instead, choose cat food with high-quality ingredients like whole meats, fruits, veggies, and natural vitamins.
Nutrition value
The nutritive worth of feline fare significantly influences your cat’s comprehensive health and welfare. Opt for food that fulfills the dietary needs of your cat’s age and activity degree. Be sure to examine the label for the confirmed analysis, displaying the proportions of protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and other nutrients present. Optimal feline fare possesses substantial protein levels (not less than 30%), modest fat amounts (approximately 15%), and minimal carbohydrate counts (below 10%). Aim to find food that maintains a harmonious balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, beneficial in lessening inflammation and bolstering skin and coat wellbeing.
Type of food
Your cat’s diet might also impact digestion. Choose dry, wet, or both. Dry food is cheaper and easier to prepare, but it might dehydrate cats. Wet food is tastier and hydrating, but it spoils quicker and costs more. Mixing both might give your cat a balanced diet.
Age and weight of your cat
The age and weight of your cat can also influence their dietary needs and preferences. Kittens need more calories and nutrients than adult cats to support their growth and development. Senior cats need fewer calories and more fiber than younger cats to prevent obesity and constipation. Overweight cats need fewer calories and more protein than normal-weight cats to promote weight loss and muscle maintenance. You should choose a cat food that is appropriate for your cat’s age and weight category.
Top Cat Foods for Sensitive Stomachs
Here are some examples of cat foods that are specially formulated for cats with sensitive stomachs:
- Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe: This dry sustenance incorporates genuine chicken at the helm, followed by brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and peas, chosen for their ease of digestion. It contains an array of beneficial substances including probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids to aid in digestive health and boost immune system function.
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe: As wet feed, it comprises real chicken as the unique animal protein source, coupled with chicken broth and flaxseed oil for moisture and omega fatty acids. It’s devoid of grains, gluten, corn, soy, wheat, dairy, eggs, or synthetic additives, positioning it as a perfect choice for cats prone to food allergies or intolerances.
- Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Cat Food: This dry feed possesses a single animal protein source like turkey, duck, rabbit, or salmon, along with one vegetable source such as peas, tapioca, or chickpeas. Its recipe eschews grains, gluten, dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, or artificial additives, marking it suitable for cats with food sensitivities or allergies.
- Halo Holistic Chicken and Chicken Liver Recipe: This moist feed boasts real chicken and chicken liver as primary protein sources, accompanied by chicken broth, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cranberries for moisture and antioxidants. It lacks grains, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, or synthetic additives, making it a wholesome, natural choice for feline friends with sensitive stomachs.
- FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal: This dry feed relies on fish meal as the exclusive protein source, together with oatmeal and potatoes for carbohydrate content. It refrains from including corn, wheat, soy, gluten, or artificial additives, rendering it a simple, hypoallergenic choice for cats with food sensitivities or allergies.
How to Help Cats With Sensitive Stomachs?
Choosing an optimal cat food for sensitive tummies also involves these steps:
1. Gradually Transition To A New Food
Switch your cat’s food over 7 to 10 days if required. Begin by blending a touch of the new with the old and gradually up the new food until it’s the only thing your cat eats. This strategy can aid in averting stomach trouble and let your cat grow accustomed to the new food.
2. Monitor Your Cat’s Response To The New Diet
Keep an eye on your cat’s actions and stool condition after the food change. Should your cat display signs of progress like fewer instances of vomiting, diarrhea, gas, or appetite loss, stick with the new food. If there’s deterioration or no changes, you may need to test a different meal or speak to your vet for further direction.
3. Consult With Your Veterinarian For Professional Advice
Always check with your vet before changing your sensitive-stomached cat’s diet or administering supplements or medicine. Your vet can guide you on the best steps for your cat’s specific state and needs. They can also prescribe medication or treatments to help alleviate your cat’s discomfort and enhance their life quality.
4. Consider Hypoallergenic Or Limited Ingredient Diets
Should your cat have a food allergy or intolerance leading to a sensitive stomach, you may need to serve them a hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient meal. Such meals have fewer ingredients and exclude usual allergens like chicken, beef, fish, dairy, eggs, corn, wheat, soy, or gluten. These meals can help curb inflammation and irritation in your cat’s digestive tract and avoid allergic responses.
5. Avoid Common Ingredients That Can Cause Sensitivity
Some cat food components can induce sensitivity in some cats, even when not allergic. Such components comprise spicy food, dairy products, fatty food, and human food with possible harmful or toxic substances like chocolate, onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, xylitol, alcohol, caffeine, etc. You should steer clear of feeding your cat these components, or limit them to occasional snacks.
6. Provide A Calm And Stress-Free Feeding Environment
Stress can also instigate or exacerbate digestive issues in cats. Hence, foster a peaceful and stress-less feeding atmosphere for your cat:
- Serve meals in a tranquil and comfy place, free from noise and diversions.
- Serve meals at fixed times and intervals to establish a routine and dodge overfeeding or underfeeding.
- Serve meals in separate bowls from other pets to avoid competition or aggression.
- Always offer fresh water to keep your cat hydrated and fend off dehydration.
Conclusion
Feeding cats with sensitive stomachs is tough but rewarding. Choose the finest cat food for sensitive stomachs and follow some easy guidelines to help your cat feel better and enjoy their meals. Before adding supplements or modifying your cat’s food, visit your vet. Your vet can recommend the best treatment for your cat. Your cat may be happy and healthy with appropriate care.
