Sensitive Stomach Cat Food - Stop Diarrhea and Vomiting

Does your cat seem to be constantly having problems keeping food down? It could be that your cat has a sensitive stomach and is suffering from digestive disturbances. Cats with sensitive stomachs may have food allergies or intolerances. A sensitive stomach can develop anytime due to various causes. Read on to find out if your cat’s discomfort is due to a sensitive stomach and how to deal with it. 

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How do you know if your cat has a sensitive stomach? 

Cats with a sensitive stomach may have one or more of the following symptoms:

Vomiting

The most common symptom of a sensitive stomach is vomiting. While you probably don’t have anything to worry about if your cat throws up once in a blue moon, regular vomiting can mean a sensitive stomach. 

Take note of when your cat vomits, the vomit consistency and food that your cat has eaten on that day to see if a pattern emerges.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea in cats can occur due to a sensitive stomach or other underlying health conditions. Cats with sensitive stomachs usually have diarrhea only after eating certain foods. If this is the case, you should keep track of what your cat eats. 

Persistent diarrhea for more than two days may point to a more serious issue. 

Not eating properly

Your cat may go off food for quite a number of reasons. It could be that they just do not like the food you are giving them or they might be getting food elsewhere. 

However, if your cat is vomiting, having diarrhea and excessive gas, then it is most likely that your cat is suffering from stomach issues. Pay attention if your cat is not eating properly and bring your cat to the vet to rule out any underlying health issues.

Excessive gas

While gas is a normal byproduct of digestion, excessive gassiness that occurs together with other symptoms might point to a sensitive stomach. 

Causes of sensitive stomach in cats 

Now that we know the symptoms, here are the most likely causes that might be causing sensitive stomach in cats:

• Food intolerance - your cat may develop allergies or intolerances to certain foods. Common food intolerances include meat byproducts, dairy products, preservatives and artificial colorings, corn and wheat products. 
• Eating inedible items - It is common for cats to develop a sensitive stomach after eating items such as string, wool, feathers or other play items. 
• Eating toxic foods - Unlike food intolerances, there are certain foods that taste good but are toxic for cats. For example, excess liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. Eating toxic food may not only cause a sensitive stomach to develop, but also other health issues that may require medical intervention. 
• Eating too fast - Cats who eat too fast may throw up some food when it tries to burp. Just like humans, cats too, need a few minutes to realize that they are full. If your cat seems to gobble up all its food, a slow feed cat bowl might help to slow it down. 
• Eating too much - Meal portions that are too big for one sitting may cause your cat to vomit excess food that it eats. Remember, your cat’s stomach is very small and not designed to take in a large amount of food at one go. 
• Infections, illnesses and diseases - Stomach sensitivity can be due to your cat feeling unwell. It can also be caused by the medication your cat is on. However, sudden, severe symptoms that do not clear up may indicate that something more serious is going on. 
• Parasites - All parasites that affect the gut can potentially cause your cat to develop symptoms akin to a sensitive stomach. If parasites are to blame, have your cat treated bi-annually for worms.
• Age - Your cat’s sensitive stomach might be age related. Senior cats need good quality food that can be absorbed easily. If chewing is a problem for your older cat, they can end up swallowing big chunks which need a long time to digest, causing your cat to vomit. 
• Changing dry and wet food daily - Frequent changes with dry and wet food can be the cause of your cat’s sensitive stomach. Try providing a regular routine for your cat’s meals.

How to find the best food for your cat if it has a sensitive stomach

It can be worrisome to see your cat having a hard time keeping its food down and losing weight because of food allergies and intolerances. Here are some of the best diets and foods for cats with sensitive stomachs. 

Limited ingredient diet

A limited ingredient diet is one of the best cat food for sensitive stomachs because it only contains one source of protein and one source of carbohydrate. Because of this, you will be able to reduce exposure to the food that your cat is sensitive to. Limited ingredient cat food will help your cat’s sensitive stomach to settle while still providing it with a balanced and nutritious diet. 

Novel protein diet

A novel protein diet contains a single source of protein that your cat has never eaten before. It will help sensitive stomachs because cats are only allergic or intolerant of foods that it has been exposed to. You will also be able to use this diet to eliminate the foods that your cat is sensitive to. 

Hydrolyzed protein diet

A hydrolyzed protein diet is a diet where proteins are broken down to sizes so small that your cat’s immune system cannot recognize it. This stops the immune system from triggering an abnormal immune response that might occur when your cat has food allergies or intolerances. It will help your cat’s sensitive stomach to settle while you work on pinpointing the foods that your cat is sensitive to. 

Change the form of cat food

You can help your cat by just changing the type of food that you feed it. For example, you can try changing to wet food if your cat seems to be sensitive to dry food or vice versa. Check out Petcubes’ range of cat food if you are looking for balanced and nutritious wet cat food. 

Provide food that have lower fat levels

Foods that have a lower fat level are easier to digest. This makes it the whole digestion process easier on your cat’s sensitive stomach. Additionally, a diet with lower fat for indoor cats will also help keep their weight in check.

Adjust the feeding routine

A cat’s stomach is about the size of a ping-pong ball and thus, is not able to take in large portions in a single meal. Cats that eat large meals may vomit after eating. If your cat seems to ‘scarf and barf’, you can try adjusting its feeding routine to smaller, more frequent meals. This allows your cat to digest the food and absorb the nutrients properly. 

Conclusion

Cats with sensitive stomachs will start to lose weight because they are unable to absorb the nutrients that their bodies need to stay healthy. Finding the cause of the sensitive stomach is important so that the trigger foods can be avoided. A change in diet can also help give the stomach and digestive tract some respite. Do consult the vet before making changes to your cat’s diet and if symptoms do not subside.