The Best Cat Food For Sensitive Stomachs
No pet owner enjoys seeing their kitty suffer through digestive issues like vomiting, diarrhea, or allergic reactions. Dietary changes can often bring relief to cats dealing with these problems. Cat food designed for sensitive stomachs is made with easy-to-digest ingredients and free of artificial ingredients that could irritate your feline friend's intestinal tract. Since each cat is unique, a food that may work for one may not work for another. With all that in mind, we've rounded up some of the best cat foods on the market for sensitive stomachs.
What to Look For
We recommend keeping the following things in mind when shopping for the best cat food for sensitive stomachs: Is it made with natural ingredients like real turkey or real chicken? Does it contain easily digestible carbs? Is it a complete and balanced formula? Our top pick was the cat food from Purina One, which is easily digestible and packed with antioxidants to support your cat’s immunity. We were also impressed by the cat food from Hill’s Science Diet, which contains probiotics to encourage healthy gut bacteria and easy bowel movement. Read on to learn more about our top picks and discover the right one for your feline friend.
Purina One Sensitive Stomach Cat Food
Feeding time
This high-protein formula from Purina One nourishes cats with high-quality ingredients that won’t irritate their sensitive stomachs. It’s packed with omega-6 fatty acids to support your cat’s skin and coat health and also has an antioxidant blend that provides immune support. The formula goes easy on your kitty’s digestive system and helps reduce itching and other skin problems. That’s not all; it’s also budget-friendly, so your wallet will thank you.
Pros:
- Each cup has 36 grams of protein
- Helps prevent plaque buildup and keeps teeth and gums clean
- Easily digestible formula
- Improves skin and coat health
Cons:
- Contains corn gluten meal and soy
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Cat Food
Healthy and happy
If you’re looking for a nutrient-packed cat food that’s easy to digest, look no further than this formula from Hill’s Science Diet. It contains a naturally occurring prebiotic fiber to boost your gut health, nourishing the good bacteria and helping improve the flora in your cat’s tummy. The formula also contains nutrients like omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E to support brain, tissue, and skin health. That’s not all; it also promotes optimal nutrient absorption, strengthening your feline friend’s belly.
Pros:
- Made with real chicken
- Aids digestion and supports skin health
- Excellent source of prebiotic fiber
- Promotes beneficial gut bacteria
Cons:
- It’s not grain free
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Cat Food
Eat up
If your cat is struggling with vomiting and other digestive issues, this cat food from Blue Buffalo can help. It provides balanced nutrition and has a variety of ingredients, including real meat, veggies, fruits, and grains. The formula uses a blend of alternate grains like brown rice, oatmeal, and barley, which are easily broken down by a cat’s digestive system. It also contains prebiotic fiber, which can help correct gut bacteria imbalances that could be causing your cat’s stomach sensitivity.
Pros:
- Made with easily digestible alternative grains
- Contains prebiotic fiber to promote gut health
- Free of harmful additives
- Antioxidants to support immune health
Cons:
- Only available in chicken flavor
Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach Cat Food
Young at heart
Senior cats often have unique nutritional needs and may be prone to upset stomachs. This cat food from Solid Gold is designed to give them all the nutrients they need without irritating their sensitive bellies. It’s an excellent choice if corn, wheat, and soy don’t agree with your feline friend’s digestive system. Pumpkin stands out as one of its important ingredients because it helps soothe the stomach and is gentle on the gut. Moreover, this formula doesn’t contain artificial additives or harmful dyes, further reducing the chances it’ll irritate your cat’s sensitive tummy.
Pros:
- Doesn’t contain corn, soy, or other grains
- Blend of fruits and vegetables
- Contains probiotics to support digestive health
- Supplies essential omega fatty acids
Cons:
- It’s more expensive than other options
Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Stomach Cat Food
Meal time
Chicken by-product meal, dried eggs, and turkey are the main ingredients in this cat food from Iams, designed to go easy on your feline friend’s tummy while promoting skin health. This food is high in fiber to support digestive health and includes prebiotics and beet pulp to enhance the absorption of nutrients your kitty needs to thrive. It’s also chuck full of vitamins and antioxidants, including L-carnitine, which may help with energy production in cats. Plus, it has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to keep your cat’s coat shiny and skin healthy.
Pros:
- High protein content aids muscle development
- Rich in vitamins and antioxidants
- Contains a special fiber blend to support gut health
- Has prebiotics to increase good bacteria
Cons:
- Some cats may not like the flavor
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients shouldn’t be in sensitive stomach cat food?
When buying food for a cat with a sensitive stomach, you should avoid formulas containing grains and cereals, hard-to-digest carbs, gluten, lactose, potential allergens, preservatives, and artificial additives. All of these ingredients can be challenging for cats with sensitive stomachs to digest. If you purchase sensitive stomach cat food and your kitty continues to have problems, you should contact your vet.
What causes cats to have sensitive stomachs?
Many factors contribute to a cat’s sensitive stomach, including age, food intolerance, or allergies. Senior cats sometimes have poor dental health and are unable to chew their food well, which could result in them vomiting large amounts of food because their digestive systems are unable to process it or it takes longer to digest. It’s important to purchase food with easy-to-absorb nutrients to help them maintain their health. On the other hand, your cat could develop food intolerances from a diet of low-quality cat food. Preservatives and food coloring can irritate a cat’s intestinal tract, leading to problems. If you find your cat has problems, you can try changing to a different food brand with high-quality ingredients.
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Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.