When your cat shows signs of having a sensitive stomach, you start to worry. Did you know that a diet designed to treat your cat's sensitive stomach can often help to alleviate and even eliminate the problem?
Let’s take a look at wet cat food and how it may be the diet that helps your cat overcome its stomach sensitivity.
Cats with sensitive stomachs
Cats, like humans, can suffer from indigestion or unsettled stomachs. Cats can develop a sensitive stomach for a variety of causes, with some having a more delicate constitution than others. This might be due to their eating habits or the medicine they're taking for an accident or illness.
It's pretty common for a cat to have a sensitive stomach every now and then. However, if your cat's symptoms linger more than a day or two, it might suggest more serious issues, so it's vital to keep a careful check on its health if the problem persists.
Signs your cat has a sensitive stomach
You may have observed that your cat isn't acting like themselves lately, which is why you're seeking advice on how to help your cat. Signs of a sensitive stomach include:
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea
- Lethargy
Why does my cat have a sensitive stomach?
Here are some reasons why your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach:
Changes in diet
A change in diet may cause stomach distress if your cat has an allergy or intolerance to an ingredient. For example, corn, soy, and other bargain products can cause an upset stomach. It also doesn’t help if you never change your cat’s diet and they are used to eating only one thing.
Medicines
When cats take too many topical medicines when they are groomed, their stomachs sometimes get irritated when they lick it off.
Eating anything hazardous such as a plant leaf or an insect can also potentially create problems. Do note that poisonous plants are dangerous, so make sure you get rid of them from your home and yard if you have cats.
Stress
If your cat has separation anxiety, or if you've just relocated or added a family member (human or animal) to your house, that stress might be causing your cat's stomach problems.
Hairballs
Hairballs are an indication that the digestive system's motility, or capacity to move stuff along, is impeded. This means your cat's food and fluids don't move through the intestines as quickly as they should, causing digestive problems.
Pathogens and antigens spend less time in contact with the gut walls as a result of this. When these chemicals aren't adequately removed from the lining, the resultant bacterial overgrowth might obstruct the body's ability to absorb nutrition.
Because hair is stuck in its stomach, it prompts the stomach to become upset which will cause vomiting. This could irritate the stomach, resulting in the development of sensitivities.
Is wet cat food good for a sensitive stomach?
Wet cat food is available in cans with pre-measured quantities that are suitable for cats though it is better to choose the ones made from fresh ingredients! Wet food may also be beneficial to cats that have been diagnosed with specific medical problems.
This diet is particularly perfect for your cat with a sensitive stomach as it has a high moisture content. Cats are renowned for not drinking enough water. A wet meal will help calm your cat’s stomach as it will help with digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Moreover, the greater moisture content in wet cat food provides more water to cats with urinary and renal problems. The aforementioned makes it easier to flush urine crystals and reduces the danger of crystal formation, as well as prevents dehydration in cats with kidney problems.
In addition, wet food is abundant in protein, which helps muscles stay strong. It also aids in the maintenance of muscle mass throughout maturity and into the elderly years of a cat.
Lean body mass (LBM) and fat mass make up a cat's total body weight. LBM includes muscles, ligaments, bones, organs, and more.
The major sources of metabolic activity are organs and muscles, which serve to support numerous essential activities such as immunity, movement, digestion and more.
A cat’s immunity resides in its digestive system. When your cat has good metabolism, it will help them absorb its food better resulting in a healthy stomach. It’s good to note that wet cat food that is made with fresh ingredients is much better than canned cat food as the meals will be a lot more beneficial for your cat’s health.
Fresh wet cat food provides full nutrition for cats. These nutrients help with digestion, blood and tissue health, boost the immune system and also promote healthy hair. This will reduce the number of hairballs you’ll find from your cat as less hair will fall from its coat.
In addition to that, you can try feeding your cat home cooked remedies for sensitive stomachs. You can include a diet that contains chicken or pumpkin, which is not harsh for its digestive system.
After your cat has recovered from its digestive problems, you can transition onto a fresh raw diet. This can help strengthen your cat’s immune system and prevent problems.
PetCubes has a range of raw, fresh cat food you can choose from. Our collection is carefully created with natural fibres such as sea kelp to help your cat’s digestion.
How to find the best wet food for your cat with a sensitive stomach?
A diet trial is the natural next step after your cat receives a clean bill of health from the veterinarian. Diet trials are a great method to limit your cat's food selections until you discover something that works for their delicate stomach.
There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” diet for cats. Each diet will have a different effect. It may take up to three or four months for your cat to completely eliminate the old diet from its system, allowing you to assess the new diet.
You can work with your local veterinarian to evaluate which meals meet your cat's nutritional needs, and you may further narrow it down based on your cat's food preferences to discover the right match.
How to make homemade wet cat food?
Each meal has its own unique nutritional characteristics. You can follow the general recipe as follows:
- 1 can of preferred meat (tuna, salmon, etc)
- 1 tablespoon of a mashed vegetable of your choice (broccoli, pumpkin etc)
- 1 tablespoon of your cat’s favourite carb (brown rice, oatmeal, etc)
To make them, combine all ingredients in a bowl, stir and serve. You can refrigerate the access for another meal.
If you think making your own wet cat food from scratch is hard, check out Petcubes ready to serve raw cat food. Our meals are easy to make and filled with the best ingredients for your cat.
Tips to soothe your cat’s tummy
Let’s take a look at some tips that may help alleviate your cat’s stomach:
Don’t feed it scraps or leftovers
Many human meals are unsuitable for cats and might irritate their stomachs. I know it can be hard to say no to your cats when they beg you for food while you're eating.
However, by fostering begging, it is far more difficult to stop the behaviour later and makes them less inclined to consume their regular meals.
Track what they have been eating
You should constantly check what your cat is being fed. This process will help you pinpoint what is causing the problem to occur in the first place. You also can find out which diet suits your cat more, hence reducing the risk of your cat obtaining a sensitive stomach.
Feed high quality cat food
Look for diets produced from high-quality components, with meat or meat meal stated as the first thing on the ingredient list, to help your cat's delicate stomach. Corn and other cheap fillers should be avoided since they might be the source of your cat's digestive issues.
Groom regularly
Brushing your cat on a daily basis can help reduce the amount of hair that gets up in his stomach. Furthermore, paying close attention to your cat on a daily basis can make it simpler for you to spot changes that may indicate the need for medical treatment.
Attempt a new feeding pattern
Cats who consume huge meals are more prone to vomit shortly thereafter, which we jokingly refer to as "scarf and barf."
Cats are physiologically and physically adapted to consume little, frequent meals, with a stomach the size of a ping-pong ball.
They are more likely to go through regurgitation by eating huge bowls of meals every day. Hence, try feeding a small amount but periodically throughout the day.
Conclusion
A cat with a sensitive stomach is an unhappy cat. Follow the guide above and help your feline friend get better today!
Reviewed by:
Dr Francis is one of the top wildlife nutritionists in Asia. Originating from Montreal, Canada, he left at 21 to pursue his Masters and subsequently a PhD in wildlife nutrition at Oxford Brookes University. Instead of taking the path of common animal science to learn about farm animals, or through the veterinarian space and taking a certificate in nutrition, he took the road less travelled to dive deep into the world of animal ecology, metabolism and nutrition.