Providing the best care for your feline companion means being attentive to their diet. This is especially true for cats with sensitive stomachs since their food affects their comfort and well-being.
Understanding what might be causing your cat’s stomach sensitivities and what ingredients to look for can help you choose a healthy cat food to support their digestion and overall health.
Stomach Sensitivities in Cats
Just like humans, cats can experience various digestive problems. Some cats are born with a more easily irritated digestive system, while others may develop sensitivities over time due to age, medical conditions or dietary changes.
Many cats also suffer from sensitivity and intolerance to specific foods. A 2019 study found that high-reacting foods or those that showed the most sensitivity in cats, were white potato, millet and rice, with rice having the highest reaction. Low-reacting foods were pork, lamb, turkey and white-colored fish.
Food sensitivity symptoms in your cat may include frequent vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss and lethargy. In some instances, these symptoms may be a sign of a more serious health issue, like kidney disease. Always consult your vet if your cat shows symptoms of stomach discomfort.
Best Cat Food for a Sensitive Stomach
Choosing the right food for your cat’s sensitive stomach means focusing on quality ingredients and knowing exactly what’s in their daily meals. For easily irritated stomachs, consider switching to dry or wet cat food that uses wholesome, natural ingredients instead of fillers and by-products that can worsen your cat’s sensitivities.
When selecting your cat’s food, look for the following:
High-Quality, Limited Ingredients
Healthy cat food specifically designed for sensitive stomachs contains limited ingredients, eliminating potential triggers for stomach upset. These foods also avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, which can lead to digestive issues.
At Open Farm, our RawMix products are ideal for cats with sensitive tummies. RawMix limits ingredients to nutrient-dense kibble that is freeze dried raw, which can be easier for your cat to digest. We offer a Wild Ocean Grain-Free flavor with ocean whitefish, peas and lentils and an Open Prairie Grain-Free option with humanely raised chicken and turkey, Menhaden fish meal and peas that will go easy on your cat’s stomach.
Alternative Protein Sources
Cats sometimes develop sensitivity to common protein sources like chicken, beef or fish. Cat food that contains an alternate protein source such as lamb, turkey or mackerel can give your cat the protein they need without causing discomfort due to allergies. (Always check with your vet before trying an alternative protein if your cat has allergies to develop the best nutrition plan for their needs).
Our Pasture-Raised Lamb Dry Cat Food contains humanely raised and grass-fed lamb, non-GMO cranberries, garbanzo beans and apples for a protein-rich formula. You can also try our Homestead Turkey Rustic Blend, with 100% animal welfare-certified turkey, pumpkin, spinach, carrots and coconut oil, to offer your cat an alternative protein source.
Grain-Free
Grains can be another potential irritant for cats with sensitive stomachs. Many cats struggle to digest grains, resulting in stomach discomfort. A grain-free diet can alleviate these symptoms. Many grain-free foods use alternative carbohydrate and protein sources like pumpkin and lentils, providing a good energy source for your cat.
Our grain-free options include all RawMix cat food and our Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, which has 100% animal welfare-certified turkey and chicken, chickpeas, lentils and dandelion greens.
Ingredients That Support Digestion
Certain ingredients can support your cat’s digestive health. Probiotics, for instance, promote healthy gut bacteria, aiding digestion and nutrient absorption. Fruit with certain enzymes, such as amylase and protease, can also provide digestive support for your cat.
Look for cat foods that include ingredients with these nutrients in their formulation or products you can add separately to your cat’s diet with your vet’s guidance. For example, our Open Prairie Grain-Free RawMix contains pumpkin and apple, which can both support your cat’s digestive health.
Age Appropriate
Cat foods have different targeted benefits to meet the varying needs of felines at different life stages. For example, kitten food is created to meet a kitten’s activity level and growth needs, while a senior cat food might target their joint or coat heath. Your cat might experience stomach issues if they don’t have food with the right target benefit for their age and developmental stage.
For example, you may wonder, can kittens eat adult cat food? While they might be able to eat it, it might not meet their nutritional needs. Kittens require higher protein levels for growth and development. Their systems may also be unable to digest certain foods as easily as adult cats.
To avoid causing stomach upset, feed your new pet kitten food and supplement it with nutrient-boosting additions like Harvest Chicken Bone Broth that are gentle on their developing system.
You can also look for foods that are formulated for all life stages, which can nourish your kitten from kittenhood to adulthood. For instance, our Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish Dry Cat Food is ideal for cats and kittens, as indicated on the feeding guidelines. Simply click on the kitten icon to see the feeding amounts for kittens between 1 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months.
Ensuring Your Cat's Health and Happiness
Catering to a cat’s dietary needs with a sensitive stomach requires careful attention and understanding of their unique requirements. As responsible cat parents, making thoughtful decisions regarding their nutrition, including choosing high-quality, limited ingredients, alternative protein sources, grain-free choices and age-appropriate diets, is essential for their well-being. It also includes speaking with your vet about their ideal diet and developing a nutrition plan to meet their unique needs.
As a part of your cat’s health journey, Open Farm provides a wide range of cat food options tailored for different dietary requirements, including those with sensitive stomachs. Our commitment to quality and sustainability ensures that every product is ethically sourced and contains premium ingredients to support your cat’s health. Shop our cat food today and find the right food for your sensitive feline friend.
