Not only do I love my cats, but I feel like I have a personal responsibility for their well-being. This means that I can feel quite distressed when they seem to be having stomach issues. Considering they can’t tell me what is wrong, it is hard to know the best way to respond, but changing their food is always one of the first things I think about.
Contents
Reviews: 10 Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach in 2020
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
Hill’s Z/D Canned Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult PD Dry Cat Food
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Venison Recipe Cat Food
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food
Hill’s Digestive Care I/D Dry Cat Food Sensitive Stomach
Holistic Select Chicken Pate Recipe Grain-Free Cat and Kitten Food
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Cat Food
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe Rabbit Cat Food
Not only do I love my cats, but I feel like I have a personal responsibility for their well-being. This means that I can feel quite distressed when they seem to be having stomach issues. Considering they can’t tell me what is wrong, it is hard to know the best way to respond, but changing their food is always one of the first things I think about.
Knowing the right type of food to deal with your cat’s particular stomach issues can be challenging. Just like with us humans, there are so many things that can get knocked off kilter, and it is hard to know which applies to your feline friend.
In this article, I will write about the main signs to look out for when it comes to cat stomach problems and the most likely cause of what they are suffering from. I will then review the 10 best cat foods for when your cat is having digestive issues, and their particular strengths and weaknesses, so you can pick the best one for your cat.
10 Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach in 2020
Product
Rating
Where buy?
Carry on reading to see our reviews, as well as a buying guide and some of the most frequently asked questions about feeding cats and kittens with sensitive stomachs.
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
This formula is ideal for an elimination diet if you think your cat has developed a sensitivity to a certain meat protein. It contains 92% fresh meat, organs, and bones from a single, highly digestible novel protein source (e.g. lamb or venison). The high meat content also means that it is not full of carbohydrate-based fillers that cats simply do not need in their diets. It also has added fiber, vitamin E, and folic acid to aid in digestion.
Of course, all that meat comes with a hefty price tag, and it is one of the more expensive foods on this list. It also means that it is relatively high in fat and calories, so it is not for cats that are struggling with their weight.
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Pros
- Limited ingredient diet
- Novel Protein
- Added Vitamin E and folic acid
- Never includes grains, rice, corn, soy, potatoes, wheat, fillers, sugars, glycerins
- Limited ingredient formula includes 92% fresh meat
- High in Fiber
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Cons
- High price
- Not for cats with high their weight
- High in fat and calories
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
Hill’s Z/D Canned Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach
Food sensitivity and intolerance are potentially serious problems that can result in sensitive or irritated skin, coat and ear conditions or even gastrointestinal upset. Cats that have a food sensitive or intolerance, also called adverse reactions to food, typically experience an abnormal response to the protein in the food. If your cat suffers from adverse reaction to food, it is even more important to feed the right food. At Hill’s, nutritionists and veterinarians have developed clinical nutrition especially formulated to help manage your cat’s dietary sensitivity and help reduce the possibility of adverse reactions to food.
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Pros
- A truly hypoallergenic diet
- Сarbohydrate source and protein
- Effective if the cat is not fed anything else at all
- With the natural fibre content, this food improves both digestion and stool quality
- Content fatty acids and Vitamin E
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Cons
- It is critically important that owners are aware of how to feed a hypoallergenic diet
Hill’s Z/D Canned Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult PD Dry Cat Food
Royal Canin’s Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult PD Dry Cat Food is a prescription food that’s specially designed for feline friends with food sensitivities. It’s made with limited ingredients and features protein from real duck and peas, ingredients that are rarely associated with food allergies in cats. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, from fish oil to help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat, plus essential nutrients to help reduce skin irritation and sensitivity. This highly palatable and digestible recipe may help relieve constant itching, hair loss and digestive issues, so your cat can look and feel her absolute best.
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Pros
- This food only contains selected proteins
- One of the better options for those cats with pre-existing skin issues
- The amino acids and B vitamins form a healthy skin barrier
- EPAs and DHAs (omega 3 fatty acids) as well as the coconut oil contribute to a glossy and lustrous coat
- It is easy to weigh and feed
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Cons
- Titbits such as chicken and fish should not be added to the food to encourage eating
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Selected Protein Adult PD Dry Cat Food
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Venison Recipe Cat Food
This is another formula that is great if your cat has developed a sensitivity to a particular meat source, or if you intend to start your cat on an elimination diet. It is made from 95% quality meat from a single or limited source. This makes it high in protein and ensures that there is limited carbohydrate-based filler, which means most common allergens can be avoided. It is also enriched with menhaden fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in digestion and promote a healthy coat.
Like many high-protein foods, it is also high in fat, which can make it a little problematic for cats with weight issues. The formula also contains vegetable oil, which adds no benefit to a cat’s diet and may be a source of stomach sensitivities in some cats.
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Pros
- Proudly made in the USA
- Free of grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy
- Made with 95% venison and pork liver, 5% vegetables
- High in protein
- Supplemented with menhaden fish oil
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Cons
- Not for cats with high their weight
- Contains vegetable oil
- High in fat and calories
Instinct by Nature's Variety Original Grain-Free Venison Recipe Cat Food
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food
One of the most trusted brands on the market when it comes to special diet cat foods, this is probably a good ‘go-to’ product if your cat develops mild symptoms. It provides easy digestion by combining a high water content with high protein content, mimicking the natural diet of cats in the wild. It uses thin slices of meat in a rich gravy, which makes the food attractive to cats but keeps the calorie level low. It is also higher in fiber than many cat foods, preventing constipation, and it is reported to reduce the odor of cat stool.
The main downside with this product is that it contains protein from multiple different sources, and from by-products, so it is not suitable if your cat has developed a sensitivity for a particular meat source, or for an elimination diet. It also contains corn starch, which can be a source of sensitivity for some cats.
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Pros
- Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition
- Designed for cat's nutritional needs and instinctive preferences
- Low-calorie
- Three flavors for select
- Digest Sensitive features an ideal balance
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Cons
- Combination of meats
- Contains corn starch
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food
Hill’s Digestive Care I/D Dry Cat Food Sensitive Stomach
Dietary indiscretion, food allergies, or lack of digestive enzymes can affect your cat’s digestive health. Efficient digestion is essential for your cat to be able to build and repair tissues and obtain energy, and for these reasons, it is important to feed a food that is formulated to help support digestive health. Hill’s nutritionists & veterinarians developed Prescription Diet i/d clinical nutrition especially formulated to support your cat’s digestive health. In fact, i/d is clinically proven nutrition that helps improve digestion and stool quality. Plus, with the S+OXSHIELD seal of confidence, the Digestive Care formula meets specific nutrient standards shown to promote a urinary environment that helps reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.
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Pros
- Highly digestible
- Rarely causing any adverse food reactions
- Can prevent plaque build-up
- Prebiotics contained, can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria
- This food can be fed to adult cats and kittens
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Cons
- This is not a hypoallergenic diet and does contain ingredients such as barley, gluten, corn and chicken
Hill’s Digestive Care I/D Dry Cat Food Sensitive Stomach
Holistic Select Chicken Pate Recipe Grain-Free Cat and Kitten Food
This wet cat food provides a high-protein formula from limited meat sources, so you can cut out certain meats if you suspect that your cat has developed a sensitivity to them. It is also enriched with botanicals and salmon oil that are anti-inflammatory and combat food allergies, as well as a range of prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes in order to rebalance your cat’s digestive microbiome.
The food is higher in fat than some other brands, which is not great for more sedentary cats. They have also had some problems with food batches in the past, with what comes in the pack not matching up with the advertised products.
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Pros
- Concentrated premium proteins
- Delivers digestive enzymes and botanicals to aid digestion
- High in protein from limited source
- Prebiotics and probiotics are also included
- Contains salmon oil
- Botanical anti-inflammatories
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Cons
- Some inconsistent batches
- Not for cats overweight
Holistic Select Chicken Pate Recipe Grain-Free Cat and Kitten Food
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food
This dry food works on the single novel protein basis as we saw with some of the wet foods on this list, mixed with highly digestible oatmeal and rice. This means that it is very high in protein, at 40%, but also high in fat and calories, so not great for cats with weight issues.
A diet that is too high in protein can cause constipation issues, but this formula is enriched with prebiotics, and vitamins C and E to smooth along the digestive process. It is a little surprising that it also does not contain probiotics, another essential element for good digestion.
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Pros
- 100% complete and balanced diet
- Made with 40% protein and powerful antioxidants
- Formula includes easily digestible rice and oatmeal
- Omega-6 fatty acids and zinc help nourish irritated skin
- Natural prebiotic fiber sourced from chicory root
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Cons
- Does not contain additional probiotics
- Not for cats overweight
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Cat Food
The first of the dry cat foods on this list, this cat food is made primarily with high-quality meat while avoiding meat by-products, so is suitable for eliminating certain meat products from your cat’s diet. It is also high in protein for dry cat food, but also high in fat, which again can be problematic for cats with weight issues.
Added probiotics and prebiotics, and well as menhaden fish meal, all aid digestion. The formula also contains Blue Buffalo’s patented LifeSource bits, which contain a range of essential vitamins and minerals for overall cat health.
This food is not appropriate if you are avoiding grains for you cats, or think that they may have developed a sensitivity to grains, as it does contain some grains and gluten.
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Pros
- Features wholesome grains, garden veggies and fruit
- Specially crafted for adult cats with sensitive stomachs
- This recipe contains FOS prebiotics
- Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Made with LifeSource Bits a blend of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins
- Without poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives
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Cons
- Not for cats with allergies and sensitivity to grains
- Not for cats overweight
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Adult Dry Cat Food
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe Rabbit Cat Food
Give your cat simple and essential nutrition with Instinct by Nature’s Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Cat Food. Because when your cat has food sensitivities, knowing exactly what’s in his food is important. That’s why this recipe features a purposefully short ingredient list, made with just one animal protein and one vegetable. Guided by the purity and simplicity of raw nutrition, it’s the simple and essential food that your cat needs to thrive—and it’s all made in the USA with the finest ingredients from around the world.
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Pros
- Made in the USA
- Includes just one animal protein and one vegetable
- Made with farm-raised rabbit
- Guaranteed levels of natural omegas and antioxidants
- Never contains any grain, dairy, eggs, chicken, beef, fish, potato, chickpeas, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors or preservatives
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Cons
- Preserved with canola oil
- Not for cats overweight
Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe Rabbit Cat Food
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to wet food I recommend Ziwi Peak as the best wet cat food for sensitive stomachs as it contains 93% meat from quality sources, and uses novel proteins (such as lamb and venison). This particular cat food is relatively expensive, so a good alternative is Instinct By Nature’s Variety wet cat food, which is 95% meat from a single source.
For dry cat food Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Stomach has 40% protein from a single protein source and so should go down well with your cat. Blue Buffalo, I believe, carries the best dry cat food for sensitive stomach, as it is high in protein from a single source, and has a good range of added prebiotics and probiotics to support digestion.
Write comment below to us about your choice Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach.
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Hi, I first time visiting your website! Have question, what to feed cats with digestive problems?
PS I really like your website!!!
Hello, April
If there’s nothing apply, writen in this post, change to a bland diet such as fresh meat, boiled chicken and possibly some rice or a therapeutic cat food formulated for Gastro Intestinal problems for three to five days, (the therapeutic diet can often be obtained at your veterinarian’s office or at pet supply stores).
PS thanks you