Some cats are very sensitive to the ingredients that are found in commercial cat food. But you can find many cat foods that are great for cats with sensitive stomachs.
We highly recommend Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food for sensitive stomach cats.
Specially formulated for sensitive stomachs, it contains loads of fiber and prebiotics to soothe and return the gut bacteria balance in your cat’s tummy.
Every cat is different and if you are looking for sensitive stomach food, the other options below also come highly recommended.
Best Cat Food For Sensitive Stomachs
- Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food (Best Overall)
- Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Cat Food (Best For Diarrhoea)
- Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin Dry Cat Food (Best For Vomiting)
- Hound & Gatos Turkey & Turkey Liver Canned Cat Food (Best For IBD)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food (Best For Senior Cats)
- ORIJEN Free Run Chicken & Turkey, & Wild Caught Salmon & Herring Grain-Free Dry Kitten Food (Best For Kittens)
- Purina ONE Natural Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dry Cat Food (Best Budget)
- Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Real Duck Recipe (Best For Picky Eaters)
8 Best Cat Foods For Sensitive Stomachs Reviewed
Below is our review of the best 8 cat foods that can help your cat with a sensitive stomach. Always consult your veterinarian before switching your cat’s food.
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley
- Key Feature: Specially formulated for sensitive stomach with prebiotics
- Guaranteed Analysis: 32% Crude Protein, 16% Crude Fat, 3.5% Crude Fiber, 9% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 422 kcal/cup
- Life Stage: Adult
Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food is gentle on the stomach with wholesome ingredients.
With chicken as the first ingredient and generous amount of fibers and oatmets that help soothe a sensitive stomach.
It also includes FOS prebiotics that restore the balance of gut bacteria in a cat’s stomach. The bacteria balance cannot be restored through normal food and prebiotics are needed to restore it.
This formula does not contain any artificial preservatives, soy, corn and wheat that can cause stomach irritation in cats.
The downside is that it is a bit pricey, has chicken – not suitable for cats who are sensitive to chicken.
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Water Sufficient For Processing, Chicken By-Products, Pork By-Products, Pork Liver, Salmon
- Key Feature: Sensitive Digestion, Pea-Free
- Guaranteed Analysis: 7.5% Crude Protein, 2% Crude Fat, 1.7% Crude Fiber, 82.5% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 66 kcal/can
- Life Stage: Adult
This formula consists of easily digestible proteins to help soothe and balance a sensitive stomach. Customers also comment greatly on how much their cats love this food.
This formula is quite affordable and hundreds of cat parents say that this formula has helped their cats with sensitive stomachs especially with the symptom of diarrhoea.
The added minerals and vitamins provide the necessary macro nutrients especially if your cat suffers from diarrhoea caused by a sensitive stomach.
The downside of this food is that it has low protein content, low fat content and more than average carbohydrate content.
Royal canin claims that the required nutrition comes from the complete formula and not the individual ingredients.
Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal
- Key Feature: Sensitive Digestion, Pea-Free, With Grain
- Guaranteed Analysis: 33% Crude Protein, 14% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 352 kcal/cup
- Life Stage: Adult
A renowned in pet food. Iams specially formulated food is designed for sensitive stomach with a great focus on reducing vomiting in cats with sensitive stomachs.
The main protein source is turkey which is not known to cause stomach issues in cats and is a great source of high quality easily digestible protein, perfect for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Iam sensitive digestion formula also contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which are good for your kitty’s coat and hair.
The formula does contain several corn ingredients which may not be able to keep your cat as full as some of the other brands.
Hound & Gatos Turkey & Turkey Liver Canned Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Calcium Carbonate
- Key Feature: Gluten Free, Grain-Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Pea-Free, High-Protein, Limited Ingredient Diet, Natural, Premium
- Guaranteed Analysis: 10% Crude Protein, 8.5% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 78% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 191 kcal/can
- Life Stage: Adult
Hounds and Gatos claim that their food is most popular with cat owners whose cats suffer from IBD.
With a single protein source, Turkey, which is not known to cause issues with sensitive stomach. Turkey is a high quality protein which is also easily digestible thus not putting a lot of strain on the cat’s digestive system.
The cat food is on the pricier side and receives a bit of mixed reviews but overall the ingredient mix and macronutrients are great for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Corn Gluten Meal, Brewers Rice, Pork Fat
- Key Feature: Pea-Free, Veterinary Diet, Sensitive Digestion, With Grain
- Guaranteed Analysis: 35% Crude Protein, 17% Crude Fat, 4% Crude Fiber
- Caloric Content: 498 kcal/cup
- Life Stage: Senior
This formula is one of veterinarian’s favourites for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Specially formulated with the help of nutritionists and veterinarians to help soothe your cat’s tummy.
With chicken as the primary and single source of protein with a multitude of fiber and gut balancing bacteria to improve stool quality.
This formula specially is suitable for senior cats though it can be fed to any cat at any stage of life.
This comes highly recommended from vets and you will need to get a prescription from your vet to get this food.
ORIJEN Free Run Chicken & Turkey, & Wild Caught Salmon & Herring Grain-Free Dry Kitten Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Whole Herring, Chicken Liver
- Key Feature: Grain-Free, High-Protein, Natural, Sensitive Digestion, Gluten Free
- Guaranteed Analysis: 40% Crude Protein, 20% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 10% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 515 kcal/cup
- Life Stage: Kitten
Kittens absolutely love this dry cat food. Loaded with all natural ingredients and high quality protein, this is a great choice if your kitten has a sensitive stomach.
This food has moderate protein content, moderate fat content and low carbohydrate levels.
This food has loads of fiber and prebiotics that help soothe your kitten’s sensitive stomach.
The food doesn’t contain any artificial preservatives or ingredients.
It is a bit on the expensive side and takes a little time for your kitten to adjust to this food.
Purina ONE Natural Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dry Cat Food
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Rice, Dried Egg Product
- Key Feature: High-Protein, Sensitive Digestion, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Natural, With Grain
- Guaranteed Analysis: 40% Crude Protein, 18% Crude Fat, 2.5% Crude Fiber, 12% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 581 kcal/cup
- Life Stage: Adult
Purina one is the best budget food for cat’s with sensitive stomachs.
It has high quality protein coming from Turkey which is easily digestible and soothes a sensitive stomach.
Includes grain, antioxidants and fatty acids which overall improve the gut health of cats.
Some customers comment that the recent formula changes are not liked by the cats too much.
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Real Duck Recipe
- First 5 Ingredients: Duck, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Egg Product, Dicalcium Phosphate
- Key Feature: High-Protein, Grain-Free, Gluten Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Natural
- Guaranteed Analysis: 9% Crude Protein, 7% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 78% Crude Moisture
- Caloric Content: 122 kcal/can
- Life Stage: Adult
This cat food has duck as the primary source of protein and also is highly digestible. Duck is not known to cause stomach irritations.
It also contains a mix of vegetables, fruits, fibers and other macronutrients that provide the right nutrition to you furry friend.
It is free from many common digestive system irritants.
It is one of the tastiest formulas out there, that even the pickiest eaters will happily gulp down.
How To Choose The Best Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach
Choosing the right and best cat for your sensitive kitty can be a daunting task but don’t worry we are here to help you out. Here’s what you need to know to make the right decision.
How Can I Tell If My Cat Has a Sensitive Stomach?
If your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach, they might show one or more of the below symptoms.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Excessive hairballs
- Bloating
- Excessive gas
- Increased thirst
- Unexplained weight loss
- Skin irritations or reactions
These symptoms could mean that your cat is suffering from a sensitive system caused by food allergies or food intolerance.
What is the Best Food For Cats With Sensitive Stomach
There are a few different formulas you can try to help your kitty. Let’s discuss what these are.
Limited Ingredient Diet (LID)
To make digestion easier and reduce the risk of irritant causing ingredients, it is best to put your kitty on a limited ingredient diet (LID).
Limited ingredient diets consist of high quality novel protein and is free from digestive issues causing ingredients such as grains and other irritants.
LID consists of the most basic ingredients your cat needs to thrive and is easily digestible.
Easily Digestible Food
Easily digestible food doesn’t linger around in your cat’s digestive system for more than it should to cause digestive irritation.
Highly digestible foods also enable your cat’s digestive system to absorb more nutrients.
Usually all easily digestible foods contain limited ingredients and no grains.
Wet Food
Wet food is generally easily more digestible than dry cat food. Wet food is a much better option if your cat has a sensitive stomach.
Wet cat food is more appetising for cats, especially if your cat has had a loss of appetite due to sensitivity in their stomach. They would be more inclined and enticed to eat wet food.
Nutrient Dense Food
As cats suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea when they have a sensitive stomach, they lose a lot of nutrients. It is important to have a nutrient dense diet to replace all the essential macronutrients they are losing.
Food for a sensitive stomach must have a lot of vitamins, anti oxidants, minerals and protein to help ensure your cat’s digestive system absorbs these macronutrients.
Hypoallergenic Diet
Gastrointestinal upset can be caused by allergies caused by certain types of meat such as chicken and other common ingredients in commercial cat food.[1]
Hypoallergenic diet is specially formulated to reduce the risk of these common allergens that cause sensitivity in the cat’s digestive system.
Prescription Diet
If your cat is having acute digestive problems, you veterinarian might prescribe a prescription cat food that has all the components required to soothe and help your kitty’s sensitive stomach.
Ingredients You Want In Your Cat’s Food
It is important that you choose the right set of ingredients for your cat’s sensitive stomach. The right set of ingredients can soothe and help your furry friend.
High Quality Protein
While your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach you will need high quality easily digestible protein to get all the nutrients they require to function properly.
According to petmd, chicken, rabbit and beef are the three ingredients that can cause issues for cats with sensitive stomachs. So you might want to avoid these meats in your cat’s diet.
Your cat might be better off on meats such as fish, lamb, kangaroo or buffalo. Some meals such as fish meals, lamb meals are easily digestible high quality proteins.
Prebiotics & Probiotics
Prebiotics and probiotics help your cat’s gut health. The main component is live bacteria which add good and diverse bacteria to your cat;s gut.
These macronutrients help reduce inflammation in your cat’s gut and also helps the cat’s digestive system digest food correctly and reduce gas in your cat’s stomach.
Vitamins, Minerals, Omega Fatty Acids and Antioxidants
It is important to replenish the minerals in your cat’s body especially if they have a sensitive stomach.
Make sure that the food has extra vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids and antioxidants.
What To Avoid In A Sensitive Stomach Cat Food?
There are many ingredients that can worsen the sensitive stomach of a cat. Not all cats are sensitive to these ingredients. But below are the most common irritants of sensitive stomach.
- Dairy
- Grains like wheat, rice, millets and oats
- Meal by products and by-products
- Peas, corn and potatoes
- Soy and soy based protein
- Artificial dyes
- Artificial preservatives
- Any artificial chemicals
Your cats might be allergic to one or none of these but these usually are the ingredients that cause issues for cats with sensitive stomachs.
You should always consult your vet before eliminating or adding foods from your cat’s diet.
Our Final Verdict
As you would have seen there are several options available for cats with sensitive stomachs. A food for your cat doesn’t have to be really bland or tasteless for the rest of your cat’s life.
We highly recommend Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food.
It has everything your cat needs to live a happy and healthy life.
The other recommendations are also great and you might need to experiment a bit to find the best food for your cat with a sensitive stomach.
FAQs
What Food is Best For Cats With Sensitive Stomach?
The best food for cat’s with sensitive stomach should have limited ingredients, easily digestible and nutrient dense.
We highly recommend Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food for cats with sensitive stomachs.
How Can I Help My Cat With a Sensitive Stomach?
To help your cat with a sensitive stomach, the first thing you need to do is transition your cat to a new food which is good for cats with sensitive stomachs. You also need to change your cat’s feeding schedule, breaking up your cat’s daily food intake into 2 or more meals so that they don’t overfeed and it gives their digestive system enough time to digest the food properly.
What Is The Easiest Food For Cats To Digest?
Novel proteins are easier for cats to digest such as lamb and turkey. Beef and chicken are harder to digest and cause issues in cats with sensitive stomachs.
Why Does My Cat Have a Sensitive Stomach?
There can be multiple reasons why your cat has a sensitive stomach. These could be allergies or intolerance to certain ingredients in food items.
How To Change a Cat’s Food?
Whenever you change a cat’s food, it should be done gradually over a 5 to 7 day period. Gradually mixing the new food to the old one and every day increasing the amount of new food and reducing the amount of old food.
Read this article to get the complete plan to change a cat’s food.
