Cats, just as humans, are susceptible to digestive problems. Excessive gas, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting are all indications of a sensitive stomach.
How to Tell If Your Cat Has A Sensitive Stomach
Some indications to show if your cat has a sensitive tummy are simpler to detect. Indications like vomiting immediately after eating, passing out much (and stinky) gas, a difference in his bowel activity, or an unconcerned attitude towards its food. There are also signs which aren’t noticeable. Signs like scratching unusually, loss of fur, swollen head, face, and ear. All these signs could be attributed to a sensitive stomach.Â
Some other signs to watch for are a difference in his attitude; an example is your regularly jovial and friendly cat suddenly becomes more distant or chooses to hide in weird spots. This could be because of a sensitive stomach, and while humans taste their lips when hungry, cats do so when they feel like throwing up. Nobody understands your cat more than you; therefore, weird behaviors are signs that something is off.
Why Do Cats Suffer from Sensitive Stomachs?
Constipation or appetite loss isn’t a good thing for your healthy feline. Therefore, you need to get to the root of whatever makes your cat’s tummy sensitive as soon as possible. If your cat vomits or stools more than usual, you should speculate:
- An Allergy or Intolerance: Your cat may react to specific foods by vomiting due to an allergy or intolerance. The exact way it occurs to human beings, it does to cats also.
- Unexpected difference in food or diet: A simple difference in your cat’s diet can seriously affect its stomach. Introducing a new diet gradually is always best, rather than an unexpected diet change.Â
- Poor quality food ingredient: Stomach sensitivity can be attributed to poor quality ingredients in your feline’s food. Ensure you watch out for additives and fillers in the ingredients and know where the food contents are made from.
- An Unbalanced Diet: You need to ensure that your cat is consuming a well-rounded diet with the necessary nutrients and minerals it needs. Resist giving it too many treats as that can cause an upset stomachÂ
- The Right Type of Protein
- Your cat is a carnivorous animal and therefore needs animal protein e.g., meat. This means its system cannot digest plant proteins as it ought to, and it could make the cat suffer digestion problems and health issues.
- Rotten Food: Feeding your cat rotten food will most definitely cause it to vomit or stool. Ensure you feed your cat with food that hasn’t expired or rot.
- Unfriendly Foods and Objects for Your Cat: There is a possibility your cat ate something it wasn’t meant to. Cats often eat stuff, which is not food items like plants, onions, or chocolate. These things can cause a major stomach upset for the cat.
- Parasites: Some gastrointestinal problems your cat might have could be due to worms like the hookworm, tapeworm, whipworm, or roundworm. It is always important to deworm your cat at least once annually.
Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Cat
Certain foods should not come near your cat, whether as treats or regular food but there are some sensitive stomach cat food brands that are made specially for them. These foods include:
- Raw fish
For humans, sushi is fine, but for cats, contrary to what we’ve always heard, raw fish is not good and will cause stomach troubles. Certain fish have thiaminase, which digests thiamine in felines, causing neurological disorders in cats.
- Raw eggs
You put your cat at great risk if you feed it with raw eggs. This can cause pancreatitis due to the salmonella and parasites raw eggs contain. You can feed your cat with cooked eggs, but it shouldn’t be often.
- Bones
Bones should never get near your cat because it could break its teeth, and the bone’s fragments could make the cat choke.
Home Remedies for Cats Suffering from a Sensitive Stomach
- Heat
Heat can be a form of relief to your distressed cat. Let the cat rest on your tummy or in your arms. The warmth you give it will alleviate any sort of irritation it might be feeling.Â
- A Massage
A massage could go a long way in making your cat feel better. If it doesn’t want a massage, you can try wrapping your hands around its stomach or covering. These procedures are good when your cat is going through mild tummy troubles, but should never be a substitute for competent care. Contact a vet immediately if the symptoms become worse.
Instead, try out some of the following kitten food:Â
- Purina ONE Sensitive Systems cat foodÂ
- Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition
- Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Cat Food