Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs: 5 Gentle Recipes for Easy Digestion

It's not unusual for animals to vomit or have diarrhea from time to time. Sure, it may be unpleasant (for both you and your feline), but dealing with occasional gastrointestinal upset is a relatively normal part of pet ownership.

But what happens if your pet is vomiting or having diarrhea frequently?

If this is the case for your furry friend, it's important to have her evaluated by her veterinarian. He or she may run lab tests, blood work, and other diagnostic services to rule out underlying health problems which may otherwise require medical interventions.

Common issues that are likely to be on your vet's differential diagnosis list include foreign body obstruction and feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Now, let's assume these and other underlying conditions have been ruled out. What's the cause of the frequent digestive problems then?

For a lot of cats, it simply comes down to a sensitive stomach and skin. The best thing you can do for your cat in this case is to find a type of food specifically formulated for her gentle tummy and one that hopefully will put an end to her vomiting and diarrhea. I hope that this piece, Best Sensitive Stomach Cat Foods, will be able to help you somehow.

Our Top Sensitive Stomach Cat Foods

It seems that the pet food market understands an important trend:

Pet owners like having choices.

Why? For many reasons, really—but especially because different kitties have different health needs and temperaments, and their food should be able to reflect these differences.

Of course, having so many options can be great for you if you're looking for the best choice for sensitive tummy of your furry friend. But with so many different brands to choose from, it can seem like a tall order.

1. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach

This kibble is specially crafted to nourish adult cats with gentle, easily digestible ingredients.

This wholesome formula features real, high-quality chicken as the first ingredient, providing a delicious source of protein to help maintain lean muscle mass.

It’s thoughtfully designed to support digestive health with the addition of prebiotic fiber, promoting a healthy gut and comfortable digestion.

Each bowl also includes Blue Buffalo’s exclusive LifeSource Bits—a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—to support a strong immune system and overall well-being.

Made without chicken or poultry by-product meals and completely free from corn, wheat, or soy, this recipe delivers the balanced nutrition your cat needs with none of the ingredients they don’t.

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2. Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Digestion & Skin

Quality dry cat food can be great for your pet's dental health, and this grain-inclusive recipe from Iams is a great dry food option.

This kibble is made just for cats with sensitive tummies, digestion troubles or skin issues.

It’s packed with a special fiber blend, including prebiotics and beet pulp, to help keep their digestion smooth and healthy.

Unlike other sensitive dry food brands, this product contains limited protein sources, and is completely free of most of the top ingredients known to be irritating for sensitive stomachs (including dairy and peas).

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3. Blue Buffalo Basics Skin & Stomach Care Duck & Potato Entree 

Touted as “a simple diet for cats with food sensitivities,” this product from BLUE Basics contains easily digestible carbs (fruits and veggies) as well as quality protein.

This canned food is a gentle, limited-ingredient diet crafted to support cats with sensitive stomachs and food sensitivities.

Made with a single animal protein source of real duck, this wholesome paté-style recipe offers a smooth, irresistible texture your cat will love.

It’s thoughtfully made with natural ingredients enhanced with essential vitamins and minerals to provide complete and balanced nutrition.

Free from wheat, a common thickening agent, and completely void of chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, soy, dairy, eggs and artificial flavors or preservatives, this formula delivers clean, simple nourishment tailored to support your cat’s overall well-being—inside and out.

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4. Merrick LID Real Turkey Pate

This canned food is specially crafted for cats with food sensitivities, using a simple, wholesome formula that starts with real, deboned turkey as the very first ingredient.

This single-source, high-quality protein delivers essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals to support lean, healthy muscles and lasting energy.

Free from grains, potatoes and artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, this recipe is gentle on sensitive stomachs while offering complete and balanced nutrition.

Each can is packed with powerful antioxidants to help support a strong immune system, omega fatty acids to nourish skin and coat, and essential nutrients like taurine for heart and eye health.

Proudly crafted in Merrick’s own kitchen in Hereford, Texas, and cooked right here in the USA, this premium pâté offers your feline friend the clean, nutritious meal they deserve.

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5. Hound & Gatos 98% Lamb & Liver Formula

This meaty formula offers your feline a nutrient-dense, ancestrally appropriate diet made with 98% high-quality lamb and lamb liver.

Specially crafted to mirror a cat’s natural carnivorous needs, this recipe contains no plant proteins, added carbohydrates, or unnecessary fillers—just pure, meat-based nutrition.

Following the principles of the Paleolithic diet, it delivers a high-protein, limited ingredient meal that supports overall health and vitality.

Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, this recipe is also completely free from corn, wheat, soy, gluten and peas, making it an ideal choice for cats with sensitivities or food allergies.

Give your cat the simple, wholesome nourishment they were meant to thrive on with this tasty meal.

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How Can I Know If My Feline Has A Sensitive Tummy?

Your feline can't exactly tell you when she's not feeling well, but you can bet she'll be able to show you.

Here are some common warning signs which may indicate your cat has a sensitive stomach:

• Vomiting (particularly if frequent and/or right after a meal)
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Gas
• Refusal to eat or sudden disinterest in food
• Fatigue and listlessness
• Irritated and sensitive skin (itchy, dry, hot spots, patchy hair loss, etc.)

Why might your kitty have a sensitive stomach? She could have food allergies or intolerances. Sometimes cats develop this condition as they grow older. In other cases, the exact cause may not be clearly known…

…but fortunately, you can still do something to help.

How Can a Sensitive Stomach Cat Food Help my Pet?

As mentioned, the only way to know for sure what's causing your pet's symptoms are to take her to the vet to be evaluated. The added benefit to doing this is that your vet can then help you figure out which type of cat food is best so your feline will be able to tolerate her meals.

You may be wondering at this point:

Is sensitive stomach food really effective?

It certainly can be. Here's the deal:

The best cat food for sensitive stomach is one that will put an end to your pet's signs of a gastrointestinal upset while at the same time giving her the broad range of nutrients she needs to be healthy and strong. There are a lot of different brands to choose from, but ultimately the most important thing to consider are the quality of ingredients.

That is, cats with sensitive stomachs tend to do best with wet or dry cat food that is free from artificial coloring, flavors, preservatives, and ingredients which tend to cause allergic reactions, including dairy, grains, corn, and soy. These lesser quality ingredients can irritate any digestive system, especially in a pet with a touchy tummy.

Many foods of this type also contain a single source of protein, like turkey, lamb, venison, or chicken. Specially-formulated products also are likely to contain fewer ingredients in general. This makes the food easier to digest, which is ultimately the goal you're looking for.

How To Introduce A New Diet?

Drastic changes to an animal's diet—especially if this animal is prone to digestive problems—are usually not tolerated well. If you change your pet's food too quickly, their symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, gas, and other gastrointestinal issues may become even more pronounced.

Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:

• Gradually mix in your cat's new food with her old food, slowly decreasing the amount of old food while increasing the amount of new product. Because your cat's stomach is sensitive, be patient. Expect this process to take 7 to 10 days.
• Try to feed your kitty at the same times during the day. Consistency can help regulate your pet's digestion.
• If your pet's symptoms don't improve (or if they get worse) within about a week of the transition, call your vet. You may need to tinker with the type of food or do additional screening.

What Else Can I do For a Cat With a Sensitive Tummy?

Even if the product you get for your feline is the best cat food for digestive problems, she still may suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, and other types of gastrointestinal upset if other factors aren't addressed.

What kind of factors are we talking about?

Like humans, cats with sensitive stomachs tend to be highly susceptible to the impact of environmental stressors. The silver lining in this case, however, is that most of these environmental stressors can be controlled fairly easily:

• Provide proper hydration: cats need enough moisture in their food in order to help with digestion. This is one of the reasons why many pet parents elect to provide a combination of dry and wet cat food for sensitive stomach. It's also important to make sure your animal always has access to fresh clean water.
• Give fewer treats: too much food and too much variety in food can spell trouble for your kitty. Plus, many cat food treats contain less-than-ideal nutrients. So, minimize the amount of special treats you offer her, especially while transitioning her primary diet.
• Slow down mealtime: if your feline eats too quickly, especially on an empty stomach, then she may inadvertently ingest a lot of air. This can contribute to bloating, gas, and irritated digestive systems. Help your kitty slow down at meals by measuring out smaller portions given multiple times per day.
• Reduce kitty stress: Be sure to feed your kitty in a quiet place in your home. This way, she can relax and focus on her meal. If struggles in busy and noisy situations, make your environment as relaxing as possible. Tell children and other family members not to play rough with her, and be sure to give her plenty of toys, posts, and other kitty goodies so she can play and let loose.

Takeaway

If you're in the market for sensitive stomach kitty food, it'll be helpful to keep this article handy.

After all, your sweet feline companion deserves a diet that will not only help her stay healthy at every stage of her life, but one that will also accommodate her particular health concerns, including a sensitive stomach. This comprehensive guide should help you or a fellow pet parent know what to look for while shopping.

Also, we made a list of foods that are not recommended since they contain artificial and/or low quality nutrients: Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Cat Food, Royal Canin Sensitive Cat Food, Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food.

Remember that kitties with particularly touch tummies tend to appreciate calm environments with minimal stress. They often do well with consistent food options, small portions, and plenty of fresh water.

And yes—even though your kitty is so cute, you want to avoid the temptation to slip her treats too often, since extra snacks can further upset her belly.

Lastly, she may benefit from a combination of dry cat food and wet cat food….just remember to introduce any dietary changes slowly, and defer to your veterinarian if you ever have any concerns.