If You Change Their Food Do It Gradually
Even if you want to mix up your cats diet, its still best to continue feeding the same food as the shelter for the first 12 weeks in your home. Of course, if your cat doesnt like it, or is having stomach issues, then you can start changing the diet right away.
For your cat youve had for a while, its ideal to transition their food over 1014 days. Increase the percentage of new food by 2025% while decreasing the old food by the same amount every 34 days.
What Causes Cat Indigestion
Yes! Cat indigestion. Chances are, youve experienced indigestion yourself, and while not life threatening, it is a miserable experience that can persist over several days or even be a chronic issue in your life. While food and quality nutrition are important, just as important is understanding what foods affect the G.I. tract for you or your pet. While there are certainly common culprits, what causes your cat indigestion can be a highly individual thing. Email us at and we will help you find the right food and supplements for your cat.
Possible Causes Of Cat Stomach Upset
Dr. Arguelles says frequent causes of cat stomach upset include switching cat food too frequently as well as intestinal parasites. Dr. Rondeau adds that parasites are especially common in young cats and kittens.
Both Dr. Arguelles and Dr. Rondeau say that food intolerance, food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease also commonly lead to an upset cat stomach. More serious causes, such as gastrointestinal cancers, kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, can also result in vomiting.
If you are worried that your cat is sick, seek veterinary care immediately, says Dr. Arguelles.
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Preventing Cat Stomach Issues
Once the serious issues are ruled out, you can work on helping to avoid future cat stomach issues.
The three things that you can do to promote good digestive health in cats are placing them on monthly prevention that deworms them for intestinal parasites, feeding them a balanced diet , and taking them to the veterinarian at least yearly, says Dr. Arguelles. As long as your cat is healthy, if you are feeding a high-quality diet, your cats digestive health will be good.
Best Food For Sensitive Cat Stomachs
Cat Health, Cat Nutrition, Recipes
Well, your cat has vomited in the center of your living room on your favorite vintage rug, of course yet again. No doubt it can be frustrating for both you and your cat, but repeated accidents like this can be indicative of a sensitive stomach and seeing the vet may be in order. By making some adjustments to their eating routine, which your vet can help with, you can get your purrrfect friend back to normal, especially if theyve ruled out a serious medical condition.
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Sensitive Stomach What Your Cat Needs To Feel Better
When cats show signs of a sensitive stomach, pet parents can pretty easily become complacent. Perhaps we get used to seeing them cough up hairballs every couple weeks, leading us to believe stomach irritation is just part of being a cat. But cat puke, when it doesnt have any signs of hairball, can be a symptom of something more serious.
When a cat has an upset stomach, it comes with four tell-tale signs.
- Vomiting
- Licking lips
- Refusing food
Lets take a look at the common causes of stomach upset in cats, when to know if your cats stomach issues are serious, and what you can do to soothe your cats stomach.
What To Do About Cat Indigestion
At Vitality Science, we stake our pride on not only providing the best holistic remedies for your pets, but also being an educational source rooted in science as well as taking advantage of age old wisdom. We believe this is the heart of holistic medicinehaving an understanding of modern science but also not disregarding alternative treatment methods that can prove to be potent.
Today, we talk about a simple issue that can affect your cats quality of life: indigestion.
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Home Remedies For Cat Vomiting
Have you ever noticed your cat coughing up what you thought was going to be a hairball, and instead its a little wet surprise vomit on your favorite rug? And then they just look at you with those big eyes like, well, what are you gonna do about this? Or maybe your cat is transitioning food brands and ate way too fast, so they end up spitting it back up .
Well, youre definitely not alone. Our cats have sensitive stomachs that occasionally require special attention. If your cat has a tummy ache that has led to vomiting, worry not, because PrettyLitter is here with some home remedies for your cats upset stomach. Home remedies can be a great help for different issues such as home remedies for a cat uti, cat diarrhea, and helping with your cat’s vomiting.
It sounds strange, but feline vomiting can be a natural way of letting cats get rid of substances in their stomach that may be causing irritation. Whether it’s spoiled food/food allergy, plants, or a hairball, if it doesnt sit well with them, their body will try to find a way to get rid of it.
A Short Fast
- Try to withhold food for a couple hours to start. You dont have to withhold water, but if they are drinking too much water and vomiting that up as well, only let them have a small amount of water at a time. A short fast could give your cats stomach an opportunity to rest. This is a great natural remedy for digestive problems or an ache in your kitten or adult cat’s stomach.
Keep Them Hydrated
How To Administer Tablets
Position your left hand on top of the cats head with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other side of the cats cheeks. Tilt the head back so that the nose points at the ceiling. The mouth should then open. Hold the tablet between the thumb and index finger of your other hand. Use the other fingers of this hand to press on the front of the lower jaw between the canine teeth to open the mouth further. Pop the pill onto the tongue as far back as you can get it. Close the mouth and hold it closed until you have seen the cat swallow. Stroke the throat or rub the nose to try to stimulate swallowing. If in doubt, open the mouth and look. You can then either give a small quantity of water to wash the tablet down ask your vet for a small syringe, and give it slowly so your pet doesn’t choke or offer a tasty morsel which will also help take away the memory of the experience. It may help to coat the tablet with butter or margarine to make swallowing easier. You can also buy pill poppers or guns , which you insert into the mouth, pushing the plunger to administer the pill.
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When Is A Cats Sensitive Stomach Serious
A cat with a sensitive stomach can indicate underlying medical issues. For that reason, make sure your cat is getting their annual checkups twice a year for kittens and senior cats. As we discussed in an earlier blog, theres a high percentage of pet parents that skip their cats wellness visits, indoor kitties especially. A thorough examination complete with bloodwork can rule out a serious health problem and give you peace of mind that youre doing the right thing for your cat.
Vomiting can be a symptom of many medical issues in felines. Heres a partial list:
- Intestinal parasites
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
If your feline friend is vomiting several times a day, and has refused food for 48 hours, your cat should be seen immediately by a professional. Other signs that something is seriously wrong include lethargy, weight loss and sudden changes in behavior, like hiding.
If your cat is regularly producing non-watery vomit thats free of grass and hairballs, even if its only monthly, make that vet appointment so kitty can start getting treatments and relief.
One of the first things your vet may want to rule out is intestinal worms, which are pretty common in cats that spend time outdoors. The culprit could be roundworms or hookworms, but tapeworms are most common.
How Do I Know If My Cat Has Stomach Upset
In the classic case, you will see vomiting and/or inappetence. There may be discomfort in the abdomen, depression or retching, and the cat may hide. Unlike dogs, cats should not go very long without eating. If your cat doesn’t eat for more than a day, it’s important to see a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Other than the occasional hairball, it’s not normal for cats to vomit several times a month. In cases that involve frequent vomiting, there may be dehydration, weight loss and other signs associated with the primary cause of the vomiting. After taking a thorough history and doing a physical exam on your cat, your veterinarian may recommend blood tests, urinalysis, radiographs, ultrasounds or other tests to help determine the cause and severity of the stomach upset.
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What Can I Give A Cat For An Upset Stomach
Home»Cat Health Articles»What Can I Give a Cat for an Upset Stomach
Cats are a bit more sensitive compared to dogs and other types of pets, meaning that you cant just adapt the dosage of some human medications and administer them whenever your feline friend has an upset stomach.
In fact, cats are known to have severe allergies to some drugs. So, even if you give your cat pet-appropriate medication, you still have to be cautious. However, if your feline companion has an upset stomach, there are some home remedies that you can rely on and that arent known for causing any problems.
In this post, well look at some of them and assess their effectiveness, but well also discuss how you can make the difference between mild indigestion and something more severe, that might call for a visit to the vet as soon as possible.
How To Relieve Cat Stomach Issues
Reviewed for accuracy on August 28, 2018, by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM
When youre hit with an upset stomach, you seek sympathy from your cat while contemplating the contents of your medicine cabinet. But cat stomach issues are different. If your cat throws up, or you wake up to the nasty reality of cat diarrhea, your kitty relies on you to find out whats wrong and how to get her back on track.
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When Should I Worry About My Cat Vomiting
We start to worry about cats being sick when theyve vomited frequently in a single day or a couple of times over a few days. Its also a cause for concern when they stop eating altogether or will try and eat but bring the food and water back up. This can be considered an emergency because your cat isnt able to keep anything down and can quickly become dehydrated and lead to an issue with sugar. If your cats vomiting is accompanied by any other symptoms such as lethargy, diarrhoea or pale gums, if theres blood in their vomit or theyre showing signs of pain, dont delay in contacting your vet.
- Allergic reaction to a food
- Heat stroke
Why Cats Get Diarrhea
There can be many causes of diarrhea in cats. Typically, cats will vomit or have diarrhea due to:
- Eating something toxic or a foreign object
- Too many table scraps or fatty foods can upset your cat’s stomach
- Food allergy
- Rapid food change
- Intussusception this is a type of intestinal blockage where one part of the intestines telescopes into itself
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Metabolic disease: kidney disease, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, diabetes, and others
- Viral, fungal, or bacterial infections
- Reaction to medications
When fecal matter moves through the intestines faster than normal, and there is decreased absorption of water, nutrients, and electrolytes, the result is diarrhea. It is a symptom of diseases or other issues like toxins, foreign body ingestion, etc., that affect the small intestines, large intestines, or other organs outside the gastrointestinal tract.
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Is There Anything I Can Do To Prevent My Cat From Getting Stomach Upset
An abrupt change in diet is a common cause of stomach upset. A diet change should be made by gradually mixing the new food with the current diet, increasing the amount of the former and decreasing the amount of the latter, over the course of about a week. It’s also important to keep string, tinsel, thread, small toys, plants, and medications that your cat could accidentally ingest away from your pet. Regular grooming can help reduce hairballs.
Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Grain
Our Top Pick for the Best Sensitive Stomach Cat Food for Seniors: If your aging cat starts to develop digestive issues, you might want to switch to a holistic, natural recipe that will be easier on his digestive tract. This Halo Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Grain-Free Senior Recipe is a great option because it is lower in calories and fat than the typical adult recipe, so it will help your senior cat maintain a healthy body weight, but it is also designed for easy digestibility. This recipe is only made with wholesome, natural ingredients, all of which are non-GMO, sustainably-raised, and cage-free to further limit the risk for allergies and sensitivities. As a whole, it features plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance with chelated minerals and probiotics for digestive support.
- Pros: Real chicken as first ingredient, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, reduced calorie and fat, fresh fruits and vegetables, supplemental fiber, chelated minerals, probiotics for healthy digestion
- Cons: Some cats are sensitive to chicken ingredients, contains some soy protein
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How Do You Prevent Stomach Upset In Cats
As the popular saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Knowing what the common causes of gastritis in cats are will help in preventing the condition altogether.
Keeping your cat on a strict, consistent diet helps prevent any indigestion that can lead to an upset stomach. Its best to put your cat on high-quality cat food thats easily digested and has a low chance of triggering an inflammatory response.
Putting them on a home-cooked diet can also help prevent gastritis episodes so long as the recipe is well-formulated to cater to a cats daily nutritional needs. Its best to consult with your vet or a veterinary nutritionist before starting your pet on a home-cooked diet plan.
If you want to transition your cat from one type of diet to another, gradual change is ideal to minimize the risks of gastritis. Some would say that a week-long diet transition is sufficient enough to prevent any adverse food reaction that may lead to an upset stomach, but many experts recommend transitioning for several weeks to one month.
Spreading out meals to small, frequent portions helps control the acid production of the stomach and prevent hyperacidity. Lastly, taking care of vital organs such as the kidneys and liver through proper diet and nutrition will help prevent gastric symptoms associated with different organ insufficiencies.
What Causes Indigestion In Cats
Indigestion is a symptom associated with a host of different issues. Indigestion can be caused by:
Intestinal parasites
Enzyme deficiency
Vaccinosis
Additionally, illnesses of the body that arent limited to the GI tract can still cause indigestion. Things such as a UTI, hormonal problems, infections, or chronic pain can upset your cats stomach.
With pets, it can be difficult to tell if they are experiencing indigestion until they show more overt symptoms. Try to pay attention to your pets mood to see if they seem down, depressed, or inhibited in some way as compared to normal.
Overall, most indigestion is caused by food allergies and subsequently acid reflux. Acid reflux in your cat can be identified by:
Gas
Vomiting soon after eating a meal
Loss of appetite
As mentioned, these mild symptoms will be difficult to identify until they become a more serious problemGERD, or gastroesophageal disease. Your cat may experience symptoms such as:
Excessive drooling
Paw licking apart from grooming
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What To Look For In The New Diet
The best foods for a cat with a sensitive stomach will be highly digestible and contain no irritating ingredients. Highly digestible diets have moderate to low fat, moderate protein and moderate carbohydrates.
Many of these diets have additives that improve intestinal health, like soluble fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and increased levels of antioxidant vitamins, and they contain no gluten, lactose, food coloring or preservatives.
Keep Track Of What Theyve Been Eating
If you just brought home your new cat, find out what food they were being fed at their shelter or rescue, for how long, and if they enjoyed it. You should also ask whether your cat was free fed or meal fed, which means if the food was left out all day, or was set out at specific times, respectively.
If youve had your cat for a while now, check in with any other members of the household to see if they made any changes to your cats diet.
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