What is the best food for cats with soft stools
The owner can know the cats physical condition from the excretion status of the cat. If there is a problem of diarrhea or soft stool, in addition to the side effects caused by the drug, the preservation method of cat food, ingredients, dry food, wet food, etc. may affect their health. factor. And how to choose suitable feed for cat-loving problems and eating habits, I believe it is very annoying for novice owners.
This time, I will focus on improving cat food for soft stools, introduce some practical buying tips and small details worth noting, and recommend ten healthy and safe cat food in the form of ranking in the second half of the article. Interested owners and friends are welcome to read and reference together to check the health of the cats at home.
Improve the purchase points of cat food suitable for soft stools
First of all, lets take a look at some tips to pay attention to when purchasing cat food that improves soft stools.
Choose products made with high-quality protein
There are quite a few reasons for cat diarrhea and loose stools caused by food, which may be due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, or allergies to some ingredients in the feed, resulting in excessive gastrointestinal burden or indigestion. If you want to improve the condition of soft stools, in addition to consulting a veterinarian to confirm the cause of diarrhea or soft stools, it is also an important part to improve your diet. For example, try to use feed composed of high-quality protein as much as possible, so that fur babies can eat safely and healthily.
Natural, additive-free cat food is better
Many cat foods on the market contain artificial additives such as food coloring and preservatives, and food additives of unknown origin may irritate the cats gastrointestinal tract or cause allergies, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea. Therefore, in the selection of feed, the raw materials such as no added pigments, spices, antioxidants, etc. should be selected as much as possible, and the products made of natural ingredients should be used as the standard. If you are worried that the natural cat food is easy to oxidize and deteriorate, you can also store the feed in small packages.
Watch out for probiotics added to ingredients
In addition to food ingredients, stress can also be one of the causes of diarrhea in cats. For example, changes in the living environment, such as moving house and increasing the number of pets in the house, may cause the stress of loving cats. It is important to maintain a stable life and remove stressors, but during the period, it can also be supplemented with nutrients such as probiotics to maintain the balance of the flora in the cats intestinal tract.
Recommended dry food styles for good preservation
Allowing cats to drink too much water can cause diarrhea or soft stools. Furthermore, if the living environment is hot or humid, wet food is more likely to breed bacteria than dry food. Based on the above points, when you notice that the cat has mild soft stool symptoms, you can try to change to other kinds of feed such as dry food. Add some water to aid swallowing. If symptoms do not improve, it is still recommended to consult a veterinarian to ensure the health of the furry child.
Be careful not to buy too many servings
Generally speaking, the larger the capacity of the package, the cheaper it is per gram, but for cats with weak stomachs or soft stools, you should try to avoid buying too much cat food at one time. Because this method will cause cat food to be stored for too long and the freshness will be reduced, if the cat is allergic and picky eater, it will cause waste. Therefore, it is recommended that the single purchase amount can be controlled within 2kg. In addition, even if it is dry food, it may deteriorate due to long-term storage, so please buy a portion that can be eaten within 1 to 2 months according to the product label.
10 popular cat food for improving soft stools
10
CARNA4 pure natural chicken gastrointestinal health cat food
USD 47.99
| Brand | CARNA4 |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | provides all the vitamins and minerals your cat needs for excellent health |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Seeds |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
9
Hills Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Cat Food, Veterinary Diet
USD 53.99
| Brand | Hills Prescription Diet |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | Highly digestible with an optimal balance of natural fibers to help support regularity |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Seeds |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
8
HALO Kitten Grain Free Wild Salmon Stew with Peas & Chickpeas Dry Cat Food
USD 29.99
| Brand | Halo Purely For Pets |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Wild Salmon & Whitefish |
| Key Feature | Our holistic dry cat food is highly digestible since there no artificial ingredients, or preservatives |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
7
ORIJEN Dry Cat Food, Grain Free, Premium Fresh and Raw Animal Ingredients
USD 26.99
| Brand | ORIJEN |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Original |
| Key Feature | With 90% quality animal ingredients, ORIJEN nourishes cats according to their natural, biological needs; |
| Target Species | Cat,Fish |
| Item Form | Pellet |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
6
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
USD 39.99
| Brand | Blue Buffalo |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | BLUE dry cat food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; It never contains chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
5
Wellness Core grain-free series adult cat classic
USD 40.89
| Brand | Wellness Natural Pet Food |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | Wellness CORE pairs the best of science and natural; working with our staff of vets, nutritionists and scientists, we create each diet to deliver everything your cat needs to thrive, for a lifetime |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
4
ZIWI 96% Fresh Meat Cat Food Mackerel Lamb
USD 27.58
| Brand | ZIWI |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Mackerel & Lamb |
| Key Feature | Premium cat food with only 2 protein sources and no added carbohydrates, ideal for food sensitive cats. NO cheap fillers such as grain, potato or peas, which are linked to obesity, food allergies, and other health concerns. |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | Large Breeds, Medium Breeds, All Breed Sizes, Small Breeds |
3
Instinct Whole Cat Recipe Gluten Free Chicken
USD 37.50
| Brand | Instinct |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | Instinct Original dry cat food is made with 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils, 19% vegetables, fruits and other wholesome ingredients. Responsibly sourced cage free chicken is the #1 ingredient. |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Raw, Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes, Small Breeds |
2
Meow Mix Original Choice Dry Cat Food
USD 24.93
| Brand | Meow Mix |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken |
| Key Feature | Provides all essential vitamins and minerals; High quality protein helps support strong, healthy muscles |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Dry |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
1
Purina Pro Plan LiveClear with Probiotics Allergen
USD 39.58
| Brand | Purina Pro Plan |
|---|---|
| Flavor | Chicken & Rice |
| Key Feature | One (1) 7 lb. Bag Purina Pro Plan Allergen Reducing, High Protein Cat Food, LIVECLEAR Chicken and Rice Formula |
| Target Species | Cat |
| Item Form | Crunchy, Kibble |
| Breed Recommendation | All Breed Sizes |
Frequently Asked Questions about Purchasing Cat Food for Soft Stool Improvement
Do you have any other doubts after understanding how to choose cat food for improving soft stools and what products are on the market? The following lists a few problems that users may have, and hope to help you solve problems.
What foods can cause loose stools?
Foods that can cause soft stools will vary between different types and individuals. The general principle is that within one to two weeks after the food change, you need to pay close attention to the cats physiological condition. If the stool type, color, frequency, texture, etc. are abnormal, You may need to seek veterinary assistance.
What should I pay attention to when changing my cats feed?
The answer to this question is similar to the above, but special attention should be paid to animals with different symptoms than usual when changing to a new feed. In addition, if the cat has serious conditions such as weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, etc., it also needs to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How to prevent soft stools in cats?
In addition to avoiding excessively frequent feed changes, it is also necessary to avoid placing human food within the cats reach to prevent contact with food and ingredients that have been confirmed to be allergic or likely to cause discomfort.
Summarize
After reading the article, what do you think? The causes of gastrointestinal problems in cats are different. In addition to improving cat food, it is also necessary to timely pay attention to whether the cat is sick, stressed, etc., and then deal with it according to the situation. Owners may wish to refer to the shopping points mentioned in the article and the ten carefully selected products to create a healthy and comfortable living environment for pets at home!
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Best Cat Food For Diarrhea (2024): 11 Foods To Feed Cats With Diarrhea
If your cat has diarrhea, the first thing you'll be thinking is, What to feed a cat with diarrhea to fix this?". Dont panic. This is our very detailed guide to why your cat has diarrhea and what we have found is the best cat food for diarrhea.
Lets be honest up front: no one loves talking about cats with diarrhea! But its a topic we need to discuss, especially when it comes to the immediate and long-term health of your feline companion.
Just like in humans, a cat having diarrhea is a normal occurrence that could be caused by many different things. It could be a one and done situation, or it could occur more regularly.
Also like humans, each cat is different and has different sensitives and digestive health. If your cat is experiencing regular diarrhea, then a new cat food diet may be in order as the long term solution.
After going over our testing and community survey in this article, you will know the best cat foods for diarrhea.
Best Cat Food For Diarrhea
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Best Cat Food For Dairrhea
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin is widely recognized as an exceptional option for cats experiencing diarrhea due to several important factors. Our community also highlighted it as the recipe they turn to when their cat has this issue.
Firstly, it incorporates a precise combination of high-quality ingredients that are easily digested, effectively alleviating digestive disturbances and encouraging regular healthy bowel movements.
The formula is crafted to include the perfect levels of fiber, which plays a crucial role in regulating the digestive system and minimizing the occurrence of diarrhea. Furthermore, this cat food is fortified with vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that actively support gastrointestinal well-being, fortify the immune system, and foster a healthy gut environment.
3 Top Cat Foods For DiarrheaPicks Best, Value & Premium
We all know cats are picky eaters and can have very sensitive stomachs at times. We also know that some of these dedicated foods do not come cheap so we have researched a range of leading cat foods for diarrhea.
We will begin with a best pick, a value pick and a premium choice pick.
Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin
- Number one veterinarian-recommended food for digestion
- Prebiotic fiber supports good gut bacteria
- Easy to digest
Purina ONE Sensitive Stomach
- A cat food for diarrhea control formula that is easy to digest
- Made from natural ingredients and the number one ingredient is turkey
- Includes no fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Digest Sensitive
- Made for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Includes proteins that are easy to digest
- Also helps with weight maintenance
So thats a quick chart showing the top cat foods for diarrhea. Now lets take a deeper look at why we chose these.
In our testing, we also have the added advantage of being able to tap into our We Love Cats and Kittens social media community of over 1 million + followers.
We always ask them to get involved with our research and to give us their recommendations. All of these foods for cats with diarrhea have worked for members of our community.
1. Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin - Best Overall
One of my cats always seems to get "the runs" at least once or twice a year. That set me off on a search for the best cat food for soft stools, because, well, it's no fun to deal with!
Of course, I always take her to the vets and, while there is generally nothing seriously wrong, the first time this happenend my vet recommended Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin.
To be honest, it worked like a charm! Yes, it is a little on the expensive side but what would you rather. Spend a little more and cure the symptoms or try and cut corners and prolonging the stomach illness. It's a no brainer really.
Hills Science Diet For Sensitive Stomach is made specifically for cats with sensitive stomachs and skin. It includes prebiotic fibers to support your cats digestive health and increase their good gut bacteria.
This highly digestible formula makes it easy for your cat to absorb more essential nutrients while also making it easier to clean their litter box and even reduces puking in some cats.
Not to mention, this dry cat food for diarrhea control includes vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids to nourish your cats skin.
Even though Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin is on the expensive side, it is a great food for cats who are prone to diarrhea. In fact, it is the number one veterinarian-recommended cat food for sensitive stomachs.
Made with natural ingredients and in a yummy chicken and rice flavor, even picky eaters love this dry food.
Although it is often argued that a wet cat food is best for diarrhea (which we discuss later on) this dry cat food is low in carbohydrate which is the key for dry food when fixing diarrhea. The vet recommended dry formula covers all the nutritional needs to improve digestibility to counter the ciases of diarrhea.
We try and ALWAYS use this particular food if our kitty with this issue gets diarrhea and it has not let us down.
However, we live in an area that has a fairly limited number of stores, we don't want to hang around waiting for an online order if she is ill, and we have found that the next two options below have been super effective as well.
- Number one veterinarian-recommended food for digestion
- Prebiotic fiber supports good gut bacteria
- Easy to digest
- Reduces cat diarrhea and puking
- Includes vitamin E and omega 5 fatty acids which nourish cats skin
- On the expensive side
- The formula of this dry food changed and the new formula doesnt agree with some cats
2. Purina ONE Sensitive Stomach - Best Value
We've found this Purina recipe to also be effective in getting rid of diarrhea and it is also priced a little lower.
I did notice our cat took a little longer to eat it as she always seems a bit suspicious of new foods but I'm a firm believer that if your cat has a dodgy stomach you must be patient and ONLY allow them that food. They will soon come around when they are hungry.
She did, and her runny poops disappeared convincing me that this is definitely a best cat food for a firm stool.
Purina ONE Sensitive Stomach is a great way to ease your cats tummy trouble, especially if you are on a budget. The formula of this dry food is easy for cats to digest. It is also made from natural ingredients, includes turkey as the number one ingredient, and has no fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
The 36 grams of high-quality protein in each serving of this dry cat food for diarrhea control helps with stopping the condition but will also keep your cats muscles and heart strong and healthy.
It also includes antioxidants and vitamins E and A to boost their immune system and omega 6 fatty acids to aid in skin and coat health. This dry food is great for cats with dry skin.
This sensitive stomach dry food also has crunchy bites that appeal to picky eaters and even reduces vomiting in some cats.
As it is budget-friendly, the Purina ONE Sensitive Stomach dry food is a great all-around option for your cat.
Definitely a very good choice if you are looking for a value cat food for diarrhea control.
- A cat food for diarrhea control formula that is easy to digest
- Made from natural ingredients and the number one ingredient is turkey
- Includes no fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives
- 36 grams of high-quality proteins aid in muscle and heart health
- Includes antioxidants and vitamins E and A for immune system health
- Some cats still have stomach issues when eating this food
3. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Digest Sensitive - Premium Choice
You will find many cats much prefer wet foods. There are many good reasons why wet food for cats with diarrhea is the best choice. This is mainly because it has lower carbohydrate and higher moisture and protein content, all of which aid digestion and hydration - we'll look at this more below.
What I know is that my cat absolutely demolishes this Royal Canin recipe and always cleans her bowl! It isn't cheap but there are reasons for that.
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Digest Sensitive is a great wet food to feed cats one year or older with a sensitive stomach. It includes various vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet and proteins that are easy to digest.
The easy to digest proteins in this formula help your cat to absorb more nutrients while also reducing diarrhea, stool odor, and puking incidences.
Many cat owners also find this wet food helps with weight maintenance and makes scooping the litter box a little less awful.
This wet cat food for diarrhea control is somewhat expensive, but it does appeal to picky eaters.
For a nicely balanced diet, you should try to pair this wet food with dry food made for sensitive stomachs.
- Made for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Includes proteins that are easy to digest
- Also helps with weight maintenance
- Includes several vitamins and minerals
- Reduces stool odor and incidences of puking
- Pretty expensive
- Should be paired with dry food for sensitive stomachs
Best Foods for Cats with Diarrhea: Alternative Options
We chose the three options above to appeal to a wide range of pet parents, but if none of those solutions work for your cats, there are still plenty of great alternatives out there.
Here are some other fantastic picks recommended by our community that are worth considering for your kitty with diarrhea.
4. Smalls Cat Food - Fresh and Freeze Dried
Smalls, a brand offering human-grade food, utilizes restaurant-quality ingredients and follows the production standards required for human food facilities in the United States.
Not only are the ingredients of high quality, but most of them are derived from meat and are specifically suitable for the cat's carnivorous diet.
Ingredient quality plays a crucial role when it comes to feeding a cat with diarrhea.
High-quality ingredients are typically more easily digested compared to cheaper alternatives, providing greater nutrition while minimizing stress on the cat's digestive system.
We believe strongly in the approach to cat food that Smalls has pioneered and switiching to their two types of recipe can fix very many food issues that your cat may have - including diarrhea.
The primary ingredients in Smalls' popular human-grade fresh recipe are chicken and chicken liver. Unlike extensively processed extruded kibble, this food undergoes minimal processing, retaining much of its texture and nutritional value.
While the food is not without its flaws, as it contains some plant-based ingredients, it still maintains a low carbohydrate content compared to other products, with carbohydrates accounting for 6% of the recipe's calorie content.
It's worth noting that the fresh fish recipe also includes pumpkin which is proven to help stop diarrhea because of its high fiber. Overall, the Smalls recipes are a high fiber cat food that will help prevent diarrhea.
Although Smalls does not pre-portion the meals, they provide detailed feeding recommendations based on the cat's calorie requirements. Each package contains approximately 16 ounces of food, with markings on the package indicating 50-calorie increments. This allows you to give exactly the right nutrients for your cat.
Smalls money back guarantee makes trying it with your cats well worthwhile and risk-free.
True, it's not going to work for you long-term if you're on a budget, but if you aren't, it is well worth looking at.
- Easily digested compared to cheaper alternatives
- Human-grade food, utilizes restaurant-quality ingredients
- Shipped to home
- High in Moisture
5. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food
The Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Food is a great way to take care of several areas of your cats health while also soothing their sensitive stomach.
Made from all-natural ingredients, this dry food contains no by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. It's also importantly low in carbohydrate and Blue Buffalo is rightly well-known to use high-quality ingredients.
The number one ingredient in this dry cat food for diarrhea control is chicken and this deboned chicken provides high-quality proteins that are easy to digest and great for keeping your cats muscles strong.
This dry food also helps your cat absorb more nutrients and includes prebiotics that increase good gut bacteria.
Also included in this dry food for sensitive stomachs, is vitamins and minerals for immune system health, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for skin and coat health, and taurine for heart and eye health. Not to mention, Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Food has balanced calories for weight management.
- Made from natural ingredients and chicken is the first ingredient
- Includes no by-products, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives
- Prebiotic aid in nutrient absorption and increases good gut bacteria
- Lots of high-quality proteins to aid in muscle health
- Vitamins and minerals support immune system health
6. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Canned Cat Food - Best Kitten Food for Diarrhea
We have to give this wet food for kittens an up vote, as so many in our community said that it really helped them when they had young kittens who had a tendency to diarrhea.
The feedback we had was that this isn't so much a cure when your kitten is suffering a diarrhea attack, but more that if you switch to it, those attacks disappear.
Of course, Royal Canin would say that is down to the recipe and the ingredients that hit all the requirements for reducing gut inflammation. On what we have heard, it seems to work which is why we give this our recommendation as the best wet food for kittens with diarrhea.
The Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Canned Cat Food was created for kittens up to 12 months old. This formula was created to support the needs of a constantly growing and developing kitten.
This wet cat food for diarrhea control contains an optimal ratio of carbs, fats, and proteins that provide all the energy playful kittens need.
It also includes plenty of fiber and prebiotics that are easy for kittens to digest and antioxidants to boost their developing immune system.
Not to mention, the Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Canned Cat Food is a great way to transition your kitten to solid foods as the small, thin slices of turkey are covered in gravy and easy for them to eat.
- Formula has an optimal ratio of carbs, fats, and proteins to meet a kittens energy requirements
- Includes antioxidants to boost kittens developing immune system
- Small slices of turkey in gravy are easy for kittens to eat
- Proteins, fiber, and prebiotics are all easy to digest
- Formula was created for constantly growing and developing kittens
- Made specifically for kittens 12 months up or younger
- Somewhat expensive
7. Royal Canin Aging 12+
At the other end of the age range, Royal Cainin are again the brand to consider.
The Royal Canin Aging 12+ canned wet cat food for diarrhea control was made to keep senior kitties aged 12 and older healthy and active. The optimal ratio of carbs, fats, and proteins was made to appeal to cats instincts, so it's great for picky eaters.
This wet food targets several areas of health that senior kitties often have problems with. The omega 3 fatty acids help keep their joints healthy so your cat stays active and controlled phosphorus levels support their kidney health.
While the Royal Canin Aging 12+ wet food is expensive, many older cats have improved their health tremendously while eating this food. And even though it isnt specifically made for sensitive stomachs, this wet food has plenty of benefits including all the necessary nutrients that aid digestion.
Again, as with their kitten food, we found that switching to this stops a senioir cat having attacks of diarrhea, likely down to the high quality nutrition and balanced diea appropriate to their age.
- Geared to make life easier for cats 12 years old or older
- Includes omega 3 fatty acids for joint health
- Controlled phosphorus levels aid in kidney health
- Appeals to picky eaters with a ratio of carbs, fats, and proteins that appeal to their instincts
- Not made specifically for sensitive stomachs
- Only for cats 12 years old or older
- Expensive
8. Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Natural Grain-Free Cat Food
The Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Natural Grain-Free Cat Food is made with no grain or gluten and is high in protein, which is great for cats with sensitive stomachs. It also includes wholesome ingredients like peas, apples, blueberries, carrots, spinach, and cranberries.
All of the protein in this dry food comes from wholesome sources such as turkey meal, chicken meal, herring meal, salmon meal, and whitefish meal. All of that protein is great for keeping your cats muscles healthy and strong.
It is also relatively low in carbohydrates which is important in a dry cat food for diarrhea as we've noted below.
An excellent all round cat food for diarrhea control.
Also included in the Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Natural Grain-Free Cat Food are antioxidants and vitamins E and C for immune system health and omega 6 and 3 fatty acids for skin and coat health.
As an added bonus, Earthborn Holistic has 100% recyclable, resealable, and BPA free packaging.
- Includes no grain or gluten
- Made from high-quality proteins and wholesome fruits and veggies
- Antioxidants and vitamins E and C support their immune system
- Omega 6 and 3 fatty acids skin and coat health
- Food comes in resealable packaging that is BPA free and 100% recyclable
- Somewhat expensive
- Not made specifically for sensitive stomachs
9. Solid Gold Lets Stay In Grain-Free Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food with Superfoods
The Solid Gold Lets Stay In Grain-Free Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food with Superfoods is a great dry cat food for diarrhea control for indoor cats with sensitive stomachs.
All of the fiber and probiotics in this dry food not only soothes sensitive stomachs but this cat food also reduces hairballs.
Real chicken is the number one ingredient in this dry food and it includes no chicken by-products. It also includes several superfoods like almonds, lentils, pumpkin, and broccoli to provide several essential vitamins and minerals.
Besides the probiotics and prebiotics that aid digestive health, this dry food also appeals to picky eaters. And in case you have a very picky cat, Solid Gold offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Fiber and probiotics reduce hairballs while also soothing sensitive stomachs
- Real meat is the number one ingredient
- Includes no by-products
- Includes superfoods for optimal nutrition
- Appeals to picky eaters
- Made specifically for indoor cats
- Somewhat expensive
10. Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Digestive Care Dry Food
The Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Digestive Care Dry Food was made specifically for cats one year and older with sensitive stomachs and digestive issues.
Several features soothe sensitive stomachs such as the included prebiotics and dietary fibers.
The cat kibble food for diarrhea control also comes in ring shapes which slows down your cats eating for healthy digestion.
Many cats have decreased their diarrhea, vomiting, and hairballs on this dry food.
Royal Canin states that the Feline Care Nutrition Digestive Care Dry Food has proven results of a decrease in stool production by 42%. However, some picky eaters don't care for this dry food and it is on the expensive side.
- Made specifically for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Prebiotics and fiber aid in digestive health
- Ring-shaped kibble slows down their eating for better digestion
- After 10 days of this cat food, it is proven that cats produce 42% fewer stools
- Somewhat expensive
- Some picky eaters dont care for this dry food
11. Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult Wet Pate
The Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult wet food is a great option for cats with sensitive stomachs and skin. It is made with high-quality proteins and arctic char (which is a fish!) is listed as the number one ingredient.
This wet cat food for diarrhea control also includes no grain, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or by-products.
All of the ingredients are easy to digest and the linoleic acid included is great for skin and coat health.
It has a prebiotic fiber to help with stomach inflammation and the fiber alsohelps to bind the contents of your cat's stomach to firm up their stool.
The soft consistency in the Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Sensitive Skin & Stomach Adult are great for cats with mouth and teeth problems and even appeals to picky eaters.
We recommend the wet pate fish version of this recipe but there are also other flavors and, importantly you can get them all as a dry food if you prefer.
Several of our community had this wet variety specifically suggested for their cats with diarrhea by their vets and had very postive results after switching to it.
- Made with high-quality protein and real fish is the number one ingredient
- Includes no grain, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or by-products
- Includes linoleic acid for skin and coat health
- Appeals to picky eaters
- Available in other flavors and as a dry food
- Can be expensive as a full time diet
My Cat Has Diarrhea! Why is This?
What is Diarrhea?
Most people are familiar with diarrhea and it appears in cats much as it does in humans. Diarrhea is categorized by loose and sometimes runny or watery stools. Some cats with diarrhea may go to the litter box more than usual, as well.
Diarrhea is caused by fecal matter moving through your cats digestive system faster than normal while not absorbing as much water and nutrients in the process. This could be due to bacteria, viruses, worms, or even food.
Monitor Your Cat's Litter Box
Some cats are more prone to diarrhea than others and most of the time, diarrhea will clear up on its own. However, it is important that you monitor your cats litter box trips and (I'm sorry!) investigate their cat litter so that you know when your cat has diarrhea, how long it lasts, and how frequently it is happening.
Is the Cat Diarrhea a One-Off or Regular?
Just like humans, cats bowel habits can change every so often. They could have a random day of diarrhea and be fine the next. You shouldnt be too terribly concerned if your cat has diarrhea, because its a natural occurrence.
However, if they start having diarrhea regularly, you may need to help them get their bowels back to normal. Some cats just have sensitive stomachs and require a different diet to alleviate it. If this is a frequent occurrence with your cat, you should consider trying a new cat food.
My Cat Has Diarrhea: is it Due to Food he has Eaten?
Diarrhea in cats is caused by food more often than you think. It could happen because they ate something they werent supposed to. Or it could happen when their food or meal plans are changed too quickly.
To prevent cat diarrhea when changing up your cats diet, make sure to do it slowly over the span of a week while mixing it with some of their old food, adding a little more new food each time.
Another way food is the culprit behind diarrhea in your cat is its ingredients. Some of the cheapest cat food may have ingredients that can contribute to stomach upsets and some cat foods are simply harder to digest than others. And if your cat already has a sensitive stomach, these cat foods could cause diarrhea pretty frequently.
The best way to determine if food is to blame for your cats diarrhea is to try feeding them a gentle formula.
Is Cat Diarrhea an Emergency?
If your cat has chronic diarrhea (i.e. they arent even making it to the litter box or they arent ever having a solid stool), you should go to the vet for advice. They can help you get down to the root of the problem. Not to mention, long term diarrhea can cause health problems brought on by dehydration.
Symptoms of Cat Diarrhea
Besides the soft, loose or runny stools cats experience when they have diarrhea, there are a handful of other symptoms they may have. They could have one of these symptoms or a combination of them, so make sure you are keeping a close on your kitty companion.
Dehydration is Caused by Cat Diarrhea
The biggest concern for cats who have diarrhea is dehydration. Since diarrhea keeps your cat from absorbing water and other nutrients, they could easily become dehydrated if diarrhea lasts for a long time.
Sometimes, dehydration can easily be corrected by having your cat drink more water or feeding them watery wet food. However, serious cases of dehydration require a vet to remedy.
Symptoms of dehydration in cats include loss of appetite, sunken eyes, panting, an elevated heart rate, a dry mouth, and lethargy.
Tiredness
Tiredness is another symptom of diarrhea, as well as dehydration. If your cat is acting overly lethargic and not doing as much as they normally do on a daily basis, check their litter box for signs of diarrhea.
Fever
A fever is another symptom of cat diarrhea, but one that is not easily determined. If you suspect your cat has a fever and you are brave enough to attempt to take their temperature, do so carefully.
Cat Diarrhea and Vomiting Combined
Vomiting is another sign of diarrhea, especially if the diarrhea is caused by a virus. Like in humans, any issue in the digestive tract or stomach is prone to mess with bowels as well as cause vomiting.
Some cats naturally vomit regularly, especially if they are prone to hairballs. But, if your cat is throwing up in conjunction with diarrhea, a bigger issue may be at hand.
Cat Food For Diarrhea - Buyer's Guide
Cat food that is specifically made to help cats with diarrhea will focus on improving your cat's digestive health.
Cats fed this specialized food should get the benefits of premium, high-quality, easily digestible ingredients that are used in the recipes so that they can soothe their troubled digestive systems.
Choosing what to feed a cat with diarrhea means you're going to choose formulas that are made mainly from gentle, non-irritating ingredients, often excluding common allergens and any ingredients (including additives) that are likely to disrupt a cat's digestive system.
This will mean that your cat should have a reduced risk of stomach discomfort and will prevent ongoing adverse health effects related to their stomach and digestive issues.
However, transitioning to specialized foods for cats with diarrhea isn't as simple as replacing one brand or formula with another. You'll need to consider the main ingredients that make a cat food suitable for cats with diarrhea. This means looking into everything from the quality and digestibility of ingredients to the presence of beneficial probiotics and prebiotics that can support a healthy gut environment.
Just as with organic or natural cat food, not all cat food for diarrhea is created equal. Some may only contain some beneficial elements, while other ingredients might still be too harsh for a sensitive stomach.
What to Look For in a Best Cat Food for Diarrhea
Must be Rich in Fiber
If you are looking for cat diarrhea treatment food that helps your cat have more natural bowels, the first thing you should look for is fiber. Fiber is great for helping firm up your cats stools by absorbing excess fluids that cause runny stools. For more insight read our best high fiber cat food guide.
There are also, unhelpfully, some types of diarrhea that are actually caused by high fiber and, in those cases the opposite approach of low fiber foods is needed. This is admittedly less common, so high fiber is the initial approach you should try.
High Protein
The next thing you should look for is high amounts of protein. Protein is what gives your cat energy which they may be lacking in if they have diarrhea. Protein also helps your cat build lean muscle and maintain a healthy weight, so it helps several areas of their health. There are recipes available that are specifically high protein cat foods.
Low in Carbohydrates
Anything other than low amounts of carbohydrates in food for cats with diarrhea will have a potential impact on their delicate digestive system. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have evolved to eat a diet primarily of just meat. So, in nature, they are going to eat very little, if any, carbohydrates.Although cats can process carbohydrates to some degree, a diet that is too high in carbs will be harder for them to digest. This difficulty processing the carbohydrates in some foods can therefore upset an already distressed digestive system that is causing diarrhea.
Also, some carbohydrates can actually ferment in the gut, which then leads to the production of gas, discomfort and soft stools or runny poop!So, when deciding what to feed cats with diarrhea, reducing the carbohydrate content in their food will alleviate these symptoms by decreasing the demands on their digestive system, which should contribute to faster recovery.
Free of Grains
This is an extension of the issue with carbohydrates, as grains are in that category.
Like humans, cats can be very sensitive to grain and many cats have a problem digesting any type of grain. Even though cats are carnivores, they can still digest grain. However, sensitivity or allergy to grain or gluten may be the cause of their diarrhea without you realizing it.
If you want a quick way to see if your cat is especially sensitive to grain, try a grain-free cat food and see if their diarrhea eases up.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics and probiotics have become pretty common staples for humans looking to regulate their digestive system, and they can do the same thing for cats. Specifically, prebiotics are nutrients that help to stimulate your cats digestive system.
This helps them produce more good gut bacteria and reduces the chances of digestive issues like diarrhea. Having prebiotics in your cats food can assist with cat diarrhea treatment.
Organic or Natural
Another way to rule out certain factors of cat food that causes diarrhea is by going for an organic cat food or natural one. Many cat foods that are non-organic or non-natural typically contain GMOs and those GMOs could be the cause of your cats diarrhea.
Vitamins and Nutrients
If your cat just naturally has a sensitive stomach and digestive system, some vitamins may be in order to help make their daily trips to the litter box easier on them. Vitamins A, E, and C are essential vitamins that help. These vitamins are also great for muscle and immune system health.
FAQs
What to feed a cat with diarrhea
Any of the foods we've covered in this group test are ideal foods for cats with diarrhea. High in protein, low in carbohydrate and with plenty of fiber are your key guidelines.
You might also consider trying a pumpkin supplement as a fiber supplement as it is fiber rich and can help bind soft stools. Our recommended Smalls cat food has a fish recipe that includes pumpkin that would perform well.
Also a Metamucil supplement can work very well. This is a bulk-forming agent that can very quickly increase stool density in cats with chronic diarrhea. In other words it can help create a firm stool and speed up diarrhea recovery.
Also there are some combined supplements that are proven to clear up diarrhea very quickly. We highly recommend Purina Fortiflora that our community rates as very effective at rapidly stopping diarrhea.
Remeber, that's a treatment to help in the moment, but you will need to change your cat's food to stop their inflamed gut causing diarrhea to return.
What foods should cats avoid with diarrhea?
Firstly, dairy products should be avoided as cats are lactose intolerant and consuming dairy can worsen diarrhea. Additionally, high-fat foods such as fatty meats, fried foods, and oily treats should be avoided as they can be difficult for cats to digest and may further upset their stomachs.
Foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as grains and (most) vegetables, should also be avoided as they can worsen diarrhea. Lastly, it is crucial to steer clear of any human foods that are toxic to cats, including onions, garlic, chocolate, and caffeine, as they can cause digestive issues and potentially harm their overall health.
Is wet food or dry food better for cats with diarrhea?
When deciding whether to opt for wet or dry cat food for a cat experiencing diarrhea, wet cat food is generally considered the best choice.
Wet cat food possesses a higher moisture content, which aids in keeping the cat hydrated and facilitates the softening of stool. Wet cat food is also usually preferable due to its lower carbohydrate and higher protein content, both of which aid digestion.
Also take into consideration that the increased water content in wet cat food enhances its digestibility and often features superior-quality ingredients. The presence of moisture in wet food contributes to the regulation of the digestive system and the promotion of healthier bowel movements.
However, if you have other concerns and reasons to feed dry cat food, then you should ensure it's low in carbohydrates and easily digestible.
Can sensitive stomach cat food cause diarrhea?
While sensitive stomach cat food is specifically designed to be gentle on a cat's digestive system, it is conceivable that it can occasionally result in diarrhea. Each cat has their own unique characteristics, including varying sensitivities or allergies.
Despite sensitive stomach cat food being formulated for easy digestion, certain ingredients within it can still provoke adverse reactions in certain cats, leading to diarrhea. It is important to introduce new food gradually and carefully observe the cat's response.
If diarrhea persists or worsens following the transition to sensitive stomach cat food, it is advisable to seek veterinary guidance in order to identify the underlying cause and explore alternative dietary options.
Best Cat Foods for Diarrhea Control: The Verdict
When it comes to our feline friends, we would do anything to make them healthier and happier kitties. Thats why if your cat is experiencing regular cat diarrhea, it is well worth it to spend a little extra and get them only the best cat foods for diarrhea control.
Hills Science Diet Dry Cat Food is the best overall option for sensitive stomachs that are prone to diarrhea. Not only is it the number one veterinarian-recommended cat food for digestion, but it is also easy to digest, includes prebiotic fiber for good gut bacteria, and includes vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids.
Not to mention, it has proven to reduce cat diarrhea and vomiting and makes litter box cleanup easier for their humans. That sounds like a win to us!
As so often, we also recommend that you look at Smalls cat food as a holistic healthy diet for your cats that can often help with all dietary issues.
This is because the ingredients and recipe are such high quality. It often works very well in reducing gut inflammation in cats and it turns out to be a great cat food for a firm stool.
