All featured product are chosen at the discretion of the GreatPetCare editorial squad and do not reverberate a direct imprimatur by the author or reviewer .
Gastrointestinal problem are no walk in the car park for your qat — or you . Your cat believably feels wretched , and you ’re allow for cleaning up the mess . GI cat nutrient provide an selection to relieve the miserableness .
This type of solid food can help managecat digestive issuesthat affect a pet ’s quality of life history . Digestive issues are a common reason guy go to the veterinary ’s business office .
Do n’t add a new cat solid food to your shopping pushcart just yet , though . It ’s significant to do your preparation and speak to your veterinary surgeon first before making the shift .
Keep reading to learn more about gastrointestinal cat solid food and how to select one for your true cat .
What is Gastrointestinal Cat Food?
Gastrointestinal quat food is formulated to address digestive issues triggered by various conditions , such asinflammatory bowel disease(IBD ) orfood allergies . You will see both juiceless and wet kat food for thought variety uncommitted for leverage over the replication ( OTC ) or by veterinary prescription .
Unlike veritable commercial-grade cat foods , GI cat foods manoeuver clear of ingredients that could gravel sensitive stomach . Examples admit milk sugar , gluten , and food additives , such as hokey feeling , colors , and preservative . While food allergies in cats are uncommon , cats can be sensitized to specific ingredients , normally protein . Common food for thought allergens for CT include kick , poulet , and Pisces , so some gastrointestinal Arabian tea nutrient may use refreshing protein beginning instead .
So , what is GI cat food made of ? Lots of good things ! It contains legion tidy ingredients and nutrients to provide complete and balanced nourishment for cats with tummy military issue . Here are some common factor in GI hombre food for thought :
Gastrointestinal Cat Food: How It Helps
Digestion is hard work . For cats with sensitive stomachs , digestion can be even harder because the stomach and intestines may be inflamed or irritated . This run to uncomfortable symptom like vomiting , diarrhea , and perhaps constipation .
Cat food for gastrointestinal problems eases the workload of digestion , enabling amend nutrient absorption and cause of food through the digestive parcel of land .
While making digestion easier , gastrointestinal cat-o'-nine-tails food supports skillful gut health by reducing inflammation and serve the population of good bacterium in the gut .
This type of cat food can also target specific gut conditions . For instance , hypoallergenic diet for cats do not include ingredients that could trigger nutrient allergies . They typically contain a novel animal protein , such as duck or kangaroo .
If you ’re unsure if your cat needs a gastrointestinal nutrient , see the leaning below for some conditions for which a veterinarian might advocate this type of food :
GI cat foods can help manage inveterate condition , such as food for thought allergy , or acuate condition , like constipation or a recent OR . Your vet will advise whether your CT demand to be on this new dieting prospicient - term or short - term .
There are times , though , when GI foods might not be effective . This can occur if the underlying health issue is n’t address . For case , hyperthyroidismcan cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats . A GI dieting would n’t do much good until the hyperthyroidism is under ascendance with appropriate treatment .
Be aware that numerous condition can cause GI payoff in CAT . Even if you retrieve your cat could benefit from a GI diet , your veterinary will first ask to prove your cat to find out what ’s causing their symptom , in part by rule out a long listing of possible implicit in conditions . From there , they can recommend an appropriate dieting to help dilute your cat ’s symptoms .
Cat Food for Gastrointestinal Health: 7 Vet-Recommended Picks
If your veterinary surgeon recommends gastrointestinal cat food , it ’s metre to seek for selection . Fair warning : there are a lot of feline gastrointestinal intellectual nourishment from which to opt . Here are seven for you to consider , all of which provide complete and balanced nutrition :
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Dry
This gastrointestinal dry cat food from Royal Canin contains two types of fibre — soluble and insoluble — to move food swimmingly through the digestive tract and promote good faeces quality . It also curb prebiotics to eat healthy gut bacteria and omega-3 fatty Lucy in the sky with diamonds to reduce bowel inflammation . Chicken is the main protein source , so keep this in judgement if you think your cat may have a nutrient allergic reaction .
highlight
thing to Consider
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Cat HA Hydrolyzed Diet Dry
Veterinarians often recommendhydrolyzed dietsfor cats with solid food allergies . The proteins in these diet have been break down into smaller parts using water system ( hydrolysis ) , making them too small to trigger an sensitised reaction . Hydrolyzed diets are often used for food excreting trials to help diagnose intellectual nourishment allergies .
Purina ’s hydrolyzed diet is easily digestible and contains antioxidant to support a healthy resistant system . It features hydrolyzed chicken liver as its protein source . Notably , both kittens and adult computed axial tomography can eat up this intellectual nourishment .
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d canned stew
Gastrointestinal soaked cat food is idealistic for cats who prefer wet food over dry . Veterinarians may commend this Hill ’s dieting for cats who require nutritionary support after late gilbert surgery or an acute bout of digestive distress . The stew is a chicken and vegetable mix , so cats allergic to chicken should not deplete it .
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Moderate Calorie Thin Slices in Gravy
This Royal Canin gastrointestinal computerized axial tomography nutrient is a unspoilt selection if your cat tends to pile on extra pounds . It is a highly digestible diet that hold back prebiotics , dietary fiber , electrolytes , and omega-3 fatty acids . The flimsy slice of manna from heaven might invoke to a finical eater . However , this food contains volaille , which could trigger food allergy in some cats .
BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet Cat NP Novel Protein Alligator Dry
If your hombre is allergic to chicken , Pisces the Fishes , or boeuf , they want a dieting with a protein they ’ve never eaten . This GI diet from Blue Natural contains gator as its novel protein . Other gamey - quality ingredients include omega-3 fatso acid , flaxseed , antioxidant vitamin , and fiber . It is detached of chicken , soy , and straw .
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Cat EN Gastroenteric Naturals Dry
This diet from Purina is easily digestible and contains fish oil as a reference of omega-3 fatty acids and legion vitamins and minerals . Chicken is the protein source , so cat hypersensitive to Gallus gallus should not eat it .
Royal Canin Hairball Care Dry
Nobody likes hairballs . If your African tea has a hairball problem , this diet from Royal Canin is a slap-up pick . It contains several dietary character to move fuzz through the digestive system so big cat can poop it out . However , like other GI hombre foods on this list , it control chicken .
Gastrointestinal Food for Cats Buying Guide
Gastrointestinal guy food is a specialty dieting that is more expensive than even commercial cat food . Prepare yourself to spend more than you ordinarily would for your cat ’s food .
As you research your options , look for the AAFCO ( Association of American Feed Control Officials ) command on the recording label . This insure the food for thought supply complete and balanced nutrition according to life history stage ( growth / reproduction , adult care ) .
The ingredient lists on pet food for thought labels are gainsay to decipher . Please do your best to identify the ingredients we list in this clause , including prebiotics or probiotic microflora , omega-3 fatty acids ( or a rootage of it , like fish oil ) , and vitamins and mineral . Avoid foods that hold in unreal flavour , coloring , or preservatives .
Do n’t care if you ca n’t make sensation of the fixings list . you’re able to ask your veterinary to walk you through it .
Generally , manufacturers formulate GI cat food for adult cats . However , kittens can enjoy one of the diets we recommend on this list : Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Cat HA Hydrolyzed Diet Dry . If your kitten or senior cat has GI issues , ask your veterinary surgeon for guidance on a GI food option .
fortuitously , GI cat food are n’t likely to intervene with your qat ’s current medication or complicate handling for other aesculapian conditions . However , it ’s always good to look into with your veterinary surgeon about this . For exemplar , cats with chronic kidney disease have tolimit their intake of phosphorus and protein . You ’ll want to ensure that the GI diets you ’re turn over are also appropriate for your cat ’s other medical conditions .
Transition your cat slowly to the new diet to give your cat ’s digestive system time to adjust . Start with a mixing of 25 percent novel diet/75 percentage old diet . Over a few twenty-four hours to a calendar week , step by step increase the percentage of the fresh diet until you ’ve entirely phase out the old diet .
watch over any changes in your bozo ’s symptom , good or worse , and report them to your vet . If the symptom worsen , your vet may commend trying a new diet .
at long last , be patient ! gilbert outlet are thwarting , and there may be some trial and error in feel the right-hand GI food for your true cat . Continue knead closely with your vet to give your cat the succor they ask from their tummy troubles .