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Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs 2024
Written by Wag! Staff
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 01/09/2024, edited: 02/19/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Vomiting, diarrhea, and stinky farts. If your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach, you're probably all too familiar with these unpleasant symptoms.
The good news is that your pet's tummy troubles don't have to be a constant problem. By switching to a sensitive stomach cat food that provides fiber for healthy digestion and promotes a healthy gut microbiome, you can help your cat thrive.
But which is the best cat food for sensitive stomachs? Keep reading to find out.
Overview
- Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
- Solid Gold Winged Tiger Sensitive Stomach with Quail & Pumpkin
- Halo Holistic Wild-Caught Whitefish Recipe Sensitive Stomach Support
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Real Chicken Recipe
- American Journey Sensitive Stomach Total Health Formula Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
- Wellness Core Digestive Health Turkey Paté
- FAQ
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
Best overall
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly is our pick as the best cat food for sensitive stomachs. Designed with easy digestion in mind, this recipe features real chicken as its protein source and first ingredient. It’s a good source of prebiotic fiber to promote healthy digestion, and it features brown rice to provide important B vitamins as well as carbs for energy.
“Blue Buffalo provides wet and dry recipes tailored to various life stages, including high-protein and grain-free choices,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants. Blue Buffalo is 1 of the pet food brands Dr. Jeremiah recommends to her clients.
“Catering to special dietary needs, they offer limited ingredient varieties such as Blue Basics without common allergens such as chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy and eggs,” she says. “With real meat, omega fatty acids and plenty of antioxidants, Blue Buffalo recipes are a good option for felines with delicate digestive tracts. Be mindful of the higher carbohydrate and low moisture content with some formulas if your cat has specific medical conditions.”
Blue Buffalo Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Developed by vets and animal nutritionists
- Contains Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits to provide important antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
- Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Considerations & concerns
- Some buyers might prefer to try the Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Sensitive Stomach recipe, which is more affordable
- Some pet parents complain about this food causing an upset stomach
- Not a popular choice with some picky eaters
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly
“My cat has serious stomach problems. She didn't do well on the prescription food either. This has truly changed her life! She does not puke, have stinky diarrhea, or lose her appetite. Thank you, Blue Buffalo, for making this!!!”
“My otherwise healthy 7-year-old cat went from occasional loose stools to daily diarrhea. Before getting expensive testing at her vet to see if anything was wrong, I decided to try some cat foods that promote digestive health. No luck until I tried Blissful Belly. I gave her both the canned and dry and in about 24 hours I saw a huge improvement. It's been a week her stools are now perfectly healthy — not loose and no more diarrhea! The bonus is that my very finicky cat loves the food and gobbles it up.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
Solid Gold Winged Tiger Sensitive Stomach with Quail & Pumpkin
Vet recommended
This Sensitive Stomach formula from Solid Gold offers wholesome nutrition for cats prone to tummy troubles. This grain-free food features quail as its main lean protein source, plus carrots and pumpkin to provide important antioxidants as well as fiber for healthy digestion.
“Solid Gold cat food offers high-protein options with superfoods, antioxidants, and added probiotics for optimal feline nutrition,” explains Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, who recommends Solid Gold to her clients. “It is affordably priced, providing grain-free and tailored recipes to cater to various dietary preferences and needs.”
Solid Gold Winged Tiger is also a good source of probiotics to ensure a healthy digestive tract, and is rich in omega fatty acids to look after your pet’s skin and coat. So if you’re searching for the best sensitive stomach cat food for your kitty, be sure to add this recipe to your shortlist of options.
Solid Gold Cat Food
What pet parents say about Solid Gold Winged Tiger Sensitive Stomach with Quail & Pumpkin
“Vet said my cat had a sensitivity to ‘something’ after I brought her in for vomiting and diarrhea issues. [I] didn’t especially like the ingredients in his recommended foods. So, I bought about five different brands of sensitive stomach formula brands with quality ingredients. Out of the 5 this was the 1 both cats liked, and it cleared up my sensitive cat’s stomach issues. Food has good-quality ingredients that I feel good about feeding my cats.”
“I've had my cat for several months. He is now probably 3 years old. Every week he would go through a cycle of eat, not eat, throw up, diarrhea, and repeat. I tried all kinds of different things with my vet’s help and we decided to try this before prescription food. 5 weeks in, no upset stomach and I'm finally really seeing his sweet personality because he's no longer miserable. Fingers crossed!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Solid Gold Pet, LLC.
Halo Holistic Wild-Caught Whitefish Recipe Sensitive Stomach Support
Vet recommended
Help your cat maintain good gut health with this Sensitive Stomach Support recipe from Halo. Featuring probiotics and added postbiotics, this recipe is designed to make digestive troubles a thing of the past for your fur-baby. Its first ingredient is responsibly sourced whitefish, and this recipe is also high in protein and doesn’t contain any soy.
Even better, Halo is a brand that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah recommends to her clients. “Halo offers a range of benefits, including added taurine, omega-3 fatty acids, prebiotics, and probiotics to boost your cat's overall health,” she says. “It features whole animal proteins and avoids meat meals as well as GMO and filler ingredients. However, some formulations contain several plant-based proteins, and the food is comparably more expensive than similar brands.”
While this Halo recipe may not be the most affordable pet food option, it’s still well worth checking out if good digestive health is vital for your cat.
Halo Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Cooked in the USA
- Features prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics to support gut health and a strong immune system
- No corn, wheat, soy or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Considerations & concerns
- Expensive
- During 2023, some buyers complained about a recipe change that didn’t agree with their pet’s digestive system
- Some pet parents report that their cat would prefer a larger kibble size
What pet parents say about Halo Holistic Wild-Caught Whitefish Recipe Sensitive Stomach Support
“My older cat, who is 14, is allergic to chicken. It is difficult to find food that she can eat and will like. This Halo Holistic works well. She eats it willingly and after two bags, has had few allergy problems. She likes the venison flavor as well.”
“My cats were 10 when I switched them to this food and they have always had very sensitive stomachs. They took to this really well though and for the first time stopped throwing up after meals! Very pleased.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Halo Pets.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Real Chicken Recipe
Best vet recommended wet food
Searching for a high-quality wet food to help keep your cat’s tummy troubles at bay? Look no further than this limited-ingredient formula from Merrick. This pate is not only designed to be highly palatable to your feline friend, it’s also crafted to suit pets with food sensitivities.
“Merrick offers high-protein diets with meat as the primary ingredient,” explains Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants. “Recipes are free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives and rich in omega fatty acids and include probiotics for overall feline well-being.”
This recipe features deboned chicken as the first ingredient, and a short ingredients list to minimize the risk of your pet coming into contact with something that doesn’t agree with their stomach. It’s also rich in antioxidants for a strong immune system, making this Merrick recipe a “pawsome” option if your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach.
Merrick Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made in the USA
- Contains taurine for good vision and heart health
- Limited ingredients for pets prone to food sensitivities
Considerations & concerns
- Some buyers complain about the high moisture content in some cans
- Some pet parents complain that cans are thin and often arrive dented when delivered
- Some complaints about cans not having enough food in them
What pet parents say about Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Real Chicken Recipe
"My cat has pancreatitis, stage 1 kidney disease, and is post-diabetic. Needless to say his diet is a challenge. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Chicken Pate Recipe is one of the few kinds he likes (and doesn't throw up)."
"We’ve been feeding Merricks Rabbit cat food and decided to see if Yuri (3 year old Burmese) tolerated and enjoyed the Chicken. He has IBS. He loves it and no tummy trouble after weeks of feeding it. Happy kitty!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
American Journey Sensitive Stomach Total Health Formula Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
Vet recommended
Next on our list of the best cat foods for sensitive stomachs is this dry recipe from American Journey. This grain-inclusive recipe features deboned salmon as its first ingredient, and it also includes pumpkin to provide the fiber needed for healthy digestion.
Probiotic fructooligosaccharides help to maintain good gut health, while this recipe’s blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants ensures a strong immune system.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah also recommends American Journey cat food to her clients. “American Journey cat food features high-quality, real meat as the primary ingredient, ensuring balanced nutrition with essential vitamins and minerals,” she says. “It offers grain-free options, free from artificial additives or preservatives, in various flavors to suit individual preferences. Additionally, it includes added probiotics for digestive health and is known for its affordability.”
If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to manage your cat’s sensitive stomach, give this American Journey Sensitive Stomach Total Health Formula a try.
American Journey Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- The most affordable dry food on this list
- Contains prebiotic fiber to support a healthy digestive system
- No corn, wheat, soy, or byproduct meals
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents might appreciate a smaller bag size than 15lb so their cat can try the food for minimal expense
- Some buyers report that their cat refused to eat this food
- Only available from Chewy
What pet parents say about American Journey Sensitive Stomach Total Health Formula Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
“This food has done amazing stuff for my Abyssinian cat. He has always had a sensitive stomach and suffered the problems that come along with it. We have tried so many different foods, but nothing seemed to improve his health until we found this! Since we have switched, we have noticed he has lost some of his extra weight, his fur is super soft, and his whiskers are growing in, whereas before they were very short from falling out and breaking. We allow him to free feed these crunchies and he has a serving of American Journey Pate Turkey & Salmon Recipe Grain-Free Canned Cat Food in the evening. These products have helped our kitty so much and I definitely recommend them both for quality and value.”
“My cat (like all cats) is a very picky eater, [so] we decided to switch him from wet food to dry food. Usually when he eats dry food, he has stomach issues and it's pretty messy, but with this food he loves it and his stomach is fine.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Chewy, Inc.
Wellness Core Digestive Health Turkey Paté
Vet recommended
This Core Digestive Health recipe from Wellness is sure to have your cat licking their lips. Crafted with the primary aim of supporting healthy digestion, this formula is a good source of prebiotic fiber to help ensure healthy digestion. And with a host of important vitamins and minerals your kitty needs for a strong immune system, there’s a lot to like about Wellness Core Digestive Health Turkey Paté.
Here’s what Dr. Georgia Jeremiah has to say about Wellness, which she also recommends to her clients. “Wellness cat food offers a protein-rich, grain-free option for those on a budget, featuring both wet and dry varieties complemented by toppers and treats. Their CORE line prioritizes gut health with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes.”
However, she also has a word of warning about Wellness’ recall history. “Wellness diets have been the center of several recalls in recent years and those seeking a safe wet-food alternative might consider the batch-tested Raised Right range,” Dr. Jeremiah explains.
Wellness Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Contains prebiotic fiber to support good digestive health
- Pumpkin and papaya also included to support proper digestion
- Omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents report that their picky eaters did not like this food
- There are cheaper options available
- The fact that it also contains chicken and chicken liver won’t suit all cats
What pet parents say about Wellness Core Digestive Health Turkey Paté
“Miss Prissy Kitty is a real diva. She begs, then snubs most foods. She likes variety and she likes what she likes, leaving us all guessing at what she will eat. AND she has GI issues, so we have a real challenge. She eats Wellness Core Digestive, all flavors, and it seems to work better for her tummy problems. So, we are delighted.”
“Cat Emma loves this and it helps with her diarrhea problem. I feel good to know she is eating healthy and has more proper bowels. She likes the taste and consistency. I'm glad that I tried this, it is now a regular on my cat food shelf.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company.
FAQ
Does a sensitive stomach mean my cat has a food allergy?
What are the key features of sensitive stomach cat food?
How can I tell if my cat has a sensitive stomach?
What is the best cat food for cats with sensitive stomachs?
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