The Best Dry Cat Foods to Treat Diarrhea | iPetCompanion

The Best Dry Cat Foods to Treat Diarrhea

As is the case in any other species of animal, diarrhea is usually the sign of something more serious or the instantaneous reaction to feeding your cat new type of diet The root cause of the diarrhea will determine the diet that your cat will require from there on in until the symptoms are alleviated. A case of acute diarrhea requires your cat to have a bland diet, whereas chronic diarrhea requires a complete change in your cat’s diet to a specialist food for sensitive stomach.

To be able to feed your cat the right product to mitigate the symptoms of diarrhea you must first know which is the best dry cat food for diarrhea. To help you with this we have reviewed several products and put them into a list of our top picks. Here you will find a quick overview followed by the product’s respective pros and cons. At the end we will make a recommendation as to which product is the best of all.

What is the Best Dry Cat Food For Diarrhea? - Our Top Picks

stella and chewy's morsels for cats

  • Builds lean muscle
  • Supports gut microbiome
  • Very easy to digest

Rated by: Amber

blue buffalo adult cat food

  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Soothes sensitive stomachs
  • Free from by products

Rated by: Amber

hill's science diet adult cat food

  • Highly recognized brand
  • Recommended by vets
  • Supports digestive health

Rated by: Amber

1. Stella and Chewy's Freeze-Dried Dinner Morsels for Cats

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

The main ingredients in this food are sodium phosphate monobasic, potassium chloride, pumpkin seed, olive oil, and meat.

This is either salmon and chicken, turkey, or just chicken depending on what flavor you go for.

These are all good sources of digestible proteins and work to build up your cat’s lean muscle mass.

It works to support your cat’s gut microbiome thanks to the probiotics that are included.

Use of this product will work to stop your cat’s diarrhea indefinitely. This is partly due to the fact that it is freeze dried thus locking in all the health benefits of raw food. Because of this it is very easy for your cat to digest.

PROS

  • Builds up your cat’s lean muscle mass
  • Supports your cat’s gut microbiome
  • Very easy to digest

CONS

  • Takes time to rehydrate


2. Primal Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food 

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This product is predominantly made up of organic collard greens and various cuts of the chosen meat.

The meat flavors that this comes in are turkey, pork, beef, and chicken.

Because it has been freeze dried, it is particularly good for treating digestive issues, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

It has been specifically formulated to meet all the nutritional requirements of a cat whilst also being highly digestible. 

The protein in Primal Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Cat Food is made up predominantly from animals (96 percent) rather than plants. Potatoes make up the vast majority of the carbohydrates in the food but do not provide much in the form of nutritional benefits.

PROS

  • Contains limited ingredients
  • Highly digestible
  • Meets all the nutritional requirements of a cat

CONS

  • High ratio of carbohydrates


3. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Duck Formula Grain-Free Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Specially made to help those cats with stomach issues, it contains green peas and meaty duck pieces to provide your kitty with a product that is both healthy and delicious tasting, so that it keeps coming back for more.

The limited ingredients that feature within this formulation have all been selected carefully to ensure that it is both free from any grains and easy to digest.

When suffering from diarrhea it is important that your pet cat gets all the vitamins and minerals that they require. 

Additionally, it contains the amino sulfonic acid, taurine, to help with your cat’s vision and heart function.

Filled with carbohydrates, you an rest assure that you cat is getting all of the energy that they need. The fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) work to give your kitty a nice and healthy look by providing their coat and skin with everything they need.

Because the formula is made using only a limited number of ingredients, it feature just a single protein source in the form of duck. Along with the blend of carbohydrates that are included, Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Duck Formula Grain-Free Cat Food provides your cat with a highly nutritious meal. The brand itself is well established and so, using the latest in scientific advancements, is able to create a high quality food product. This is why it comes trusted by respected animal trainers and rescue centres.

PROS

  • Limited ingredients
  • Helps your cats vision and heart function
  • Well established brand

CONS

  • Only comes in one flavor

4. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

As well as helping your cat’s digestion, and thus minimize the risk of diarrhea, this specially formulated product also works to make your kitty’s skin much healthier.

It contains vitamin E and omega fatty acids in order to support the health of your cat’s skin and stop itching.

Additionally, the antioxidants that are included work to support the digestive health and cellular function of your kitty.

All of the ingredients used in this food have been stringently tested so that they meet the highest of quality standards. 

This not only guarantees the purity of the product but also the nutritional content level. Because of these high standards, what is produced is a specialist cat food that is available to purchase both without or with a prescription from a veterinarian.

It comes both highly prescribed and recommended by veterinarians because it has been formulated by more than 200 of them, along with numerous food scientists and nutritionists.

PROS

  • Highly recognized cat food brand
  • Comes recommended by veterinarians
  • Work to support your cat’s digestive health

CONS

  • More expensive price point

5. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Containing various fiber sources, Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Fiber Response Cat Food works excellently to improve your cat’s digestive issues and diarrhea.

Because of how it has been formulated, it is easy for your kitty to easily absorb all of the essential vitamins and minerals that have been added to the food.

This helps your cats overall health.

The protein contained within this product is high quality, easy to digest, and works to build lean muscle in your cat.

Additionally, it also ensures that your cat’s stool is softened.

These help to make it easier for your cat to process and dispose of its food. This is particularly helpful for those kitties who suffer from issues with its intestines.

The inclusion of fermentable fibers works to aid digestion and thus promote good bacteria developing within your cat’s digestive tract. Good bacteria is beneficial in keeping intestinal flora well balanced in order to break down food and fully absorb nutrients. Known for making cat product that is specially formulated and comes prescribed by veterinarians to alleviate digestive issues, you can rest assure that this is a high quality product.

PROS

  • Comes recommended by veterinarians
  • Makes absorbing vitamins and nutrients easy
  • Softens your cat’s stools

CONS

  • Only available via a veterinary prescription

6. Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Adult Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

The main source of protein in Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Chicken Recipe Adult Cat Food is chicken, which is rich in protein.

It has been specially formulated so that it soothes sensitive stomachs.

Because of this it is free from any by products or gluten, ensuring that your cat does not get anything that is not beneficial to their health.

It is rich in antioxidants and superfoods, such as blueberries, cranberries, spinach, and pumpkin, meaning that your pet kitty gets all of the minerals and vitamins that are vital in maintaining your cat’s good health.

Fortified with omega 3 and omega 6 to provide your cat with healthy skin, it also contains taurine to support the heart, and carotene for aiding vision.

PROS

  • Rich in antioxidants and superfoods
  • Soothes sensitive stomachs
  • Free from by products and gluten

CONS

  • Expensive price point

FAQ – A Buyer’s Guide

By this point you should have a good idea as to which cat foods for sensitive stomachs is going to work best for treating your cat’s vomiting diarrhea. However, you may still be left with some questions relating to this specialist product that you would like answering. If this is the case with you then keep on reading this section. 

What food is best for a cat with diarrhea?

The signs that your cat is suffering from diarrhea are not only the obvious ones such as loose stool, but also include weight loss, depression, abdominal pain, weakness, lethargy, vomiting, fever, mucus or blood in their feces, and straining to poop. If these symptoms persist it is important to take your pet kitty to see a veterinarian.

There they will likely recommend a change in diet to a specialist food to treat diarrhea. These may include food products such as Royal Canin Gastrointestinal High Energy Canned Cat Food, Hill’s Digestive Care I/D Canned Cat Food With Chicken, Applaws Cat Pots Chicken and Rice, or Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain Free.

What is the best dry cat food for cats with sensitive stomachs?

Finding a specialist food for a cat with a sensitive stomach can be a difficult task. This is partly due to the fact that there are so many different food products that are currently available on the market for pet cat owners to choose from.

The list of best foods that we found from our own research include Purina ONE Sensitive Systems Adult Dry Cat Food, Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Cat Food, Hill’s Science Plan Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Food, Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Digest Sensitive Cat Food, and Iams Proactive Health Sensitive Stomach Adult Cat Food.

Can dry food give a cat diarrhea?

Most cat owners care about ensuring that their pet kitty is totally healthy and happy, and as part of that they need to make a decision as to whether to feed them dry food or wet food. However, this can be a difficult decision to make given the pros and cons of each. One question that is often raised is that of if non-wet cat food causes diarrhea.

tabby kiten

Many people believe that it is in fact wet food that causes diarrhea as a result of the moisture in it. But actually the abundance of water can actually have the opposite effect because it can aid the digestion process. However, it is also common belief that corn fillers used within cat food too causes diarrhea.

 Can too much dry cat food cause diarrhea?

Corn fillers in cat food can cause your kitty to suffer from diarrhea, so over eating it could definitely make it even worse. The most common reasons for diarrhea in your cat is food poisoning or a stomach bug, but there are many other factors. These include changes in your cat’s diet, internal parasites, poor quality food and ingredients, viral or bacterial infection, allergies and intolerances to certain foods, and liver or kidney disease.

If your cat is suffering from diarrhea you do not need to stop them from eating like you do when they are vomiting. Actually, not giving your kitty food when they are suffering from diarrhea can cause further complications as a result of hepatic lipidosis forming, which is a deadly type of liver disease.

The Best Dry Cat Foods to Treat Diarrhea Of All

Now that we have examined our list of top best dry cat foods to treat diarrhea and answered some of the most frequently asked questions relating this food, it is now time to decide which is the best cat food to treat diarrhea of all. After much deliberation, we came to the conclusion that Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Cat Food is the best of all because it is a highly respected pet brand that works really well to improve your cat’s digestive health. As a result, it comes highly recommended by veterinarians.

About the Author Amber