Special diet for cats
It is common for cats to have both diarrhoea and vomiting. These symptoms can usually be treated at home with the right diet. Diarrhoea and vomiting often occur very suddenly and as long as the cat's general condition is unaffected, you can follow our advice on the best way to provide a gentle diet.
Cat food for sensitive stomachs
Sensitive cat food is food that is easy to digest and kind to the cat's digestive tract. There are different types of special diets, where you either prepare the food at home or buy a certain type of dietary food from your vet.
The ready-made diets that you can find at the vet are either wet or dry diets with very easily digestible ingredients. The food covers all the nutritional needs of the cat, and a combination of dietary fibre and prebiotics promotes the cat's healthy intestinal flora and mucosal function.
It's easy to make your own special diet food at home. What you need is a high-quality, low-fat protein source, such as chicken fillet or white fish. Cook your protein source and refrigerate before serving small portions. It's important to keep your cat hydrated, so it's a good idea to mix the cooking liquid with the protein when serving.
When should I give my cat a special diet?
If your cat has diarrhoea and is otherwise well and behaving as usual, it may be enough to give them a sensitive stomach diet for a few days. It is not always easy to assess your cat's general condition, and sometimes it is good to consult a vet. As a Lassie insurance customer, you can contact a digital vet from FirstVet for an initial consultation if you need help from a vet.
How to feed your cat a special diet
Start by serving small portions, about 6-8 times, evenly spaced throughout the day. How much you give depends a little on how big your cat is. Portions can range from 0.5 tsp up to 0.5 dl. If you are unsure how much to give, call a vet and ask them for advice too.
Continue to give a sensitive stomach diet until your cat's stomach has been fine for at least a few days. Then, gradually over a week, you can switch to your cat's regular food. Do not switch back too quickly, as this often risks the cat getting into trouble again.
When should I seek treatment?
If your cat has had prolonged or recurrent problems with diarrhoea and/or vomiting, it is a good idea to see a vet for an assessment. Although your cat is otherwise fine, prolonged and recurrent symptoms may be due to underlying causes that are worth investigating with a vet.
Seek medical attention if you see your cat exhibit one or more of these symptoms:
Are very tired
Does not want to eat
Does not want to drink
Cannot retain water
Has blood in either stool or vomit
Has swallowed something that could cause a blockage in the intestines
Stomach pain
Swollen stomach
Despite treatment with a bland diet for 3-4 days, symptoms persist
Is your kitten in trouble? Seek treatment sooner, as both they and older cats are more susceptible to these symptoms.
