Cultivating good eating habits - improving a cat's sensitive stomach

Although "sensitive stomach" is a minor ailment, it often torments cats, causing them chronic discomfort and irritability, draining their energy and vitality, and leaving countless cat owners heartbroken and frustrated. Below, GGH shares some methods for managing a cat's sensitive stomach, hoping to improve their health.

Common symptoms of glassy stomach

Cats have "glass stomachs," similar to irritable bowel movements in humans. Even slight changes in diet or seasonal changes can trigger vomiting, soft stools, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis. Furthermore, cats often experience recurring constipation, picky eating, and poor appetite. If symptoms are not addressed promptly, they can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, negatively impacting the cat's physical and mental health.

Different causes and treatment plans for vitreous stomach

Physiological reasons for poor digestion in cats

Cats are primarily carnivorous animals with relatively short esophagus and intestines, meaning food only takes a few minutes to travel from their mouths to their stomachs. Cats lack amylase in their mouths, and their stomachs are their primary digestive organ. The short esophagus and intestines shorten the digestion and absorption time, which aligns with the physical characteristics of felines. Furthermore, cats have a limited gut microbiota and cannot synthesize taurine, an essential nutrient for lipid digestion, which also affects their digestive abilities.

Treatment suggestionsGive your cat a probiotic supplement once a month. Beneficial bacteria for cats include: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis (antibacterial and anti-inflammatory), Lactobacillus acidophilus (balances gut flora), Bifidobacterium lactis (protects the intestinal wall), and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (reduces allergic reactions). Cats need to obtain taurine from their food, especially pet owners who feed their cats raw meat and bones. Pay close attention to the proportion of taurine-containing foods in their diet, or consider supplementing with multivitamins. Salmon, sardines, mussels, shrimp, and poultry hearts are excellent sources of taurine, and they have few bones, making them suitable for cooking and cooling before feeding to cats.

Dietary reasons for poor digestion in cats

Simple diet

Although cats are carnivores, in addition to consuming the abundant protein and nutrients in their staple food, increasing the variety and form of their food can help expand their diet and increase their gastrointestinal tolerance.

Treatment suggestionsIncrease your cat's complementary foods, such as freeze-dried chicken breast, freeze-dried duck meat, raw meat and bones, canned food, cat grass, dried dragon fruit, durian, blueberries, kale, carrots, and cruciferous vegetables. Feed fruits and vegetables in small amounts. If your cat eats the same cat food for a long time, not only will palatability decrease, but the monotonous formula will also affect the cat's nutrient absorption. You should switch to a different cat food every 1-1.5 years.

Too fast a change of grain

Soft stools and vomiting are most common during the transition from old to new cat food. If vomiting occurs after consuming the new food and is persistent, the new food may contain allergenic ingredients. Other potentially allergenic foods include: beef liver, shark, lamb, dairy products, and turkey.

Treatment suggestionsEspecially for cats with weak digestive systems, the "seven-day transition method" should be followed when changing their food. This involves mixing the old and new food in a specific ratio and gradually increasing the proportion of the new food over seven days. This allows the cat to adapt to the taste of the new food and reduces the irritation caused by the new formula, making it less likely to cause soft stools or loss of appetite.

Irregular eating habits

Some pet owners, for convenience, prepare a full day's worth of cat food at once, letting their cats eat like they're on a buffet. This can easily lead to overeating and picky eating habits in cats, and also increases the risk of obesity.

Treatment suggestionsEstablish a regular feeding schedule with measured portions. If the owner is busy, a smart feeder can be used. When giving kittens treats, vary the types of treats and avoid letting them eat too many treats, as this can affect their appetite for their main food.

infected with parasites

Parasite infection is also a major cause of recurrent gastrointestinal problems in cats, with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal swelling, bloody stools, and lethargy.

Treatment suggestionsRegularly deworm your cat, both internally and externally. Supplement your cat's diet with sufficient protein and nutrients to boost its immunity. Spend 15-20 minutes interacting with your cat daily to increase its exercise and sense of security. Regularly clean and disinfect your cat's living environment, and wash its food and utensils frequently to reduce bacterial growth.

Gogo Herbs Product Recommendations

Gogo Herbs is dedicated to researching scientific pet care solutions and selecting safe and effective pet health products for pet owners. Cats are ubiquitous in the home, so regular disinfection is essential to reduce zoonotic pests. We recommend SANISWISS – S4 Eco-friendly Multi-functional Disinfectant and Cleaning Spray, which effectively eliminates 99.999% bacteria and viruses. It is also effective against influenza and feline coronaviruses. It is free of alcohol, aldehydes, biguanides, chlorides, phenols, volatile organic compounds, and other hazardous compounds, making it safe for infants and pets. GogoHerbs' professional veterinary team carefully selects safe and considerate pet health products and supplies. Because we are focused, we think more about what's best for cats. If you have any product-related questions or would like to consult about products more suitable for your pet, please contact us via Whatsapp +852 5483 0695.

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