Cats with sensitive stomachs need a little extra love. If your cat is struggling to eat or is vomiting too frequently, it could benefit from specially formulated cat food. Once you've been given the go-ahead from your vet, you might want to transition them to a blend that is gentler on their stomach.
Whether your cat prefers wet or dry food, it's important to know how to choose one with the proper proteins, nutrients and vitamins they need, and what ingredients to avoid. In this article, we're here to help you find the best food in the UK for cats with sensitive stomachs. Read on for our ranking list of the top 10 sensitive foods on Amazon and Tescos!
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of cat food for sensitive stomachs available and understand how our ranking was determined.
This article's chosen EC site price listings are reflective of its publishing date.
Image | 1 ![]() Ziwipeak | 2 ![]() Perfect Fit | 3 ![]() CRAVE | 4 ![]() Lifelong Store | 5 ![]() Hill's Science Plan | 6 ![]() Royal Canin | 7 ![]() Purina One | 8 ![]() Arden Grange | 9 ![]() Purina Pro Plan | 10 ![]() Royal Canin |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Daily Cat Cuisine, New Zealand Mackerel & Lamb Recipe | Adult +1 Sensitive Rich in Gravy | Dry Adult Cat Food | Grain Free Recipe Complete Dry Cat Food with Fresh Chicken | Sensitive Stomach & Skin Adult Cat Food with Chicken | Digest Sensitive Cat Food | Sensitive Cat Rich in Turkey and Rice | Grain-Free Sensitive Cat Food | Nutrisaver Delicate | Sensible Cat Food |
Features | Wet Food Made from Real Lamb and Mackerel | Well-Reviewed Dry Blend Developed Alongside Experts | Bursting With Single-Sourced Animal Proteins | Grain-Free Recipe from Amazon's Own Brand | Prebiotic-Fuelled Dry Mix to Promote Healthy Bacteria | A High-Quality Formula Recommended by Vets | Turkey-Filled Dry Food for Sensitive Tums | A High Fish Content With Added Supplements for Joint Care | Prebiotic Wet Blend Designed to Combat Digestive Issues | Improve Your Cats Coat as Well as Their Gut |
Price | £31.08 | £15.99 | £19.93 | £10.21 | £19.00 | £16.94 | £19.19 | £15.47 | £32.97 | £31.35 |
Wet or Dry | Wet | Dry | Dry | Dry | Dry | Wet | Dry | Dry | Wet | Dry |
Single-Sourced Protein | Yes | Turkey | Fish | Chicken | No | No | Turkey | Fish | No | No |
Protein | 43 % | 41 % | 60 % | 40 % | 32.4 % | 27 % | 34 % | 31% | 12.6 % | 33 % |
Carb-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Age | Adult | Adults | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult | Adult |
Weight | 12 x 185 g | 750 g, 2.8 kg, 7 kg | 3 x 750 g | 1.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 85 g | 800 g | 400 g, 2 kg, 4 kg | 10 x 85 g | 4 kg |
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Quite often, sensitive stomachs are accompanied by a range of other symptoms. If your cat is also having problems with their weight or passing stools, they could benefit from a more water-heavy diet. Water doesn't contain any calories, so wet cat food always has a much lower calorie count than dry.
Wet food tends to have a longer shelf-life, but once it’s been opened, it needs to be used relatively quickly. It's also the most versatile, coming in a wide variety of textures such as chunks in gravy, chunks in jelly, mousse or as a loaf. But be aware - it's significantly more expensive.
Dry food is hugely popular due to its convenience and low cost. Cat's like to be left to live their lives somewhat independently, which means that they often prefer eat their meals on their schedule rather than yours.
Dry food provides a great solutionas you can leave a full bowl for your cat to graze on throughout the day. If you're going to be out of the house during dinner time, dry food is also excellent for placing in automatic food-dispensers.
Not all, but some dry foods can also be beneficial for oral health care by removing tartar and plaque from their teeth. The pieces of kibble will need to have a certain texture for this to remain true, so check the label if dental care is important to you.
When it comes to looking after sensitive tummies you want the food to be as uncomplicated as possible. The rule of the thumb is to look for a product which contains only wholesome ingredients and natural flavourings.
The main ingredient should always be high-quality meat, such as chicken, fish or beef, as this would be the closest to a cat's natural diet. Meat also contains healthy fats that cannot be found in vegetable oils, including essential omega fatty acids.
Be wary of products which list ‘meat by-products' or 'animal digest' in their ingredients. This is essentially just the waste and spare parts of the animal. Instead, pick a product which is labelled as 'single sources' or 'entire sources' as this is the pure, high-quality meat that your pet needs.
Although foods for sensitive stomachs all aim to do the same thing, the ingredients themselves can vary significantly. Your cat may be sensitive to certain foods, but they still have specific dietary requirements which need to be met.
Cats get their energy from proteins, not carbohydrates. In fact, in the wild, cats will eat a diet which contains almost all meat. Domesticated cats don't need quite as much protein as they no longer have to hunt for their survival, but it still needs to be the bulk of their diet.
When shopping for cat food for sensitive stomachs, choose a mix with at least 35 % protein. The most easily digestible are single-sourced proteins such as veal, venison, lamb or turkey.
Cat's are obligate carnivores, meaning they have absolutely no biological need for carbs. While humans get there energy from carbohydrates, cats receive all the energy they need from proteins. In fact, carbohydrates are the leading cause of obesity in cats in the UK.
Carbs are commonly used in dry food products to bind the other proteins and ingredients together. so if you're buying dry food, expect it to have some carbohydrates. Other things to steer clear of are any cheap bulking agents such as artificial colours, fillers or preservatives.
Just like humans, the dietary requirements of a cat changes with its age. For example, all cats follow a protein-heavy diet, but the amount of protein they need will depend on how old they are.
Because kittens are still growing, they need a higher calorie-intake and vitamin count than adult cats, so wet food tends to be the best option for them. Older cats, on the other hand, might have specific dietary requirements, or deal with chronic diseases.
Before making significant changes to your cat's diet, make sure to check with your vet first. Depending on their particular needs, some cat foods may not be suitable.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£31.08
Wet or Dry | Wet |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Yes |
Protein | 43 % |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 12 x 185 g |
£15.99
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Turkey |
Protein | 41 % |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adults |
Weight | 750 g, 2.8 kg, 7 kg |
£19.93
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Fish |
Protein | 60 % |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 3 x 750 g |
£10.21
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Chicken |
Protein | 40 % |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 1.5 kg |
£19.00
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | No |
Protein | 32.4 % |
Carb-Free | No |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 1.5 kg |
£16.94
Wet or Dry | Wet |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | No |
Protein | 27 % |
Carb-Free | No |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 85 g |
£19.19
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Turkey |
Protein | 34 % |
Carb-Free | No |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 800 g |
£15.47
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | Fish |
Protein | 31% |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 400 g, 2 kg, 4 kg |
Ocean Fish in Gravy
£32.97
Wet or Dry | Wet |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | No |
Protein | 12.6 % |
Carb-Free | Yes |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 10 x 85 g |
33
£31.35
Wet or Dry | Dry |
---|---|
Single-Sourced Protein | No |
Protein | 33 % |
Carb-Free | No |
Age | Adult |
Weight | 4 kg |
Written and researched by Roxy Pratley
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