Tips to Soothe Your Cat’s Upset Stomach

Cats can get upset stomachs from for a variety of sources, ranging from trying a new medication to eating their food too fast. If you notice recurring signs like vomiting, gas, or diarrhea, (and have already ruled out any serious medical conditions with your veterinarian), your cat may just have a sensitive stomach. Here are some tips and tricks to soothe your cat’s sensitive stomach.

Keep track of what they’ve been eating

If you just brought home your new cat, find out what food they were being fed at their shelter or rescue, for how long, and if they enjoyed it. You should also ask whether your cat was “free fed” or “meal fed,” which means if the food was left out all day, or was set out at specific times, respectively.

If you’ve had your cat for a while now, check in with any other members of the household (or cat sitters) to see if they made any changes to your cat’s diet.

If you change their food, do it gradually

Even if you want to mix up your cat’s diet, it’s still best to continue feeding the same food as the shelter for the first 1–2 weeks in your home. Of course, if your cat doesn’t like it, or is having stomach issues, then you can start changing the diet right away.

For your cat you’ve had for a while, it’s ideal to transition their food over 10–14 days. Increase the percentage of new food by 20–25% while decreasing the old food by the same amount every 3–4 days.

Ask for a veterinarian’s recommendation

Check with your veterinarian at your next visit and ask if the new diet your cat is on is okay for them to eat. If it isn’t, ask for a recommendation, or ask them for their thoughts on the brands and varieties that you’re considering.

Mix with rice for a quicker transition

If you need to transition your cat’s diet more quickly, still do the 20–25% increases in the new diet every 3–4 days — just ditch a proportion of the original diet and sub in some boiled white rice. Consider also adding a veterinary/feline probiotic to their meals, too.

Don’t feed table scraps or leftovers

Many human foods are not suited for cats and can cause stomach upset. Additionally, feeding them table scraps encourages begging, will be a much more difficult habit to break later, and makes them less likely to eat their proper food.

Signs that it may be more than the diet

If you see any of these signs, do not wait to contact your veterinarian because they can be signs of a more serious condition. Cats are masters at hiding illness—the ‘wait and see’ method can be dangerous.

Blood in the stool
Persistent loose stools
Changes in behavior, appetite or thirst
Darker than usual stools (can be a sign of blood)
Vomiting
Defecating outside the box
Straining or vocalizing in the litterbox
Not producing urine or feces in the litterbox

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Claire Walther, DVM

Dr. Claire Walther was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. She received her BS and DVM from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. While at Purdue University, she graduated with honors for her research. During her veterinary education, she acted as a clinical pathology technician and developed a keen understanding of clinical laboratory testing. She practiced outside Indianapolis in corporate (Banfield) and independent general practice before joining Zoetis in 2016. Dr. Walther is currently a Zoetis Petcare HQ Medical Lead.

The Walther family includes 3 dogs (Eelie, Eva, and Vanilla Bean) and two cats (Gambit and Linkin). It is the love she shares for her family, both human and animal, that fosters her drive to enhance our ability to detect, prevent and treat disease within the field of veterinary medicine.

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