The number one reason cats get taken to the vet is because of a sensitive stomach. If your cat is having sensitive stomach issues, the first step is to get it looked at by your vet. However, if there is no medical ailment that is causing the sensitivity. The next step is to access the food that your cat is eating. If you are not feeding your cat high quality cat food, then it could be the ingredients in the food.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction
If you are not sure what the signs are of an allergic reaction is, then it is hard to determine. Cat food allergy symptoms are:
Sneezing, Coughing, and Wheezing
Excessive Scratching
Runny eyes and nose
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Dull, brittle or coarse fur
Swollen paws
Paw chewing
What Causes Allergies in Cats?
When their immune system misidentifies a foodborne protein as an invader. Meats and dairy can be the cause of it. Many lower-quality feline foods contain proteins that are found in grains and vegetables. This can be an allergy source. Cats are not meant to use vegetable proteins in replacement of animal proteins. Grain free cat food may be a way for you to assure that the grain proteins are the root cause.
Cornmeal is used as a filler in inexpensive cat foods. Many cats are allergic to corn. Typically, a reaction to corn is itchy, flaky skin.
They use meat byproducts in pet foods as a filler agent. Byproducts are not proteins that your cats’ bodies can process.
While kittens drink milk in the beginning stages of their life, once they are a few months old, they are weaned off. Cats are not able to digest milk and dairy products. The reaction they have is similar to a human who is lactose intolerant.
Ways to Help Your Cat
Dietary elimination may be the place to start if you are not sure exactly which protein or ingredient is the problem. If you are going to do this, it may be a good idea to consult with your vet first.
When your cat suffers from a sensitive stomach, it is even more important to feed the right cat food. High quality cat food really is the only option. Lower quality food will not have highly digestible ingredients. For a cat that is already suffering from food issues, the food needs to have the best ingredients.
Appropriate nutrition can help soothe a cat’s stomach. The correct food can help with recovery and minimize nausea and pain. Added moisture will help, which is why canned cat food is a great choice.
Lifestyle
With the right food can help your cat’s stomach improve, and once they feel better, it will be a lifestyle for them and you. Food allergies or intolerance may last a lifetime. However, once you can figure out the problem and solution, your cat will be back to its playful self.