Food Allergies, Intolerance & Your Cat's Sensitive Stomach

One of the more common complaints vets hear from cat parents is that their cat has a sensitive stomach and vomits — maybe once a week, maybe twice a week, but always on the carpet (or somewhere else that's hard to wash). Even though digestive upset in some cats can happen regularly, it is never normal, even if there is plant material or a hairball in the puddle on the floor.

There are a number of reasons why your cat may have a sensitive stomach.  It is important to always have your veterinarian assess your cat to help identify the cause and develop an individualized plan to manage the problem.  Today, we are just going to talk about two possible reasons for cats to have a sensitive stomach - food intolerance and food allergies.   While these two issues sound similar, they are not the same thing. 

Food Intolerance

Food intolerance is a term that refers to an abnormal response to a food that is not caused by the immune system and can occur in pets of all ages.  Causes of digestive upset due to food intolerance can include food poisoning, histamine in spoiled fish, lactose intolerance and getting into the garbage and eating things the pet would not normally receive.  Discussing the possible causes with your veterinarian is a good first step.   

Some cats with food intolerance may need a change in food.   One option your veterinarian may recommend for your kitty is to switch to an easily digestible food.

Easily Digestible Foods

Digestibility refers to how easily a cat or dog can process and get essential nutrients from what they eat.  The factors that most influence digestibility are the ingredients, ingredient quality and processing methods used in making a food. Foods for pets with sensitive stomachs are usually made with highly digestible ingredients but will also include a small amount of fiber to help support the pet’s gut microbiome.  They are also complete and balanced to make sure that your cat receives all of the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. 

Food Allergies

A food allergy is the result of an abnormal immune reaction to an ingested food.  Luckily, food allergies are uncommon in cats.   They can develop at any age but the pet must be repeatedly exposed to the offending allergen (for example, by eating it every day) to develop signs of a problem. Those signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, loss of appetite, itchy skin, hair loss or reddened skin.   If your pet shows any of these signs, it is time to visit your veterinarian.

True food allergies are rare in cats.  But, believe it or not, beef, dairy are the most common causes. If you've ever suspected your kitty may be reacting to an ingredient, you're not alone: Veterinary Practice News writes that most "food allergies" are misdiagnosed by concerned pet parents during a simple stomach upset. 

What to Do About Food Allergies

If you or your vet suspect this condition,then a therapeutic cat food may be part of the plan that your veterinarian recommends.

If you are thinking about heading down to the pet store and picking up some new food yourself instead of visiting the vet, wait a minute. This is a common pet parent mistake when dealing with a cat's sensitive stomach. Switching foods around will only confound the issue and make it harder for your vet to figure out the right way to treat your kitty's dietary woes.

The only way to accurately diagnose food allergy is with a strict diet trial. Food trials should be conducted with therapeutic foods specifically designed for this purpose.  We will discuss what makes these therapeutic foods so special in just a minute.  Limited-ingredient wellness foods found at the pet store should not be used.  Proper food trials will take about 10–12 weeks and your cat must eat the new food and nothing else — no treats, no scrambled eggs and no kitty toothpaste, unless it is cleared by your vet. If your cat has a true food allergy, then any sensitive stomach issues should clear up in 2 to 4 weeks.  Symptoms like itchy skin will take longer to resolve. If you have been religious about your food trial but your cat is still having problems, then the issue is unlikely to be a food allergy and your veterinarian may recommend additional testing to assess other causes.

“Hypoallergenic,” Novel and Hydrolyzed Protein Foods: What Are They?

While there are no official definitions for hypoallergenic pet foods, you may see products labeled as "hypoallergenic"  and people may use this term to describe a variety of different food types and ingredient combinations. Because 'hypoallergenic' is not a legally defined term for pet food, products may not be suitable or effective for cats with food allergies.   

There are 2 types of therapeutic foods your veterinarian may recommend if a food allergy is suspected.  The first type uses hydrolyzed proteins, which means the protein has been broken down into such small pieces that your cat's immune system does not recognize the allergen. The second type is a food with a novel protein like duck or venison.  These protein sources are likely new to your cat and therefore the immune system does not recognize them as a problem.