Does anyone have suggestions on what to feed a cat with an extremely sensitive stomach?

This is a classic case of an IBD cat. :o( Poor thing.

As a former IBD cat owner, I can attest that everything you need to know to cure your cat can be found at http://www.catnutrition.org/

Yes! I had one just like that.

The good news is that all the foods you've tried are BAD. Especially the Nutro - there may be problems with it.

Most cats with sensitive systems are reacting to the corn, wheat or soy that's present in most commercial cat foods, especially dry varieties.

All you need to do is feed better food - preferably canned - and the problem will likely clear up.

From my blog:

DIGESTIVE UPSETS IN CATS Sep 4, '07 10:59 AM

for everyone

Digestive upsets can take more than one form and of course may have more than one cause.

One symptom is vomiting and the other is loose stool or diarrhea. And then there's farting.

Diarrhea is much more serious and a cat suffering from it should always be checked by a vet asap.

In cases of loose stool, a sample should be taken to the vet to rule out any parasites or conditions. Assuming there is none, then you have to look to the diet.

Ditto for vomiting. Excessive hairballs can often be dealt with by daily grooming. I'm not a big fan of supplementing for hairballs - I think the cause should be dealt with not just the symptoms. And I would never feed a hairball control food for the same reason, and because excess fiber isn't necessarily a good thing. UPDATE: My vet mentioned that fish oil may be of help with hairballs. I forget why, but I think she said it helps break them down, or aids in their digestion....either way, it's a good thing to add to the diet as it will also help skin and coat. It has an anti-inflammatory effect which may aid digestion as well.

But once you've ruled out diseases or parasites, the most likely culprit is diet. Crappy foods contain ingredients that many cats are unable to tolerate. But even some very good foods can disagree with a cat, either "just because" or perhaps because they've been switched to it too quickly. Or perhaps a particular protein source disagrees with the cat. UPDATE: My vet recommends the use of digestive enzymes when feeding foods that are higher in carbs. This will help the cat to digest them properly. They're not as necessary if you're feeding grainless foods.

Again, the solution in most cases is going to be to switch to another, perhaps better food. It does have to be done slowly, and you may have to try more than one food, but the results are worth it.

If it seems that you've tried every possible food and have been very patient in switching the cat to the new food, you might consider supplements. These include slippery elm or probiotics. I personally suggest Jarrow's Pet-Dophilus as a good probiotic. UPDATE: When you begin pro-b's, you may not notice an immediate improvement. Poppy actually got gas when I started her on them. My vet's recommendation is to not give them everyday - perhaps 2-3 times per week or every other day. Also, once you've finished a bottle, buy another brand. Variety is good here. And don't buy pro-b's for humans. It's not bad, it's just not the right stuff for them.

Slippery Elm can be used (if you know what you're doing) for constipation, diarrhea and loose stool - it's sovereign, in or out, and is not harmful - although it should not be given at the same time as any other medications because it tends to dilute their effects. It's considered to be a demulcent which affects water balance in the digestive system.

We have the same problem with our cat... could be a hairball problem... but we have also tried changing food several times... the one that works the best for us is a brand I know can be bought at Wal*Mart in Canada... it is called Actr1um... it is made with natural products and no by-products... we also feed her an all natural food from IAMS... Purina has a sensitive stomach food in their line of brands... if your cat isn't picky about what they eat... trying bland human food might do the trick... could be our cats are carb sensitive and don't handle grains well... ours is a picky eater... we finally found a soft food she'll consistently eat... Meow Mix has one that isn't made with beef or by-products... which is good... I've often wondered why beef was on the menu for cats... I've never seen one hunt a cow... good luck... I hope your cat gets better...

They acually make several diffrent foods made especially for cats with sensitive stomachs, like these :

Eukanuba makes one called Eukanuba Sensitive Stomach Adult Cat

Royal Canin also makes one called Royal Canin Special 33 Feline Nutrition

Nutro Natural Choice™ Complete Care™ Senior

Purina One Adult Cat Sensitive Formula

Science Diet Sensitive Stomach for Adult Cats

Pro Plan Extra Care Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula for Cats

Hill's Prescription Diet Feline i/d

Good luck !

I would try her with very bland food like chicken and rice. Feline ID make foods that are gentle to a cats stomach and are used to feed cats after surgery when digestion is not at its best.

Good luck, hope he feels better soon.

Science Diet has another one in wet and dry called I/D. Try that to. Hopefully she will grow out of it in time. I sympathize with you. Have you considered a specialist? Perhaps an allergist even?

Good luck!

I have the same problem. The one thing I've learned is not to keep changing their food. You think you are helping but it upsets their stomach even more. Try to find something bland for him and stick to it.

Try a chicken and rice diet. Most cats love it.