A common complaint 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 individualised plan to manage the problem. Today, we are just going to talk about the two possible reasons for cats to have a sensitive stomach -- food intolerance and food allergies. While these two reasons 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 cats 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 cat 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 a more 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 fibre 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, diarrhoea, flatulence, loss of appetite, itchy skin, hair loss or reddened skin. If your pet shows any of these signs, it’s time to visit your veterinarian.

Believe it or not, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) states that fish, beef and dairy are the most common causes of food allergies in cats. They point out that true food allergies are actually quite rare, and are often misunderstood in pets because they don’t always show up the same way as allergies would in humans. For that reason, if you suspect your cat has a food allergy, it’s best to have this investigated and confirmed by your vet.