Best Cat Food For Diarrhea (2024): 11 Foods To Feed Cats With Diarrhea

If your cat has diarrhea, the first thing you'll be thinking is, “What to feed a cat with diarrhea to fix this?". Don’t panic. This is our very detailed guide to why your cat has diarrhea and what we have found is the best cat food for diarrhea.

Let’s be honest up front: no one loves talking about cats with diarrhea! But it’s a topic we need to discuss, especially when it comes to the immediate and long-term health of your feline companion.

Just like in humans, a cat having diarrhea is a normal occurrence that could be caused by many different things. It could be a “one and done” situation, or it could occur more regularly.

Also like humans, each cat is different and has different sensitives and digestive health. If your cat is experiencing regular diarrhea, then a new cat food diet may be in order as the long term solution.

After going over our testing and community survey in this article, you will know the best cat foods for diarrhea.

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food For Sensitive Stomach & Skin is widely recognized as an exceptional option for cats experiencing diarrhea due to several important factors. Our community also highlighted it as the recipe they turn to when their cat has this issue.

Firstly, it incorporates a precise combination of high-quality ingredients that are easily digested, effectively alleviating digestive disturbances and encouraging regular healthy bowel movements.

The formula is crafted to include the perfect levels of fiber, which plays a crucial role in regulating the digestive system and minimizing the occurrence of diarrhea. Furthermore, this cat food is fortified with vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that actively support gastrointestinal well-being, fortify the immune system, and foster a healthy gut environment.

3 Top Cat Foods For Diarrhea Picks – Best, Value & Premium

We all know cats are picky eaters and can have very sensitive stomachs at times. We also know that some of these dedicated foods do not come cheap so we have researched a range of leading cat foods for diarrhea.

We will begin with a best pick, a value pick and a premium choice pick.

So that’s a quick chart showing the top cat foods for diarrhea. Now let’s take a deeper look at why we chose these. 

In our testing, we also have the added advantage of being able to tap into our We Love Cats and Kittens social media community of over 1 million + followers.

We always ask them to get involved with our research and to give us their recommendations. All of these foods for cats with diarrhea have worked for members of our community.

My Cat Has Diarrhea! Why is This?

What is Diarrhea?

Most people are familiar with diarrhea and it appears in cats much as it does in humans. Diarrhea is categorized by loose and sometimes runny or watery stools. Some cats with diarrhea may go to the litter box more than usual, as well.

Diarrhea is caused by fecal matter moving through your cat’s digestive system faster than normal while not absorbing as much water and nutrients in the process. This could be due to bacteria, viruses, worms, or even food.

Monitor Your Cat's Litter Box

Some cats are more prone to diarrhea than others and most of the time, diarrhea will clear up on its own. However, it is important that you monitor your cat’s litter box trips and (I'm sorry!) investigate their cat litter so that you know when your cat has diarrhea, how long it lasts, and how frequently it is happening.

Is the Cat Diarrhea a One-Off or Regular?

Just like humans, cats’ bowel habits can change every so often. They could have a random day of diarrhea and be fine the next. You shouldn’t be too terribly concerned if your cat has diarrhea, because it’s a natural occurrence.

However, if they start having diarrhea regularly, you may need to help them get their bowels back to normal. Some cats just have sensitive stomachs and require a different diet to alleviate it. If this is a frequent occurrence with your cat, you should consider trying a new cat food.

My Cat Has Diarrhea: is it Due to Food he has Eaten?

Diarrhea in cats is caused by food more often than you think. It could happen because they ate something they weren’t supposed to. Or it could happen when their food or meal plans are changed too quickly.

To prevent cat diarrhea when changing up your cat’s diet, make sure to do it slowly over the span of a week while mixing it with some of their old food, adding a little more new food each time.

Another way food is the culprit behind diarrhea in your cat is its ingredients. Some of the cheapest cat food may have ingredients that can contribute to stomach upsets and some cat foods are simply harder to digest than others. And if your cat already has a sensitive stomach, these cat foods could cause diarrhea pretty frequently.

The best way to determine if food is to blame for your cat’s diarrhea is to try feeding them a gentle formula.

Read this next: 12 Best Cat Foods for a Sensitive Stomach

Is Cat Diarrhea an Emergency?

If your cat has chronic diarrhea (i.e. they aren’t even making it to the litter box or they aren’t ever having a solid stool), you should go to the vet for advice. They can help you get down to the root of the problem. Not to mention, long term diarrhea can cause health problems brought on by dehydration.

Symptoms of Cat Diarrhea

Besides the soft, loose or runny stools cats experience when they have diarrhea, there are a handful of other symptoms they may have. They could have one of these symptoms or a combination of them, so make sure you are keeping a close on your kitty companion.

Dehydration is Caused by Cat Diarrhea

The biggest concern for cat’s who have diarrhea is dehydration. Since diarrhea keeps your cat from absorbing water and other nutrients, they could easily become dehydrated if diarrhea lasts for a long time.

Tiredness

Tiredness is another symptom of diarrhea, as well as dehydration. If your cat is acting overly lethargic and not doing as much as they normally do on a daily basis, check their litter box for signs of diarrhea.

Fever

A fever is another symptom of cat diarrhea, but one that is not easily determined. If you suspect your cat has a fever and you are brave enough to attempt to take their temperature, do so carefully.

Cat Diarrhea and Vomiting Combined

Vomiting is another sign of diarrhea, especially if the diarrhea is caused by a virus. Like in humans, any issue in the digestive tract or stomach is prone to mess with bowels as well as cause vomiting.

Some cats naturally vomit regularly, especially if they are prone to hairballs. But, if your cat is throwing up in conjunction with diarrhea, a bigger issue may be at hand.

Cat Food For Diarrhea - Buyer's Guide

Cat food that is specifically made to help cats with diarrhea will focus on improving your cat's digestive health.

Cats fed this specialized food should get the benefits of premium, high-quality, easily digestible ingredients that are used in the recipes so that they can soothe their troubled digestive systems.

Choosing what to feed a cat with diarrhea means you're going to choose formulas that are made mainly from gentle, non-irritating ingredients, often excluding common allergens and any ingredients (including additives) that are likely to disrupt a cat's digestive system.

This will mean that your cat should have a reduced risk of stomach discomfort and will prevent ongoing adverse health effects related to their stomach and digestive issues.

However, transitioning to specialized foods for cats with diarrhea isn't as simple as replacing one brand or formula with another. You'll need to consider the main ingredients that make a cat food suitable for cats with diarrhea. This means looking into everything from the quality and digestibility of ingredients to the presence of beneficial probiotics and prebiotics that can support a healthy gut environment.

Just as with organic or natural cat food, not all cat food for diarrhea is created equal. Some may only contain some beneficial elements, while other ingredients might still be too harsh for a sensitive stomach.

What to Look For in a Best Cat Food for Diarrhea

Must be Rich in Fiber

If you are looking for cat diarrhea treatment food that helps your cat have more natural bowels, the first thing you should look for is fiber. Fiber is great for helping firm up your cat’s stools by absorbing excess fluids that cause runny stools. For more insight read our best high fiber cat food guide.

There are also, unhelpfully, some types of diarrhea that are actually caused by high fiber and, in those cases the opposite approach of low fiber foods is needed. This is admittedly less common, so high fiber is the initial approach you should try.

High Protein

The next thing you should look for is high amounts of protein. Protein is what gives your cat energy which they may be lacking in if they have diarrhea. Protein also helps your cat build lean muscle and maintain a healthy weight, so it helps several areas of their health. There are recipes available that are specifically high protein cat foods.

Low in Carbohydrates

Anything other than low amounts of carbohydrates in food for cats with diarrhea will have a potential impact on their delicate digestive system. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have evolved to eat a diet primarily of just meat. So, in nature, they are going to eat very little, if any, carbohydrates.

Although cats can process carbohydrates to some degree, a diet that is too high in carbs will be harder for them to digest. This difficulty processing the carbohydrates in some foods can therefore upset an already distressed digestive system that is causing diarrhea.

Also, some carbohydrates can actually ferment in the gut, which then leads to the production of gas, discomfort and soft stools or runny poop!

So, when deciding what to feed cats with diarrhea, reducing the carbohydrate content in their food will alleviate these symptoms by decreasing the demands on their digestive system, which should contribute to faster recovery.

Free of Grains

This is an extension of the issue with carbohydrates, as grains are in that category.

Like humans, cats can be very sensitive to grain and many cats have a problem digesting any type of grain. Even though cats are carnivores, they can still digest grain. However, sensitivity or allergy to grain or gluten may be the cause of their diarrhea without you realizing it.

If you want a quick way to see if your cat is especially sensitive to grain, try a grain-free cat food and see if their diarrhea eases up.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics have become pretty common staples for humans looking to regulate their digestive system, and they can do the same thing for cats. Specifically, prebiotics are nutrients that help to stimulate your cat’s digestive system.

This helps them produce more good gut bacteria and reduces the chances of digestive issues like diarrhea. Having prebiotics in your cat’s food can assist with cat diarrhea treatment.

Organic or Natural

Another way to rule out certain factors of cat food that causes diarrhea is by going for an organic cat food or natural one. Many cat foods that are non-organic or non-natural typically contain GMOs and those GMOs could be the cause of your cat’s diarrhea.

Vitamins and Nutrients

If your cat just naturally has a sensitive stomach and digestive system, some vitamins may be in order to help make their daily trips to the litter box easier on them. Vitamins A, E, and C are essential vitamins that help. These vitamins are also great for muscle and immune system health.

FAQs

What to feed a cat with diarrhea

Any of the foods we've covered in this group test are ideal foods for cats with diarrhea. High in protein, low in carbohydrate and with plenty of fiber are your key guidelines.

You might also consider trying a pumpkin supplement as a fiber supplement as it is fiber rich and can help bind soft stools. Our recommended Smalls cat food has a fish recipe that includes pumpkin that would perform well.

Also a Metamucil supplement can work very well. This is a bulk-forming agent that can very quickly increase stool density in cats with chronic diarrhea. In other words it can help create a firm stool and speed up diarrhea recovery.

Also there are some combined supplements that are proven to clear up diarrhea very quickly. We highly recommend Purina Fortiflora that our community rates as very effective at rapidly stopping diarrhea.

Remeber, that's a treatment to help in the moment, but you will need to change your cat's food to stop their inflamed gut causing diarrhea to return.

What foods should cats avoid with diarrhea?

Firstly, dairy products should be avoided as cats are lactose intolerant and consuming dairy can worsen diarrhea. Additionally, high-fat foods such as fatty meats, fried foods, and oily treats should be avoided as they can be difficult for cats to digest and may further upset their stomachs.

Foods that are high in carbohydrates, such as grains and (most) vegetables, should also be avoided as they can worsen diarrhea. Lastly, it is crucial to steer clear of any human foods that are toxic to cats, including onions, garlic, chocolate, and caffeine, as they can cause digestive issues and potentially harm their overall health.

Is wet food or dry food better for cats with diarrhea?

When deciding whether to opt for wet or dry cat food for a cat experiencing diarrhea, wet cat food is generally considered the best choice.

Wet cat food possesses a higher moisture content, which aids in keeping the cat hydrated and facilitates the softening of stool. Wet cat food is also usually preferable due to its lower carbohydrate and higher protein content, both of which aid digestion.

Also take into consideration that the increased water content in wet cat food enhances its digestibility and often features superior-quality ingredients. The presence of moisture in wet food contributes to the regulation of the digestive system and the promotion of healthier bowel movements. 

However, if you have other concerns and reasons to feed dry cat food, then you should ensure it's low in carbohydrates and easily digestible.

Can sensitive stomach cat food cause diarrhea?

While sensitive stomach cat food is specifically designed to be gentle on a cat's digestive system, it is conceivable that it can occasionally result in diarrhea. Each cat has their own unique characteristics, including varying sensitivities or allergies.

Despite sensitive stomach cat food being formulated for easy digestion, certain ingredients within it can still provoke adverse reactions in certain cats, leading to diarrhea. It is important to introduce new food gradually and carefully observe the cat's response.

If diarrhea persists or worsens following the transition to sensitive stomach cat food, it is advisable to seek veterinary guidance in order to identify the underlying cause and explore alternative dietary options.

Best Cat Foods for Diarrhea Control: The Verdict

When it comes to our feline friends, we would do anything to make them healthier and happier kitties. That’s why if your cat is experiencing regular cat diarrhea, it is well worth it to spend a little extra and get them only the best cat foods for diarrhea control. 

Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food is the best overall option for sensitive stomachs that are prone to diarrhea. Not only is it the number one veterinarian-recommended cat food for digestion, but it is also easy to digest, includes prebiotic fiber for good gut bacteria, and includes vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids.

Not to mention, it has proven to reduce cat diarrhea and vomiting and makes litter box cleanup easier for their humans. That sounds like a win to us!

As so often, we also recommend that you look at Smalls cat food as a holistic healthy diet for your cats that can often help with all dietary issues.

This is because the ingredients and recipe are such high quality. It often works very well in reducing gut inflammation in cats and it turns out to be a great cat food for a firm stool.