15 Best Cat Foods For Gassy Cats
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Everyone, including your cat, lets out a little gas now and then. Gas in your cat is usually not a concern.
However, if your cat has gotten increasingly gassy, and the gas is accompanied by other digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting, you should take action to solve this stinky problem.
Increased gassiness may indicate that your cat requires a diet modification and potentially veterinarian care to restore its digestive tract to normal.
A small amount of gas is normal. However, excessive gas, especially odorous gas, can suggest that something is amiss with the digestive tract.
Flatulence can be caused by a variety of factors, such as lactose intolerance, hairballs, a high fiber diet, a diet high in oily or otherwise unhealthy foods, or poor eating habits.
So, while you may not love it when your cat passes gas, it does not inherently imply that you have a huge problem on your hands.
The treatment for gas in cats differs depending on the underlying source of the gas.
For example, a veterinarian may advise you to change your diet or eating habits. They may also advise more physical activity to assist keep things moving in the digestive tract.
You should not attempt to treat your cat's gassiness on your own. Accurate diagnosis is critical, and your veterinarian's treatment recommendations will help you get rid of the gassiness.
The best treatment for your cat's flatulence is determined by the underlying cause. Improving your cat's diet or eliminating food allergies can both help.
Here are BestForPets' (bestforpets.org) top selections for the best cat foods for gassy cats.
Reviews
Canned Ziwi Peak Beef Recipe Cat Food
We offer high-quality canned food for gassy cats as an alternative to fresh cat chow.
This Ziwi Peak dish contains 92% meat, organs, bone, and green mussels from New Zealand, making it highly digestible and species-appropriate.
Grass-fed beef and a variety of natural ingredients are always included in ZiwiPeak cat food. If you’re not sure how sensitive your cat is to specific foods, this brand might be worth a shot.
For cats who are allergic to beef, Ziwi Peak offers lamb, rabbit, and mackerel as protein alternatives.
This composition is not only high in animal protein and moisturizing moisture, but it also has a thick loaf texture that many cats enjoy.
Because the ingredients are few, the cuisine should be simple to digest. This food contains no additional carbs.
On the negative side, not all cats will enjoy this meal, but that is true of even the best cat food. Some cats are simply choosy about what they eat, and ZiwiPeak’s choices may not appeal to them.
Pros
- Contains 92% flesh, organs, and bone.
- A single high-quality animal protein source
- Moisture-rich for optimal hydration
- Grain-free, with no fillers or artificial additions
Cons
- Fairly costly
- Some cats loathe the taste.
Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken Dry Food is the best dry cat food
Improving your cat’s diet’s quality and digestibility can assist with flatulence and other digestive difficulties.
This Open Farm dry food mix contains humanely farmed turkey and chicken as the main ingredients, as well as three sources of additional protein, making it a very protein-rich dish for your cat.
This dry food mix offers a blend of superfoods, including pumpkin and cranberries, that give natural amounts of vital vitamins and minerals in addition to animal protein. These superfoods are additionally fortified with vitamins and minerals.
While this recipe has a lot of animal protein, it also has a lot of plant-based ingredients like legumes, garbanzo beans, and lentils.
Furthermore, the food’s dry matter carbohydrate content exceeds 35%, which is higher than we prefer.
Pros
- The major ingredients are humanely raised turkey and chicken.
- Several sources of additional animal protein
- Made with ingredients sourced ethically
- There are no fillers, byproducts, or substances with ambiguous names.
Cons
- Carbohydrate content (35%) is higher than normal.
- There are a lot of plant-based elements in this.
- It lacks the moisture that your cat requires.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe is the best wet cat food
Nature’s Variety makes this limited ingredient cat food in nearly every meat flavor imaginable.
Even the most picky cat should be able to fall in love with one of the flavor possibilities. Duck, rabbit, fish, lamb, beef, and chicken provide a wide choice of grain-free diet for your cat.
This recipe contains 95% chicken, turkey, and chicken liver, with the remaining 5% made up of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious components.
This food contains no potatoes, corn, soy, or wheat, making it perfect for cats with digestive disorders. In reality, the component list is relatively small, which is beneficial to digestion.
This canned food is free of grains and fillers, as well as typical thickeners like as guar gum, xanthan gum, and carrageenan. It has an easy-to-digest pâté texture and lots of moisture to keep your cat hydrated and healthy.
Pros
- Contains a lot of high-quality animal protein
- Ingredients are rather restricted.
- Contains no added carbs.
- Moisture content is enough for hydration.
Cons
- A little costly
- This is not a one-source protein recipe.
Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Cat Food is a top choice
If you feel that the quality of your cat’s diet is causing him flatulence, consider switching to a freeze-dried formula containing a novel protein source.
This Stella & Chewy’s Absolutely Rabbit dish is prepared with 98% rabbit meat, organs, and pulverized bone, making it a species-appropriate source of balanced nutrition for your cat.
This dish includes olive oil and pumpkin seed in addition to the rabbit and rabbit liver.
We prefer to avoid plant-based ingredients in cat food, however when paired with nutritional supplements, these substances account for only 2% of the whole formula.
The freeze-dried formulation maintains the moisture level of the recipe very low – only about 5%.
While Stella & Chewy’s recommends feeding this product as is, we recommend rehydrating it with water or bone broth first.
This is the greatest approach to ensure your cat’s water needs are satisfied, and it may also improve food digestibility.
Pros
- Unique animal protein from a single source
- Contains 98% meat, organs, and crushed bone.
- To assure quality, limited batches are prepared.
- Free of common allergies and artificial ingredients
Cons
- A little costly
- To give moisture, it must be rehydrated.
Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Entrée Wet Cat Food is the best value
If your cat isn’t sensitive to chicken, this Wellness canned food mix could be an excellent choice.
This recipe is loaded with high-quality animal protein because it is made with fresh chicken, chicken liver, and turkey. The formula also includes the moisture your cat requires for proper hydration.
This dish is not only high in protein, but it is also reasonably priced at less than $0.30/ounce. The ingredient list is relatively minimal, with only whole-food ingredients and no chemical additions or fillers.
There are a few plant-based ingredients in it, but no grains. The formula’s total carbohydrate content is roughly 16% (we’d prefer to see it closer to 10%).
If your cat is allergic to chicken, Wellness’ Complete Health line includes turkey, turkey & salmon, and beef canned foods.
Pros
- Contains a lot of high-quality animal protein
- Contains the moisture your cat requires to stay hydrated.
- The list of whole-food ingredients is rather restricted.
- Artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors are not used.
Cons
- There isn’t a single protein recipe.
- Some unneeded plant components are included.
BLUE Basics Limited-Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is best for sensitive stomachs
Quality and digestibility are critical for cats with sensitive stomachs. Blue Buffalo Basics’ grain-free recipe uses a small number of ingredients to promote easy digestion.
It contains natural fiber sources such as pumpkin for extra support. Fresh deboned whitefish is the major item in this restricted ingredient diet, followed by menhaden fish meal as a concentrated source of additional animal protein.
Although canola oil and flaxseed are the most common forms of added fat, fish oil is also included as an animal-based source of omega-3 fatty acids.
This product contains no grains, fillers, or artificial additives, but it does contain various plant-based ingredients such as peas, potatoes, and tapioca.
Although these are not intrinsically dangerous, we like to limit carbohydrate additives in cat food, particularly legumes and starchy components like potatoes. This formula has a high carbohydrate content (45%).
Pros
- Two excellent protein sources
- No fillers, grains, or artificial ingredients
- For optimum digestibility, the primary ingredients are kept to a minimum.
Cons
- A little costly
- It lacks the moisture that your cat requires.
- Carbohydrates are abundant.
Natural Balance LID Limited Ingredient Diets Duck & Green Pea Formula Wet Food is the best novel protein
A limited ingredient diet can often help cats with food allergies and sensitivities.
Natural Balance’s duck and green pea mix contains premium-quality duck as the major ingredient and a single source of new animal protein.
Duck liver, pea protein, ground peas, salmon oil, and duck meal are the only other primary ingredients.
We like that the only added fat in this formula is animal-based (salmon oil), but we’d prefer to avoid the carbohydrate additives.
Pea protein is a protein supplement, however plant goods are less biologically helpful for your cat than animal proteins. This recipe has a relatively high carb level (18%).
This dish is free of grains, fillers, and artificial additives, as well as being high in animal protein and produced with a small number of ingredients.
If duck isn’t your cat’s preference, Natural Balance has a number of different limited ingredient diets available. Just make sure to read the ingredients list and avoid recipes that do not begin with an animal protein source.
Pros
- Made with a single new animal protein source
- Ingredients are few.
- Animal protein and moisture are abundant.
- Grain-free, with no fillers or artificial additions
Cons
- Contains plant protein concentration
- Carrageenan is present.
Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Taste Of The Wild Canned Food
Most Popular Cat Food for Gassy Cats: With hundreds of cat food brands available, it’s difficult to pick just one. If you’re not sure where to begin, a well-known brand like Taste of the Wild is a good place to start.
This company is noted for incorporating superior roasted meats into all of their dishes, along with other natural, easily digested ingredients.
The major ingredient in this Rocky Mountain canned food is fresh salmon, with additional protein from chicken liver, fresh chicken, smoked salmon, and roasted venison.
It contains sunflower oil, which provides omega-6 fatty acids to balance out the omega-3s from the fish, as well as chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption.
There are also plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to give natural supplies of essential nutrients.
Pros
- Loaded with fresh salmon as the first ingredient, a rich blend of omega fatty acids, a highly digestible natural recipe, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a high protein and moisture content.
Cons
- Plant protein is present (peas)
Canned Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Cat Food
Best Gassy Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs: Food sensitivities and allergies can induce flatulence in cats, among other unpleasant symptoms.
Consider this Ziwi Peak Lamb Formula canned food if you want to feed your cat a highly digestible recipe designed with a limited list of ingredients.
It contains 92% meat, organs, and green mussels, giving it a low-carbohydrate formula.
It contains actual lamb as the major component, as well as lamb lung, kidney, liver, tripe, and heart for flavor, protein, and necessary elements.
Chickpeas are the only carbohydrate in this recipe and offer a grain-free option.
This recipe combines a high concentration of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, as well as all of the nutrients required for full and balanced nutrition.
Pros
- Real lamb is the first ingredient, with 92% lamb flesh and organs, a low-carbohydrate recipe, comprehensive and balanced nutrition, and chelated mineral additions.
Cons
- Quite rich in calories (pay attention to feeding recommendations)
Original Kitten Grain-Free Dry Food by Instinct By Nature’s Variety
Best Kitten Food for Gassy Kittens: Try this Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Kitten recipe dry food to get your kitten started right while also reducing gas.
Its first ingredient is cage-free chicken, and it comprises 81% real animal ingredients and nutritional oils.
This formula provides a variety of additional proteins, including turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, and white fish meal, as well as healthy fats that give a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
This recipe also contains DHA, which promotes healthy brain and eye development. This kitten chow is created with whole-food components, including fresh fruits and vegetables, which are natural sources of important nutrients.
It also has vitamins and chelated minerals for nutritional balance, as well as freeze-dried chicken for flavor and nutrition.
Pros
- Cage-free chicken is the first element, followed by many additional proteins that are high in omega fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, highly digestible whole food ingredients, and a comprehensive and balanced diet.
Cons
- When compared to typical kitten food, it is somewhat pricey.
Allergies to Cat Food
Food allergies are one of the most common causes of cat gassiness. If something in your cat’s diet causes him discomfort, he may develop flatulence and other digestive disorders.
Bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, or a general disinterest in food may occur. Dairy is one of the most common causes of cat food allergies, but there are others. Common proteins such as chicken, beef, and fish are also on the list.
Some cats acquire grain allergies, such as wheat, corn, and soy, although grain allergies in pets are less prevalent than pet food marketers would have you believe.
A food trial with an exclusion diet is the most popular approach of discovering and treating cat food allergies. During this meal trial, your cat consumes only the elimination diet (no treats or scraps!) for approximately 8 to 12 weeks.
Your veterinarian may also advise you to switch to a limited ingredient food, preferably with key ingredients that your cat has never had before.
After about 8 weeks on the new diet, you should be able to tell whether or not your cat’s symptoms are improving. If they are, it’s likely that something in the prior diet was the source of the problem.
From there, you can start introducing probable allergies one at a time to determine which one is causing your cat’s flatulence, and then just avoid that item.
Unfortunately, cat food allergies appear to be on the rise, particularly in cats who eat a low-quality diet.
Artificial additives and low-quality ingredients can cause allergies in cats, which is yet another reason to feed your cat the best diet you can afford on a continuous basis.
If you are unsure what is causing your cat’s flatulence, consult with your veterinarian for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment advice.
Cat Flatulence: What Causes It?
Although cat food allergies are a common cause of flatulence, it’s best to weigh all of your choices and consult with your veterinarian before changing your cat’s diet or lifestyle.
Let’s look at some of the most common reasons of cat gassiness:
- High-fiber diet – Cats have a limited ability to digest plant matter, particularly plant fiber, so a high-fiber diet may produce gassiness.
- Diet allergies – If your cat has difficulty digesting a particular ingredient in his food, he may have gassiness and other digestive problems.
- Intestinal parasites – A variety of intestinal parasites can disrupt your cat’s digestive tract and create a variety of symptoms, including flatulence.
- Inadequate exercise – Regular exercise is important for general health and helps your cat’s digestion. Constipation and gassiness might result from a lack of activity.
- Consuming ruined or rubbish food – According to catster.com, eating improper foods, such as garbage or spoiled food, can cause indigestion and gassiness.
The best treatment for cat flatulence is determined on the underlying cause, which can be determined by your veterinarian. Here are some of the most effective remedies for feline gassiness:
- Treat intestinal parasites – Deworming medication is required to kill intestinal parasites in your cat.
- Remove food allergies – Simply removing substances known to cause gas or allergies can make a significant difference in your cat’s digestion.
- Feed smaller meals – Eating too quickly or too much at once can result in gas. Constipation and indigestion can be avoided by eating smaller, more frequent meals.
- Keep your cat away from the trash can – Keep an eye on what your cat is eating and make sure he is not eating garbage, food scraps, or damaged food. You may need to erect physical obstacles to prevent your cat from accessing the trash.
The majority of the time, the gas will pass on its own. If you detect an increase in your cat’s flatulence or it is accompanied by other digestive issues, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible to have your cat examined.
We submitted samples for analysis at an ISO 17025 certified food testing and analysis facility in addition to completing our own qualitative study of the brands featured here.
We paid full retail price for the products, and All About Cats supported the entire testing procedure with no direct input or influence from the firms involved.
The exact macronutrient and micronutrient composition of each dish is determined through analytical testing at a food chemistry lab.
The tests also look at microbiological content, yeast, mold, and heavy metals, allowing you to guarantee that you’re only giving your cat the best.
FAQs
Does moist cat food cause gas in cats?
Because every cat is different, some may have less gas on dry food versus wet food, or they may respond better to specific ingredients than others.
Typically, the issue is with the ingredients. Legumes and cruciferous vegetables are two of the most gas-producing foods.
What do you feed a gassy cat?
If your cat has a lot of gas, consider lowering the fiber content and increasing the digestion of his food.
If you feel that your cat has acquired food allergies, try providing smaller, more often meals and explore an elimination diet.
What is the easiest meal to digest for cats?
A high-quality diet made up of healthy whole foods is the easiest food for cats to digest. Meat-based meals with a higher moisture content, such as wet food, are often preferred.
Conclusion
Your cat is not alone in experiencing farts from time to time. In many situations, it’s merely a minor stomach disturbance that will go away on its own.
However, if your cat has frequent gas, a nutritional modification may be required.
Giving your cat a nutritious, readily digestible diet will help minimize gas, increase energy, boost immunity, and promote long-term health and wellness.
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has compiled a list of the best cat foods for gassy cats, but remember that every cat is unique.
If your cat has food allergies, you must choose carefully. Consult your veterinarian about dietary adjustments that may assist your cat’s gassiness.
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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