Feline health issues such as bad digestion, gastritis, IBD can cause your pet cat to vomit now and then, especially as they grow old. If you are a pet parent who experiences feline vomiting routinely, getting the right food for your pet can be challenging. You need to check for ingredients that might upset their stomach or induce vomiting episodes.
However, you can help your cats stay healthy with the right weight and nutrients at their disposal with the right diet.
So, how would you narrow down the best cat food for older cats that vomit?
With a plethora of choices and brands available in the market, the task of finding the best cat food to prevent vomiting can get even more confusing. Issues such as food sensitivities, increased hairballs, & eating the food too quickly can induce vomiting spells for your pet cat.
Moreover, vomiting could also be a major symptom of undetected issues such as organ failure or diabetes. Hence, you must contact your veterinarian and seek recommendations for the best diet to decrease or halt the vomiting issues.
| Image | Brand | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 TopTop | Iams | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 TopTop | Blue Buffalo | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 TopTop | Hill's Science Diet | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | PetUltimates | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
If you are petting an old cat then it’s better to consider the food for old cats first; because a specific life stages formula has many things that solve health-related problems.
Basic Changes in Older Cats that Induce Vomiting
Before you narrow down the factors that induce vomiting in older cats, you must first understand the changes that occur in the feline body as your cat gets old.
Slow Metabolism:
As the cat ages, its metabolism decreases, followed by reduced activity levels. This leads to significant weight gain in cats with time. When left unchecked, obesity can carve the path to other health issues that induce vomiting.
Grain or Meat Sensitivity:
Certain grains or meats might trigger inflammation in the feline’s digestive tract. If your cat is one such feline, it can make them sick or uncomfortable post food consumption.
Difficulty in Breaking Down Food:
With age, the cat’s digestive tract becomes weak. As a result, the old cats find it hard to digest the food & extract the nutrients and fat content properly. This causes the cats to feel hungrier compared to when they were younger. Moreover, eating food too quickly can trigger vomiting.
What are the Reasons for Your Old Cat to Throw Up or Vomit?
There are multiple reasons for an old cat to vomit post food consumption. The best option is to get in touch with your veterinarian. The common reason for your cat to vomit can be:
Hairballs:
When searching for the best cat food for sensitive stomach vomiting, make sure you pick something formulated to reduce hairball issues. Felines tend to lick themselves to keep clean. However, the process leads to the ingestion of the fur. This ingestion can build up within the digestive tract & cause stomach issues. This can lead to the cat throwing up after ingestion of food.
UTI or Urinary Tract Infection:
Infections in the body of any type can cause digestive issues. Moreover, UTIs are a common occurrence in old cats. If your feline has a concurrent or chronic infection, they will throw up more often. As this infection worsens, the incidents of vomiting can also be manifold.
Consuming Something Inedible:
Cats, just like dogs, are very curious. As a result, they can consume something that isn’t meant to be eaten. Things such as pieces of plastic, strings, fibers, bottle caps, etc., can make their way into your cat’s stomach. This is when the stomach starts to dispel the inedible pieces. The symptoms can show up as vomiting or runny stool.
Diabetes:
Another long-term reason for your cat to be experiencing vomiting is diabetes. This problem is common among house cats as they get old, especially the overweight ones. This disease causes excessive thirst, and if your feline drinks a lot of water in a short time, the influx could cause vomiting.
Selecting the Best Cat Food for Cats Who Vomit
Now that you know why your cat might vomit let us understand the ingredients that should be a part of your old cat’s diet.
High-Quality Protein:
Your pet’s food should consist of high-quality protein acquired from organic sources. Opting for whole meat is a healthier choice for felines. In addition, older cats find it easier to digest the whole meat than the by-products or meat meals.
Whole Grains:
Like selecting a whole meat source, the cat’s food should also contain whole grain. They are nutritionally better as compared to grain meals. You can seek food ingredients such as white rice, brown rice, corn, soy, or wheat. Ideally, rice is easier to digest and break down by your cat’s digestive tract.
Fiber:
Fiber is an ideal ingredient that helps regulate your feline’s digestive tract. As a result, it aids the digestive system and prevents upset stomach or constipation issues. It also allows your feline to get the required nutrients from the food.
Antioxidants:
With food items that contain antioxidants, you can help support your old cat’s health while facilitating the immune system to repair the cellular damage. Food items with green, leafy structures can be a great source of antioxidants. You can also look for blueberries in your cat food.
Top 3 Cat Foods for Older Cats that Vomit
1. The Best Cat Food for Older Cats that Vomit
If your cat regularly deals with hairball-induced vomiting, the IAMS Proactive cat food is a perfect choice. This adult cat food is an ideal turkey and chicken protein mix from reliable sources.
Its nutrient-rich formula helps support muscle growth & provides the old felines with the required energy to engage in active playtime. The formula also helps burn the unwanted fat from the body & maintains a healthy metabolism given the presence of L-carnitine.
IAMS Proactive also helps reduce the incidents of hairballs that lead to vomiting issues when left unchecked. This formula is a tailored & proprietary blend of fiber that includes healthy beet pulp. It also helps maintain your cat’s weight at a healthy level.
Pros:
- Ideal to ensure hairball care for cats to reduce induced vomiting
- Provides old cats with a top-notch protein-based meal
- It contains 10 percent less fat compared to other choices in the market
- Nourishes the cat with Omega-3 & 6
- Ensures that the cat’s skin and fur remains healthy
Cons:
- Pellet size is a bit too hard
- Some cats don’t love recent recipe change
2. Blue Buffalo Natural Sensitive Stomach Adult Cat Food:
Enriched with the goodness of brown rice and chicken, the Blue Buffalo adult cat food for sensitive stomachs is perfect for helping reduce vomiting instances. In addition, the formula contains all-real meat acquired from healthy and high-quality chickens that helps maintain a strong muscle mass.
Blue Buffalo also contains wholesome garden veggies, whole grains, & fruit to ensure proper fiber goes into your feline’s stomach. Designed for felines with a sensitive stomach, this cat food has FOS prebiotics that helps support the feline’s digestive health while promoting nutrient absorption.
It also contains high-quality Omega fatty acids that help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. In addition, the cat food packs in exclusive LifeSource Bits contain the right amount of vitamins, minerals, & antioxidants.
Pros:
- Ingredients selected by high-trained nutritionists and veterinarians
- Made from all-natural ingredients enriched with minerals and vitamins
- It doesn’t contain by-product corn, meals, soy, wheat, preservatives, or artificial flavors
- Supports a healthy immune system
- Ensures a healthy muscle mass maintenance
Cons:
- Picky eaters don’t like taste and smell
- It might induce gastritis issues in certain cats
3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Cat Food for Vomit & Hairball Control:
When looking for the best cat food for cats that vomit, the Hill’s Science cat food for hairball and vomit control is ideal. This cat food helps support a healthy urinary system to ensure an optimum magnesium level in the body.
Hill’s Science is also a great source of high-quality natural fiber that helps with a comfortable reduction of hairballs in your cat’s stomach. This also helps reduce vomiting issues in cats with sensitive stomachs. In addition, the formula helps support a healthy coat and skin with the presence of vitamin E and Omega fatty acids.
Its high-quality protein content helps maintain the feline’s existing muscle mass and strengthen it with time. The formula contains all-natural ingredients, with chicken protein as its first ingredient.
Pros:
- Clinically proven formula with high-quality antioxidants
- Helps maintain healthy immunity with vitamin E & C
- It doesn’t contain any by-product or artificial flavors
- Low magnesium content helps maintain a healthy urinary system
- It helps maintain a healthy muscle mass to avoid obesity
Cons:
- Kibble size is too big for cats to chew with ease
- Pricey for a chicken-based dry cat food
If you are feeding your cat a priced-based formula that results in vomiting, then read Is rice an acceptable grain in cat food? To understand in which life stages you can feed rice to your cat and which rice are beneficial for cats. It will also help you narrow down options when you are Feeling Frustrated by Cat Food Options to pick one easily.
Conclusion
When searching for the best cat food for vomiting, it is ideal for keeping the ingredients all-natural. Make sure you avoid feeding highly processed food to your cat. Also, avoid feeding them food dyes, artificial flavors/colors/preservatives, rendered fats, meat meals, etc.
With these options available for your cat, you can now relax and watch your cat thrive with no instances of vomiting. If the problem persists, make sure you contact your veterinarian for a detailed checkup.