We all pass gas from time to time, it’s just a fact of life. You probably don’t spend much time worrying about it, but when it comes to your cat it might be a whole different story. We don’t often think of our pets having the same digestive issues we do, but they definitely can. Nothing is worse than a cat with awful gas!
Smalls Human-Grade Smooth Bird Fresh Cat Food
- Natural sources of taurine
- High in protein
If your cat is more gassy than usual, it could be something in his food or it might be a reaction to an internal issue. Occasional flatulence is generally nothing to worry about, but if it becomes increasingly more frequent you may want to check in with your veterinarian. You should be particularly concerned if the gas is paired with diarrhea, vomiting, or a distended stomach.
In this article, we’ll explore the subject of gas in cats to discover what causes it and what you can do about it (besides buying stock in air freshener). We’ll also talk about how changing your cat’s diet could help and provide you with tasty recommendations for the best cat food for gassy cats.
What Is The Best Food For Gassy Cats?
- Smalls Smooth Bird Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
- Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free
- American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe
- Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
- Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Kitten
- Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken
- Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free
- Halo Chicken Stew Recipe Grain-Free
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free
- Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Grain-Free
What Causes Flatulence in Cats?
Your cat’s digestive system is responsible for breaking down the food he eats so the nutrients can be absorbed. The digestive system is made up of several different organs that all work together to do their jobs. When something interferes with the natural order of things, it can result in digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, or changes in your cat’s stool.
Flatulence in cats starts with an internal issue. As your cat’s body breaks down food, it may put off certain by-products such as gas. The gas builds up in your cat’s digestive tract until it eventually exits the body, sometimes in a pretty smelly way. As unpleasant as gas may be for you, it can also be unpleasant for your cat. Excess gas can increase pressure in your cat’s intestines, causing discomfort or even pain.
How do you know if your cat has gas?
It may seem like an obvious question, but you may not actually notice your cat passing gas unless it has a strong odor attached to it. Intestinal gas is largely odorless, so you may need to look for additional signs such as the following:
- Rumbling in the intestinal tract
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating or distended stomach
- Changes in stool
- Vomiting
Noticing the signs of gas in cats is one thing, but determining the underlying cause is another. When you notice symptoms, you’ll want to make note of your cat’s eating and litter box habits as well because this information provides key pieces to the puzzle to help your vet diagnose the issue.
Some of the most common causes of gas in cats are:
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Intestinal parasites
- Overeating or eating too fast
- Consuming spoiled food
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Difficulty digesting food
- Malabsorption of nutrients
- Food intolerance or allergy
- High-fiber diet
- Constipation
Now that you have a better idea what causes gas in cats, you may be wondering what to do about it. The first step is to talk to your veterinarian to rule out underlying conditions like parasites and internal infections. If your cat is otherwise healthy, it’s time to take a closer look at his diet.
How Can Changing Your Cat’s Diet Help?
If your cat is gassier than usual, ask yourself what has changed in the past few days. If you’ve just changed your cat’s diet or gave him a new kind of treat, it’s a good bet that you’ve already identified the problem. If you don’t see any recent changes that might be causing your cat’s gas, you may need to have your veterinarian look a little closer to identify the underlying cause.
Treating your cat’s gas can be simple or complex, depending on the cause. Medical treatment may be required if your cat’s issues are caused by an underlying health problem like inflammatory bowel disease or a bacterial infection. In these cases, treating the problem should resolve the gas as well as any other symptoms. In other cases, dietary changes may be the key.
The first thing you need to think about is whether your cat might be allergic or sensitive to something in his food. Cats can develop food allergies to common proteins like chicken, beef, and fish as well as dairy products and low-quality grains like corn, wheat, and soy. By-products and artificial additives can also trigger digestive issues in cats, so consider switching to a higher quality food made with all-natural ingredients to ensure digestibility.
What about fiber? Though dietary fiber can help regulate your cat’s digestion, too much fiber could cause digestive issues like gas. If your cat’s fiber intake is too high, consider switching to a low fiber cat food. Canned food tends to be lower in carbohydrate content than dry food, but you still need to check the guaranteed analysis to be sure. Another option is to simply choose a sensitive stomach cat food to help improve digestibility and reduce the risk for triggering an allergy or intolerance.
What to Look for in a Good Cat Food for Gassy Cats
If your cat has bad gas and diarrhea or other digestive issues, talk to your veterinarian before changing his diet. As long as there aren’t any underlying health problems at play, making adjustments to your cat’s diet could help ease his digestion and reduce gas. The best cat food for gassy cats might look different for different cats, depending what ingredients are causing the problem. Generally speaking, however, you should feed your cat a high-quality, nutritionally balanced diet that is easy to digest.
Here are some general things to look for in a good cat food for gassy cats:
- Real animal protein. Cats require a high-protein diet, but you need to be careful where that protein comes from. Animal proteins like meat, poultry, and fish are the most digestible for cats, so look for a real animal protein as the first ingredient in your cat’s food.
- Low carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates can provide your cat with nutrients and energy as well as dietary fiber, but your cat’s ability to digest them is limited. Whole grains and fresh fruits or vegetables are the most biologically valuable and digestible sources. Just make sure that protein is the majority of your cat’s diet, not carbohydrates.
- Low to moderate fiber. Some fiber is beneficial to boost your cat’s digestion but too much fiber can have the opposite effect. Look for a maximum of 3% to 4% crude fiber in dry cat food.
- Highly digestible. Real, whole-food ingredients are the most digestible for cats which means less gas and more nutrients. Avoid by-products, fillers, and artificial additives at all costs.
- Complete and balanced. Your cat needs a diet high in protein with moderate fat and low carbohydrate content. The majority of his nutrition should come from animal sources, though most commercial cat foods contain vitamin and mineral supplements for nutritional balance.
How Do We Make Our Recommendations?
When it comes to cat food, quality is key. We would never recommend something we wouldn’t feed our own cats, so you can trust that every recommendation we make is good. That being said, we want to tell you how we make our recommendations so you can make an educated decision for your cat.
We understand that cats are obligate carnivores which means that they have a biological requirement for a high-protein diet. Every recipe we recommend starts with a real animal-based protein as the main ingredient and may contain several supplemental proteins as well. We look for animal-based fats with a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as limited content of digestible carbohydrates. Real, whole food ingredients are the best and should make up the majority of your cat’s diet.
Here are some of the general requirements for a cat food to receive our recommendation:
- A source of high-quality animal protein as the first ingredient
- At least 30% crude protein for kittens and at least 26% for adults
- A minimum of 9% crude fat for kittens and adults
- A balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, primarily from animal sources
- A rich blend of nutrients from natural sources and supplements, as needed
- Limited carbohydrate content from digestible sources (like whole grains and veggies)
- No low-quality fillers, by-products, or artificial additives (preservatives, dyes, or flavors)
When reviewing cat food, the first thing we do is compare it to AAFCO food nutrient profiles. These profiles simply outline the minimum nutritional needs of cats in various life stages (kitten or adult). If a cat food meets these requirements, it will carry an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy on the package. It should look something like this: [X Product] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages. After you have successfully determined that the formula is complete and balanced, you can go on to evaluating its quality.
The 10 Best Cat Foods for Gassy Cats
When it comes to picking cat food to reduce gas, it helps to know if your cat is allergic or sensitive to specific ingredients. Try switching your cat to a limited ingredient diet made with a novel protein for 8 to 12 weeks. If gas and other signs of food sensitivity disappear, you’ll know you found the problem. If you’re not sure what’s causing your cat’s gas, you can try switching to a higher quality, more digestible cat food like the ones we’ve recommended below:
| Our 2023 Picks: Best Cat Foods for Gassy Cats | |||
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Smalls Smooth Bird Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
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Taste Of The Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free
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American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe In Gravy
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Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Food
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Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Kitten
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Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Recipe
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Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe
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Halo Chicken Stew Recipe Grain-Free
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Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free
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Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Grain-Free
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Small Ground Bird Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
Overall Best Cat Food for Gassy Cats: High-quality nutrition is the key to healthy digestion in cats which is why we are such big fans of fresh food. Fresh cat food retains more of its original nutritional integrity than dry and canned foods which are highly processed and cooked at high temperatures. Our favorite fresh cat food company is Smalls. This company sends deliveries of fresh cat food right to your door in convenient single-serve pouches. Simply provide some basic information about your cat including his age, weight, and activity level and Smalls will calculate his calorie needs for you. You’ll then receive regular shipments of fresh cat food prepared weekly and shipped in pre-portioned packages – just open the bag and pour the contents into your cat’s bowl. Every recipe is made with real, whole food ingredients, guaranteed to deliver complete and balanced nutrition.
- Pros: Real whole food ingredients, fresh food made weekly, delivered right to your door, customized calorie content, pre-portioned packages easy to feed
- Cons: Only two recipes to choose from, significantly more expensive than traditional kibble
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Canned Food
Most Popular Cat Food for Gassy Cats: There are hundreds of cat food brands out there, so it’s difficult to choose just one. If you have no idea where to start, you can always go with a popular brand like Taste of the Wild. This brand is known for using premium roasted meats in all of their recipes with other natural, highly digestible ingredients. This Rocky Mountain canned food features fresh salmon as the main ingredient with supplemental protein from chicken liver, fresh chicken, smoked salmon, and roasted venison. It contains sunflower oil to provide omega-6 fatty acids to balance out the omega-3s from the fish and it is supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption. You’ll also find plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources for key nutrients.
- Pros: Loaded with real roasted meats, fresh salmon first ingredient, rich blend of omega fatty acids, highly digestible natural recipe, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in protein and moisture
- Cons: Contains some plant protein (peas)
American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Food
Most Affordable Cat Food for Gassy Cats: You don’t necessarily need to spend a small fortune to feed your cat well. This American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe canned food is highly affordable and high in quality. It features real chicken as the main ingredient with supplemental protein from chicken liver and dried eggs. Sunflower oil and fish oil provide a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat as well as strong immunity. This recipe is packed with fresh fruits and vegetables which provide natural sources for key nutrients, balanced out with vitamins and chelated minerals. Overall, this recipe is full of chicken flavor and provides a highly digestible source of complete and balanced nutrition.
- Pros: Real chicken first ingredient, rich in protein and flavor, highly digestible natural ingredients, grain-free recipe, real fruits and vegetables, chelated mineral supplements for optimal nutrient absorption
- Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (sunflower oil)
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Cat Food
Best Sensitive Stomach Cat Food for Gassy Cats: Food sensitivities and allergies can cause gas in cats as well as a whole host of other unpleasant symptoms. If you want to give your cat a highly digestible recipe made with a limited list of ingredients, consider this Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe canned food. It is made with 92% meat, organs, and green mussels, making it a very low-carbohydrate formula. It features real lamb as the main ingredient with lamb lung, kidney, liver, tripe, and heart for a boost of flavor, protein, and essential nutrients. Chickpeas are the only carbohydrate ingredient in this formula, and they are a grain-free option. This recipe contains a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus all of the necessary supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
- Pros: Real lamb first ingredient, 92% lamb meat and organs, low-carbohydrate recipe, complete and balanced nutrition, rich in real meat flavor, chelated mineral supplements
- Cons: Fairly high in calories (pay attention to feeding recommendations)
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Kitten Grain-Free Dry Food
Best Kitten Food for Gassy Kittens: If you want to start your kitten off right while also controlling gas, try this Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Kitten recipe dry food. It features cage-free chicken as the first ingredient and contains 81% real animal ingredients and nutritious oils. This formula contains several supplemental proteins from turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, and white fish meal as well as healthy fats to provide a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. This recipe is also rich in DHA to support healthy brain and eye development. This kitten food is highly digestible, made with whole-food ingredients including fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients. It also contains vitamins and chelated minerals for nutritional balance and freeze-dried chicken for a boost of flavor and nutrition.
- Pros: Cage-free chicken first ingredient, several supplemental proteins, rich in omega fatty acids, fresh fruits and vegetables, highly digestible whole food ingredients, complete and balanced
- Cons: Somewhat expensive compared to average kitten food
5 More Top-Rated Cat Foods for Gassy Cats
Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Food
If your cat prefers wet food, this Wellness Complete Health Pate Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Canned Food is one to consider. It features fresh chicken and chicken liver as the top two ingredients with fresh turkey as a supplemental source of protein. This formula contains carrots as the primary carbohydrate with other antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like cranberries. Flaxseed provides a healthy source of fat and dietary fiber. You’ll also find vitamin and chelated mineral supplements included for complete and balanced nutrition with optimal nutrient absorption.
Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food
Whether you have a gassy cat or kitten, this Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food is a great option. Formulated for cats of all ages, this recipe features deboned chicken as the main ingredient with chicken meal, turkey meal, and fresh cod as supplemental proteins. It contains chicken fat as a nutritious source of healthy fatty acids as well. This recipe is full of natural flavor and free from artificial additives, plus it contains a full 40% protein and 20% fat with 4% fiber.
Halo Chicken Stew Recipe Grain-Free Adult Canned Cat Food
Give your gassy cat the gift of premium quality nutrition with this Halo Chicken Stew Recipe Grain-Free Adult Canned Cat Food. This formula features real, whole chicken as the main ingredient and is completely free from rendered meat meals. It contains wholesome non-GMO fruits and vegetables in a nutritionally balanced, grain-free formula your cat will love. This recipe contains all of the essential nutrients your cat needs including vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients as well as supplemental taurine for healthy vision and a strong heart.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe Dry Food
Cats with food allergies require a limited ingredient diet and this Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Real Turkey Recipe is a perfect choice. Made with just a handful of natural ingredients and premium-quality protein, this recipe is highly digestible to help reduce gas. It features fresh turkey as the first ingredient and a single source of animal protein with turkey meal as a supplemental source. This recipe contains a rich blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, plus it is complete and balanced for healthy nutrition. Overall, it provides 32% protein and 13% fat with 4% fiber at 359 calories per cup.
Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Grain-Free Natural Dry Cat Food
If you’re looking for a protein-packed diet for your cat, consider this Earthborn Holistic Primitive Feline Grain-Free Natural Dry Cat Food. It features turkey meal and chicken meal as the top two ingredients, both highly concentrated sources of lean animal protein. This recipe contains chicken fat as a nutritious source of essential fatty acids as well to support your cat’s healthy skin and coat. It is rich in protein and healthy fat but only contains 3% fiber to ensure healthy digestion without excess gas. This recipe contains fresh fruits and vegetables like blueberries, apples, carrots, and spinach as nutrient-rich sources of vitamins and minerals to help ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much should I feed my cat? The amount you feed your cat depends on his calorie requirements. Kittens and young adult cats tend to have faster metabolisms than older cats, so they may require a higher calorie count. Keep in mind, however, that every cat food is different in terms of calorie content, so you’ll need to check the package. Follow the feeding recommendations according to your cat’s age, weight, and activity level while keeping an eye on his body weight and condition. If your cat loses too much weight, you may need to feed him more. Just be careful not to let your cat gain too much weight because obesity is unhealthy.
- How often should I feed my cat? Most cats do well with two meals a day, but you can certainly customize your cat’s diet as needed. Kittens may require three meals or more per day to sustain their rapid growth and development while adult cats can do just fine with two meals. The key is to follow the feeding instructions on the package to determine how much to feed your cat each day then divide that amount into the desired number of meals. If your cat has issues with gas, breaking his daily feeding into several smaller meals may help more than feeding him two larger meals.
- Why does my kitten have bad smelling gas? Though gas can affect cats of any age, kittens can be pretty gassy at times, not to mention having foul-smelling stool. The most common causes for smelly gas in kittens and adult cats are bacteria in the colon, eating spoiled food, or food allergies and intolerance. Ask yourself whether you’ve recently changed your cat’s diet or if you’ve noticed any other symptoms in addition to the gas. Report these things to your veterinarian to help him determine the underlying cause of your cat’s gas.
- Will cat diarrhea go away on its own? It is fairly common for cats to experience occasional diarrhea, with or without gas. In most cases, diarrhea is mild and resolves itself in a day or two. You may want to limit how much your cat eats during this time but make sure he has access to fresh water to prevent dehydration. If your cat’s diarrhea isn’t going away and you notice additional symptoms like gas, distended stomach, or vomiting, you should contact your veterinarian right away.
- Is low fiber cat food good for gas? Cats have a limited ability to digest plant foods, so the carb content of your cat’s diet should be low. A diet too high in carbohydrates, especially grains, can lead to digestive issues including gas. It isn’t always the grains themselves that are the problem, however. In fact, grain allergies are less common in cats than pet food manufacturers would have you believe. If your cat isn’t allergic to grains, it could be an issue of too much fiber in his diet. A little fiber is beneficial for healthy digestion, but too much fiber can lead to digestive issues. Check the fiber content of your cat’s food and ask your veterinarian whether you might need to switch to a low fiber cat food.
Every cat deserves a high-quality diet made from wholesome, natural ingredients. The higher the quality of your cat’s diet, the more digestible it will be and the healthier your cat will be as well. Low-quality ingredients can trigger food sensitivities and may cause your cat to develop digestive issues like gas. That’s not fun for anyone!
If you’re looking for the best cat food for gassy cats, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled a list of some of the top cat food brands on the market to bring you some great options for cat food to reduce gas. Check them out above!