If you're a loving cat owner, you know how difficult it can be to watch your precious pet feel under the weather. Perhaps your cat often has an upset stomach. Instead of chalking it up to her possessing a very delicate constitution, investigate the possibility of any dietary intolerance.
Vomiting
Like feline food allergies, feline dietary intolerance often leads to vomiting, unsurprisingly. If your find your cat always throws up after she eats a certain food item, say fish, then the answer is probably right in front of you. Consult your veterinarian about scheduling an appointment immediately to test the intolerance. The sooner you know, the sooner your fluff ball can avoid that specific food forever!
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is also a very common sign that your cat's stomach simply cannot tolerate a certain food. If your kitty produces watery stools every time she eats even a tiny morsel of tuna, investigate the situation pronto.
Appetite Loss
Most cats approach eating like a national pastime, no joke. If out of nowhere your cat loses all interest in her food bowl a dietary intolerance is a very likely culprit. As a result of the loss in appetite, cats with dietary intolerances also often experience weight loss.
Stomachache
Take note of your cat's behavior after she eats. If she is crouching over and seems somehow to be in pain, the poor thing may be suffering from a big ache in the abdomen area. You may also notice your cat uncharacteristically yowling and meowing loudly, especially if her aching is severe. When cats display a general sense of malaise and discontentment, hurting bellies are very often to blame. Your sweet kitty may also be especially flatulent and gassy if she has a food intolerance. Poor her, and poor you, too!
Food Allergies
Be sure not to confuse feline food allergies with feline food intolerance, as they are totally different, although probably equally uncomfortable to your suffering pet. When a cat is allergic to a specific food, she often exhibits the "classic" uncomfortable allergy symptoms—think excessive itchiness, redness, skin lesions and rash. Food intolerance is generally characterized more by gastrointestinal distress, such as throwing up and diarrhea.
Veterinarian
No matter which symptom or symptoms of dietary intolerance (or allergy) you notice, waste no time in scheduling an appointment with the vet. The well-being and happiness of your pet may be at stake. Apart from food intolerance, some of the characteristic symptoms could also point to other pressing health conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and colitis.
Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.