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FREEZE-DRIED RAW · CAT FEEDING GUIDE

Feeding for Sensitive Stomach

A sensitive stomach in a cat usually isn't a fussy personality — it's a digestive system being asked to process the wrong fuel. Cats are obligate carnivores, built to digest meat, organ and fat, not the starches and plant fillers that bulk out most kibble. Take those away and a lot of “sensitive” tummies settle right down.

Freeze-dried raw is one of the simplest ways to feed a sensitive cat: real animal protein, naturally low in carbohydrate, with short, recognizable ingredient lists. It rehydrates to a high-moisture meal that's gentle on the gut and easy to digest — the diet a cat's body actually runs on.

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    A healthy Sensitive Stomach cat
    iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    What your cat actually needs

    Cats are obligate carnivores — they're built to run on meat, organ and moisture. Here's what matters most.

    • Obligate carnivore digestion

      Needs: Meat and organ, not starch or plant filler

      Freeze-dried raw is muscle meat, organ and bone — the protein and fat a cat digests easily, with none of the grains or fillers that often irritate a sensitive gut.

    • Poor carbohydrate metabolism

      Needs: A very low carb load

      A meat-first raw diet keeps carbohydrates minimal, removing a common cause of loose stool, gas and bloating in cats prone to upset.

    • Low thirst drive

      Needs: Moisture in the meal

      Freeze-dried raw rehydrates to a high-moisture meal, which keeps digestion moving smoothly and is gentler than dry kibble on a delicate stomach.

    • Sensitivity to additives & fillers

      Needs: Short, recognizable ingredient lists

      Simple single-protein recipes with no gums, dyes or synthetic add-ins make it easy to feed a sensitive cat and to spot what agrees with them.

    • Reactivity to sudden change

      Needs: Consistency and slow transitions

      A steady, highly digestible raw diet introduced gradually lets the gut adjust calmly instead of being shocked by abrupt switches.

    How much to feed your cat

    Quick answer: portion freeze-dried raw by your cat's ideal weight — about 0.13 oz per pound per day (a 10 lb cat ≈ 1.3 oz), split across two or more small meals. Kittens need more; seniors and indoor cats a little less. Feed to a lean body, not the bag.

    Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
    6 lb 0.8 oz 0.4 oz
    8 lb 1.0 oz 0.5 oz
    10 lb 1.3 oz 0.7 oz
    12 lb 1.6 oz 0.8 oz
    15 lb 2.0 oz 1.0 oz
    18 lb 2.3 oz 1.2 oz

    Starting points for a moderately active adult cat (~0.13 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Kittens need roughly double per pound; indoor and senior cats a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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    What to feed your cat

    Build the bowl around complete-and-balanced freeze-dried raw recipes with a single, named animal protein and a short ingredient list. Simple, meat-first formulas make it easy to see what agrees with your cat and to pinpoint anything that doesn't. Novel or gentle proteins like rabbit, cod or salmon are often a good starting point for touchy stomachs.

    Land Animal's cat recipes are high in animal protein and taurine, naturally low in carbohydrate, and gently freeze-dried to preserve nutrition without the fillers, gums and synthetic additives that commonly upset sensitive digestion. Rotate proteins only once the stomach is steady, one at a time.

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    Feeding by life stage

    • Kitten: Kittens with sensitive stomachs need gentle, highly digestible animal protein in small, frequent meals (3–4 a day) — go slow on transitions and keep to one protein until digestion is settled.
    • Adult: Feed measured, single-protein raw meals two to three times a day to ideal weight; introduce any new protein one at a time and keep the diet consistent.
    • Senior: Seniors digest less efficiently, so lean on highly digestible protein and extra moisture in smaller, more frequent meals to ease the gut and protect muscle.

    Common concerns — and the diet connection

    • Loose stool & diarrheaA low-carb, meat-first raw diet removes the fillers and starches that commonly trigger loose stool, supporting firmer, more regular digestion.
    • Vomiting & regurgitationSmall, measured, moisture-rich meals are easier to keep down than one large dry portion, helping maintain comfortable digestion in cats prone to bringing food back up.
    • Food sensitivitiesSingle-protein recipes with short ingredient lists make it simple to identify proteins that agree with your cat and avoid the ones that don't.
    • Gas & bloatingCutting the carbohydrate and fermentable filler load supports a calmer, less gassy gut in sensitive cats.
    • Hydration & gut motilityThe moisture in rehydrated raw helps keep digestion moving smoothly and supports overall gut comfort.

    Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

    Feeding your cat: what to know

    For a sensitive stomach, how you feed matters as much as what you feed. Offer small, measured meals two to three times a day rather than one large bowl — smaller portions are easier to digest and far less likely to come back up. Feed to ideal body weight at roughly 0.13 oz of freeze-dried raw per pound, and rehydrate with a little warm water to add moisture and aroma.

    Transition slowly. Sensitive cats do best with a 10–14 day switch, mixing a little more raw into the old food each day so the gut can adjust without upset. Once settled, keep the diet consistent and reintroduce new proteins one at a time — sudden changes are a common trigger for loose stool and vomiting.

    Cat feeding questions

    What is the best food for a cat with a sensitive stomach?
    A simple, complete-and-balanced freeze-dried raw recipe with a single named animal protein and a short ingredient list is ideal. It's high in digestible animal protein, low in carbohydrate, and free of the fillers and additives that commonly upset sensitive cats.
    Why does my cat keep throwing up?
    Frequent vomiting can be caused by eating too fast, large dry meals, or hard-to-digest fillers. Feeding small, measured, moisture-rich meals two to three times a day often helps. Persistent vomiting always warrants a vet visit to rule out medical causes.
    How do I switch a sensitive cat to raw without upsetting their stomach?
    Go slowly over 10–14 days, mixing a little more raw into the current food each day. Keep to one protein at first, rehydrate with warm water for aroma, and only add new proteins once digestion is steady.
    How much should I feed a cat with a sensitive stomach?
    About 0.13 oz of freeze-dried raw per pound of ideal weight per day — roughly 1.3 oz for a 10 lb cat — split across two to three small meals. Smaller, more frequent portions are easier to digest.
    Can the wrong food cause a sensitive stomach in cats?
    Often, yes. Cats are obligate carnivores and digest meat far better than grains, starches and plant fillers. Many “sensitive” stomachs improve on a meat-first, low-carb raw diet with simple ingredients.
    Should I feed one protein or rotate?
    Start with a single protein until digestion is settled, then introduce new proteins one at a time. Rotating too quickly can trigger upset in sensitive cats, so make any change gradual.

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    • Obligate-carnivore formulated
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    • "My picky indoor cat actually finishes her bowl now — and she's drinking less because the food has real moisture back in it."

      — Dana & Miso

    • "Switching our senior to raw was easier than I expected. He's more playful and his coat looks incredible."

      — Theo & Pepper
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    Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual cat's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.