Home Remedies for a Cat's Upset Tummy

An upset stomach can ruin your day, making you miserable and causing you to want to curl up on the couch. So, when your cat has an upset stomach, you'll naturally want to figure out how to get him feeling better as soon as possible. Cats can get upset stomachs for many different reasons, and in some cases, home remedies for cat stomachaches can quickly get your cat some relief.

Cats can get upset stomachs for all sorts of different reasons. A sudden food change can upset a cat's sensitive stomach, and an allergy may cause your cat to vomit. Parasites, ulcers, and even ingesting a foreign body can also cause your cat to have an upset stomach, according to PetCareRx.

Your cat's upset stomach may result in vomiting, diarrhea, and even loss of appetite. Cat nausea may be demonstrated by drooling and vomiting. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, then it's important to get to the root of what's going on. Your cat may be suffering an upset stomach triggered by a recent food change or may have an allergy to something she ate. If your cat's upset stomach is due to an allergy, a food change, or another minor cause, then there are a number of home remedies for cat stomachaches that you can try.

If your cat has vomited due to an upset stomach, then you should remove your cat's food and water for about 12 hours, according to PetCareRx. This fasting period gives your cat's stomach some time to settle. After 12 hours have passed, you can slowly reintroduce water and a bit of bland food. Give your cat small, frequent meals as he gets used to having food in his stomach again.

Feeding your cat a bland diet can help to ease an upset stomach while still getting nutrition into her body. You can create bland food by cooking chicken and removing all fat, skin, and bones and mixing that into well-cooked white rice, according to Two Rivers Veterinary Clinic. Combine the chicken and rice in a 1:4 ratio.

If your cat has a chicken allergy or you don't have chicken at home, you can substitute cottage cheese, turkey, or ground beef, as long as you drain off the grease. Instead of rice, you can substitute canned or cooked pumpkins, yams, or sweet potatoes. Want to keep things as simple as possible? You can feed your cat chicken or turkey baby food as long as the food doesn't have any additives.

According to Dr. Karen Becker, you can give your cat different herbs to help ease an upset stomach. Catnip can actually help to relieve stomach upset, as can ginger. You can mix a pinch of fresh ground ginger into a bit of wet food for your cat and give it to him up to three times a day.

Special cat foods and diets can also help your cat to recover from stomach upset. There are many commercially available dry cat foods for sensitive stomachs. These foods are specially formulated with ingredients that most cats tend to tolerate well. Your vet can recommend an appropriate food based on your cat's particular dietary sensitivities and allergies.

Frequent vomiting and diarrhea can quickly dehydrate your cat, so if your cat's upset stomach continues even after 12 hours of fasting, it's important to call your vet. Your vet may run any number of tests, including checking for parasites and possibly X-raying your cat to check for a foreign body. Your vet will probably give your cat fluids to keep her hydrated and may prescribe medications to help fix whatever is ailing her.