Best wet cat food for loose stools
Loose stools in a cat are frequently linked to diet — a recent food change, an ingredient the cat doesn't tolerate well, or simply a richer recipe than their gut is used to. The wet foods that tend to help are built around a single named protein, a shorter ingredients list, and a genuinely gradual introduction rather than a sudden switch.
What commonly causes it
A sudden change of food is one of the most frequent triggers, since a cat's gut bacteria adjust to whatever they've been eating and don't cope well with an abrupt switch. An ingredient sensitivity — often to a specific protein rather than the food as a whole — is another common cause, and it can develop even to a food a cat has eaten without issue for a long time.
A recipe that's richer or higher in fat than what a cat is used to can also cause temporary loose stools, particularly in a cat who doesn't usually eat that style of food. Less commonly, an underlying digestive issue is at play, which is why persistent or worsening loose stools need a vet rather than repeated food changes.
What to look for in a wet food
A single named protein — chicken, turkey or fish, rather than a recipe combining several — makes it much easier to identify whether a specific ingredient is the problem. A shorter overall ingredients list, with fewer fillers and additives, tends to be gentler on a sensitive gut than a recipe with a long list of components.
Recipes specifically marketed for sensitive digestion are a reasonable starting point, since they're usually formulated with easier digestibility in mind rather than palatability alone. Consistency in feeding — the same food, similar portions, similar times — also helps settle a cat's digestion more than variety does while you're troubleshooting.
How to switch properly, and when to see a vet
Introduce any new food gradually over seven to ten days, increasing the new food's share of the meal a little each day rather than switching overnight, which is itself one of the most common causes of loose stools when skipped. Give a new food a fair trial of a couple of weeks before deciding whether it's helped.
See your vet if loose stools persist beyond a few days, recur repeatedly despite a considered diet, or come with other symptoms like vomiting, weight loss or lethargy. Diet is a reasonable first thing to look at, but it isn't the answer to every case, and a vet can rule out other causes a food change won't fix.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Johnson's Stool-eze Cat
Vitamin and mineral sachets for cats over 12 weeks, to help soften solid stools
£7.79
Johnson's Stool Firmer Cat
Vitamin and mineral sachets for cats over 12 weeks, to help firm up loose stools
£7.79
Beaphar IntestoPro Prebiotic Stool Firming Tablets for Cats & Small Dogs (1-20kg)
Zeolite and prebiotic tablets for a short-term loose tummy in cats and small dogs
£10.34
Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food Tuna Fillet with Prawn in Broth
Tuna fillet and prawn in broth, with two can sizes to choose from
From£16.69
Whiskas 1 Duo Surf and Turf Adult Wet Cat Food Pouches in Jelly
Whiskas Duo Surf and Turf complete adult cat food in jelly pouches
From£5.35
Whiskas 1 Poultry Feasts Adult Wet Cat Food Pouches in Jelly
Whiskas Poultry Feasts complete adult cat food in jelly pouches
From£5.35
Whiskas 1 Fish Favourites Adult Wet Cat Food Pouches in Jelly
Whiskas complete adult wet cat food with Salmon, Whitefish, Tuna and Cod
From£5.35
Whiskas 7 Poultry Feasts Senior Wet Cat Food Pouches in Jelly
Whiskas complete senior wet cat food with Chicken, Turkey, Poultry and Duck
From£5.35
Applaws Natural Wet Kitten Food, Tuna Fillet in Jelly — 24 x 70g Tins
Sold as a case: 24 x 70g tins. Tuna fillet wet food for kittens in jelly, fed as a complementary food up to 12 months
£33.39
Sheba Fresh & Fine Wet Cat Food Pouches Fish in Gravy 15 Pack
Fish-flavour wet pouches for adult and senior cats in gravy, sold as a 15-pack
£6.59
Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food, Senior Tuna Fillet with Salmon in Jelly — 24 x 70g Tins
Sold as a case: 24 x 70g tins. Tuna and salmon wet food for mature and senior cats aged 7 and over, in cans
£33.39
Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food, Senior Chicken Breast in Jelly — 24 x 70g Tins
Sold as a case: 24 x 70g tins. A chicken and liver recipe in jelly, formulated by Applaws for senior cats
£33.39
Common questions
- What cat food is best for a sensitive stomach?
- Look for a wet food with a single named protein and a short ingredients list, ideally one marketed specifically for sensitive digestion. Introduce it gradually rather than switching overnight, and give it a couple of weeks before judging whether it's helped.
- Can changing cat food too often cause loose stools?
- Yes, frequent food changes can unsettle a cat's gut bacteria and cause ongoing digestive upset, which can look like an intolerance to every food tried when it's really the switching itself. Pick one considered option and stick with it rather than cycling through several quickly.
- How long should I try a new food before switching again?
- Give it a proper two weeks after a gradual introduction before deciding it hasn't worked, since a cat's gut needs time to adjust to any dietary change and judging too early can lead to unnecessary switching.
- When should I take my cat to the vet for loose stools?
- See your vet if it persists beyond a few days, keeps recurring, or comes with vomiting, weight loss or lethargy. A single loose stool after a dietary change usually isn't a concern on its own, but anything ongoing or accompanied by other symptoms needs checking.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.