Cat food for colitis
Colitis is inflammation of the colon, and it needs a vet's diagnosis rather than a food choice from a website — a cat with ongoing loose stools, straining, or blood or mucus in their motions should be seen by a vet before anything else changes. Vets often manage colitis with a specific prescription diet, which is a therapeutic food available only through a vet rather than something we sell here.
Why this starts with a vet, not a food swap
Colitis has several possible causes, including diet intolerance, infection, parasites, stress and inflammatory bowel disease, and treating the wrong one with the wrong food can mean a cat stays uncomfortable for longer than necessary. A vet can examine your cat, run any tests needed, and identify what's actually driving the symptoms before recommending a specific approach.
Where diet is part of the answer, vets often prescribe a specific therapeutic food, which is formulated and dispensed only through veterinary practices rather than sold on general retail shelves. Prescription diets work this way everywhere, not just here, so if your cat has been diagnosed with colitis and prescribed one, get it directly from your vet rather than looking for it on a shop shelf.
What we do stock, for general digestive comfort
Outside of a diagnosed condition, some cats simply do better on a plain, easily digestible everyday food with a single named protein rather than a long ingredients list, and that's the kind of general option we carry — not a treatment for colitis, but a reasonable everyday choice for a cat with no diagnosed condition who seems to have a sensitive stomach.
If your cat is already under veterinary care for colitis and you're looking for foods to feed alongside vet guidance, or once a flare-up has settled, ask your vet whether a general sensitive-stomach food is appropriate for your cat's specific situation rather than switching off the back of a symptom alone.
What to check on a label for general digestive comfort
A short, recognisable ingredients list with a single named protein first is the main thing to look for, since it's easier to identify what does or doesn't agree with your cat than a recipe with several different meats blended together. Consistency also matters more than any one ingredient — cats with sensitive digestion often do better staying on the same food rather than switching between recipes looking for a marginal improvement.
Wet food can be gentler than dry for some cats simply because of the added moisture, though this varies between individuals and isn't a rule to apply universally. Whatever you choose, introduce it gradually alongside the current food over several days, and keep a note of how your cat's stools respond so you have something concrete to describe if you do need to see your vet.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Felix as Good as It Looks Meaty Selection in Jelly
Twelve 85G pouches of chunks in jelly, in a selection built for a cat who changes its mind
£5.79
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
Bell & Duke Cat Complete Chicken
A complete raw chicken meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, 98% chicken. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
Sheba Fine Flakes Cat Pouches Poultry Collection in Jelly
Fine flake cat pouches in jelly, a poultry collection across duck, chicken and turkey
From£7.49
Felix Pouches Deliciously Sliced Fish Selection in Jelly 12pk
Sliced fish in jelly across four recipes, for cats fed a fish-based diet
£6.49
Bella & Duke Cat Complete Turkey, Chicken & Lamb
A complete raw meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, made with turkey, chicken and lamb. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
Bella & Duke Cat Complete Lamb & Duck
A complete raw meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, made with lamb and duck. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
Bella & Duke Cat Complete Turkey & Salmon
A complete raw meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, made with turkey and salmon. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
Bella & Duke Cat Complete Turkey, Rabbit & Lamb
A complete raw meal for kittens, adult and senior cats, made with turkey, rabbit and lamb. Frozen 250g tub.
£3.65
Gourmet Perle Ocean Flakes Cod Salmon Plaice Saithe
Cat food pouches in fish-based jelly, made without colourants, in 85g portions
From£7.94
Felix Pouches Deliciously Sliced Mixed Selection in Jelly 12pk
Sliced meat and fish in jelly, four recipes in one box for cats who like variety
£6.49
Purina One Mini Fillets Mixed Selection in Gravy 40pk
Wet cat food in gravy, four flavours in mini fillets, 40 pouches
£18.15
Common questions
- What are the signs of colitis in cats?
- Ongoing loose stools, straining to go to the toilet, and blood or mucus in the stool are the signs most commonly associated with colitis. Any of these, especially if they persist beyond a day or two, warrant a vet visit rather than a change of food at home.
- Can I treat my cat's colitis with a different food alone?
- No, colitis needs a vet's diagnosis first, since several different underlying causes can produce similar symptoms and each may need a different approach. A vet can identify what's actually going on and advise on diet as part of the wider treatment.
- Does Giddy Pets sell prescription diets for colitis?
- No, prescription and therapeutic diets are only available through veterinary practices, since they're formulated for a diagnosed condition and dispensed under veterinary guidance. If your vet has prescribed one for your cat, that's something to get directly from them.
- What can I feed a cat with a mild, undiagnosed sensitive stomach?
- A plain, easily digestible everyday food with a single named protein is a reasonable general choice for a cat with no diagnosed condition. If symptoms persist or worsen, that's a sign to see your vet rather than continuing to try different foods.
- Should I switch foods every time my cat has loose stools?
- No, switching repeatedly makes it harder to work out what's actually going on and can unsettle digestion further. A single, consistent food and a note of how your cat responds gives your vet something more useful to work from than a history of frequent changes.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
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.