Friday, May 3, 2019

Do Siamese Cats Have Sensitive Stomachs?

Do Siamese cats have sensitive stomachs?As a passionate cat lover, you might know a lot about different breeds of cat, but the slinky Siamese cat is different from those other cat breeds.

It has been bred selectively over generations to have a lean and muscular body and a thin triangular jaw that adds to the uniqueness of this particular breed.

However, these beautiful and distinctive features are combined with a delicate digestive system, which means you need to take special care of their nutrition before they start troubling you.

Why Do Siamese Cats Have Sensitive Stomachs?

So, the question that your cat keeps asking you, “Why does my stomach keep roaring Hooman?” can be answered most commonly on nutritional grounds.

The food that you give to your Siamese must maintain their lean mass, while also making sure that they avoid weight gain. Most Siamese owners fail to give their cat the specific, digestible feed they need.

Moreover, since they have a unique jaw shape, they are used to kibbling, i.e. chewing before swallowing. This slows down their speed of food intake and also reduces tartar on the teeth.

While this jawline puts them at an advantage, if you do not care about their nutrition enough, it is going to come back and bite at you!

Sometimes, it is the combination of food that you give that upsets their stomach. Since most cats are used to a combination of wet and dry food to maintain their taste palates, increasing one of them in their diet may upset their stomach.

Moreover, most vets are of the opinion that you should avoid giving a wheat-rich diet to your Siamese, which may be the reason for their runny stomach or other digestive issues.

Signs that Your Siamese has a Sensitive Stomach

There are clinical signs that indicate your cat may be suffering from digestion problems. An occasional episode of diarrhea or vomiting must not be a cause of concern, however, if the episodes start recurring, you should look for the following symptoms:

  • Weight Loss
  • Chronic Soft Stool
  • Multiple episodes of diarrhea and vomiting over a 30-day period
  • Loss of appetite
  • Refusing food
  • Signs of pain and discomfort (cry for help)
  • Inability to keep the food in stomach (vomiting)
  • Sickness and Lethargy
  • Multiple episodes of vomiting in a day, despite no intake of water or food

When you observe any of these signs, you should consult a vet that will perform radiographs, bloodwork, and even ultrasound in some cases to rule out any other possibilities behind the signs and symptoms.Siamese cat stomachs

What Can I Do to Prevent Diarrhea?

Since it is clear now that Siamese do get their stomach upset easily, you should take care of the following:

  • Do not feed your Siamese cat the food that it avoids on a regular basis (Even if it is over the counter, it can cause diarrhea)
  • When you are planning to switch foods, do it at least over two weeks’ time
  • Make sure that your cat is on the monthly heartworm prevention program that protects them from gastrointestinal parasites.
  • Have them tested every six months or every year for parasites and other similar diseases that may cause digestion problems.

For your convenience, here are some home remedies to help prevent Diarrhea in your Siamese cat:

  • Include pumpkin (fresh or canned) in their diet – It helps increase fiber intake
  • Include white rice in your cat’s diet
  • Give your cat bland food
  • Give them Greek yogurt in regular food
  • Include probiotics that are labeled as suitable for cats
  • Include hairball remedy supplements if they are having a hard time coughing out hairballs

Signs That It Could Be More Than Just Digestive Issues

Some vets are of the opinion that they do not have a sensitive stomach, but are just picky about their food or the diseases mentioned below may contribute to the problem that is keeping your Siamese up all night.

Since all the digestion problems start from the alimentary tract that is beyond the throat, we know that something else can be wrong too, apart from the nutritional requirements.

Esophageal Hypo Motility

This disease results in weak muscular activity, hence the food takes a lot longer to pass through the gullet of your Siamese.

Adenocarcinomas

It is a particular cancer of the small intestine in the body that can make digestion difficult. Siamese cats also usually have high chances of cancer, therefore ruling out this option may be comforting, but it will not be a smart move.

Pyloric Stenosis

Young Siamese kittens usually suffer from this disease where the stomach starts narrowing, thus not allowing enough space for the food to digest easily. It can result in vomiting and gastric distention.

Hepatic Amyloidosis

Although unlikely, but one of the serious symptoms of this disease include vomiting and nausea, which can be linked to sensitive stomachs. However, as mentioned earlier, it is highly unlikely that your Siamese may be suffering from this disease.

A Pre-deposition of Eating Wool

Cats like to lick their coat, so a pre-deposition of wool may be one of the causes of concern, but again, it is highly unlikely that this is making the stomach more sensitive. Although, it may contribute to irritation in your cat’s stomach.

One other theory suggests that if your Siamese is a purebred, i.e., a slender body with a long face, it may be biting off more than it can chew. This is because they may suffer from vague immune system issues more often than Siamese cats normally do.

One of these diseases include an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) that is caused by the immune system reacting negatively to the bad bacteria or certain foods, or any other substances produced within the intestinal tract by parasites.Siamese cat gets sick from food

What Feed is Best for My Siamese?

As a Siamese cat owner, you must be aware of the fact that Siamese cats make for pricey pets. They are generally expensive than other cat breeds and therefore, buying an expensive pet just to put them in poor conditions does not make any sense.

So, I am sure you are very careful when it comes to your pet’s health, but doing a bit of research and taking extra care of their diet will keep you out of the vet’s office.

As mentioned earlier, Siamese cats must take a balanced diet, which should include dry, wet as well as fresh, and mostly homemade food.

Dry Feed

  • As kittens, Siamese must be given a feed that is rich in proteins and fats that promote growth. You should also make sure that their dry feed is rich in vitamins and calcium. It is recommended to keep 2 to 3 brands of feed at a time that suits your Siamese.
  • When adults, they should have a well-balanced feed, with around 40% fat, 25% protein, vitamins, Omega-3, Omega 6 and a diet that is rich in fiber. If your Siamese is neutered, they will have a different feed to other Siamese cats.
  • Older Siamese may not require such a nutrition-rich diet since their day does not involve as much physical activity, however, you must make sure that you do not cut off too much nutrition.

Wet Feed

  • You must be familiar with a range of off-the-shelf products that are either in cans or air-tight containers. Therefore, once opened, they should be stored in the refrigerator.
  • Wet feed should contain a minimum of 15-25% fat, and 35% protein while the carb content should not be more than 5%. The feed should also contain Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, slightly higher than 0.10% of taurine should also be included in the diet. Essential elements like calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, and magnesium should also be present.
  • It is also advised to not overuse wet feed because it can contribute to bad breath, soft and stinky feces, as well as dental plaque.

Homemade Feed

  • Your homemade food for your Siamese should complement their feed. As mentioned earlier, the best-balanced diet for your Siamese will involve a mixture of wet, dry and fresh foods.
  • Slices of home-cooked turkey and ham are some of the favorites for Siamese. Other foods include chicken, cod, hake, and salmon. You should also remember that these foods should never be served raw – You need to grill or boil them before serving. Also, make sure that there are no bones in the fish when you serve.
  • Another advice – Plant birdseed in a pot so that your cat can use the buds for cleansing

Keeping all the nutrition in check may be a tad too overwhelming for you at the moment, but it is actually a piece of cake. All you need to do is to check the labels whenever you buy an off-the-shelf product.

You can save money at the vet’s office just by keeping these things in check.

The Top 5 Cat Foods for Siamese Cats With Stomach Sensitivity

1. Hill’s Sensitive Stomach and Skin

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin

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Hill’s is one of the top feeds for Siamese cats that have a sensitive stomach. It not only encourages the soothing of the esophagus and intestinal tract but also improves the growth of the shiny fur coat and supports healthy skin.

It includes complete nutrition, therefore no wet foods or any sort of ingredient needs to be added. Hill’s is easy to digest and offers a balanced meal, however, it contains ingredients like corn, oats, rice, and gluten, and therefore it should not be fed to cats that have food allergies.

It is also not suitable for kittens, lactating mothers or pregnant cats. Get this cat food here!

2. Royal Canin Adult Complete Cat Food

Royal Canine Siamese Cat Dry Food

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Royal Canin is also one of the favorites for Siamese owners since the ring-shaped kibble that it comes with suits the Siamese jawline.

The ingredients of the feed are tailored to keep indigestion and urinary issues at bay and aim for a lean body as well as a glossy coat.

The shapes of the biscuits promote chewing as well as dental hygiene, and prevent bloating that could lead to stomach cramps and gas. Wet food should not be included in this diet. Get this cat food here!

3. Proplan Hypoallergenic Dry Cat Food

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA HA Hypoallergenic Dry Food - (1) 4 lb. Bag

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This hypoallergenic feed keeps your Siamese safe from a range of conditions like itchy skin, vomiting, hives, weight loss and diarrhea.

Just by switching your cat’s diet to antiallergenic or hypoallergenic diet can keep it away from the above signs.

When putting your cat on this diet, make sure that you do not feed them any other sort of food. The single protein source in this feed is broken down into smaller, hydrolyzed particles that are not detected by the body, hence do not cause a reaction.

Similarly, other ingredients also stay silent and do not elicit a response. While most Siamese feeds are bland, this has some flavor to it to ensure that the cat likes it. This feed is suitable for all types of cats and kittens. Get this cat food here!

4. Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Stomach

Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Digest Sensitive Thin Slice in Gravy Canned Cat Food, 3 Ounce

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This feed is ideal for your Siamese if you come home to smelly litter more often. This food is one of the best options out there if your cat is fed up of dry kibble and are finicky with their wet feed choices.

The tin includes cat feed sliced into thin sections, dripping in juicy gravy, and only includes a modest number of calories. Thus, it also helps if your cat suffers from obesity. Get this cat food here!

5. Blue Buffalo Dry Adult Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Sensitive Stomach Natural Adult Dry Cat Food

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This brown rice and deboned chicken option in the list may be the last option, but it does not compromise on quality or wholesomeness of the ingredients. In fact, it includes all the health-boosting ingredients like egg, apple, spinach, and kelp.

There are no artificial ingredients in Blue Buffalo, however, it is not suitable for cats who have food allergies. Even though it is processed, it maintains the nutritional component and the goodness of fruits, grains and garden veggies within. Get this cat food here!

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