Cat Food Elimination Diet - How It Can Help & How To Do It

If your cat is showing signs and symptoms of food sensitivities, it may be time to try a cat food elimination diet. An elimination diet will help you to know which protein works best with your cat's digestive system. Below, we'll dive into what an elimination diet consists of and how to do it. 

What Is A Cat Food Elimination Diet

Some signs and symptoms that could indicate your cat has food sensitivity issues include digestive issues, chronic ear problems, itching, etc. If your cat shows these kinds of discomforts, a cat food elimination diet could be the route to go. 

This is when you cut back on feeding your cat other things and keep it simple with just one protein. It's best to go with a novel protein, which is something your cat has never had before. Most cats seem to do well with rabbit or turkey. 

When choosing cat food to feed your hairless baby, pick one that has the simplest ingredients list possible. It's not uncommon for cats to be sensitive to the plant ingredients in their food. It may not be a bad idea to make your cat's food for a while or go with a food option that's raw and fresh. 

Tips On Starting A Cat Elimination Diet 

• When you choose one specific protein to feed your cat, make sure the treats you feed them is that protein. 

• When choosing a protein, be wary of going with fish or chicken. Many cats are sensitive to these proteins. 

• While it may be difficult, you need to stick with that single protein, so no table scraps, supplements, or flavored medication (unless it's absolutely necessary). 

• Stick with that one protein for six weeks. If your cat seems to be thriving with this protein, you may potentially find a protein that works best in your cat's diet. After the six weeks, you can slowly begin introducing other proteins back in their diet one at a time to see if any of them trigger a reaction. 

Resources 

• Fresh Pet Food Recommendations - These recommendations are ideal if you want to transition your cat to a fresh cat food diet but don't have the time to prepare your cat's food.  

• CAT FOOD ALLERGY / SENSITIVITY TEST! - If your cat has sensitivities and you want some answers, this could be a great way to find out what foods trigger your pet. It's a simple at-home test, where you'll get the results in a few short weeks. 

• Home-Made Pet Food Instructions - Making your cat’s food has never been easier. These instructions will break down how you can give your cat a fresh diet without the hassle. 

• Why Pets With Food Sensitivities Often Thrive On A Raw Food Diet - This resource dives into why a raw diet is best, especially when your cat has food sensitivities.

Final Thoughts 

The last thing you'll want is for your cat to be uncomfortable due to food sensitivity issues. One way that you can figure out which protein your cat does best with is to do a cat food elimination diet. While it may seem like a tedious process, it's easier than you think, and it'll help you to better understand your cat's trigger foods. Just remain patient, the hard work will eventually pay off! 

With Love,

April Arguin A.S., C.P.N., M.P.H.

(aka) PetCoach-April