Cat food for sensitive stomachs

Weight loss despite a normal appetite in a senior cat is a real red flag — it usually means food is going in but nutrients aren't being absorbed properly, which is a digestion issue rather than a simple preference problem. Digestive sensitivity in cats is more often down to food intolerance than true allergy, and for older cats the gut simply becomes less efficient at processing certain proteins and fats. Limited-ingredient or highly digestible diets tend to work best in this situation. Can you tell me a bit more: what symptoms are you seeing beyond the weight loss — any vomiting, loose stools, or changes in how often she's going? How long has this been going on, and what are you currently feeding her?

That picture makes a lot of sense together — consistent appetite, gradual weight loss, loose stools, and occasional vomiting of undigested food all point to poor nutrient absorption rather than a simple upset. At 11, Abyssinians are heading into senior territory and the gut lining becomes less effective at breaking down and absorbing nutrients, especially from standard commercial foods that use multiple protein sources and higher fat levels. Fish-based foods can also be a hidden trigger for digestive sensitivity in some cats. Before I point you toward a food, has she had a vet check recently? Weight loss alongside these symptoms in an older cat can sometimes have an underlying cause — hyperthyroidism is common in this age group — and it's worth ruling that out so food changes actually do the job they're meant to.

Good — that's exactly what you need to know before changing food, and it means diet is almost certainly your lever here. Given her age, the chronic loose stools, and the undigested food in vomit, I'd go with Royal Canin Sensitivity Control in the duck and rice variety. It uses a single novel protein source — duck — which sidesteps common intolerances, and the rice-based carbohydrate is gentle and highly digestible. Crucially for an 11-year-old losing weight, it's formulated to support nutrient absorption rather than just being easy on the stomach. The wet pouch format is also better than dry for older cats because the moisture content aids digestion and helps maintain condition. I'd switch her gradually over about a week, mixing increasing amounts of the new food with the old, to avoid compounding the loose stools during transition.

Yes, it's widely available on Amazon UK — search for Royal Canin Sensitivity Control Duck pouches. They typically come in boxes of 12 x 85g pouches, and you're looking at around £10 to £13 for a box depending on the seller, which works out to under £1 per pouch. For a cat her size you'd likely use one to two pouches a day. Give it four to six weeks before judging — stool consistency usually improves within two weeks if it's working, but the weight stabilisation takes longer. If loose stools haven't improved at all after three weeks, it's worth going back to the vet to discuss a prescription digestive diet as the next step.

Good luck with her — Abyssinians are tough little cats and at 11 she's got plenty left in her if the absorption issue gets sorted. Keep a simple log of her stool consistency and weigh her every two weeks if you can; it's the clearest way to know whether the food is doing its job. Hope she's back to full weight soon.