Cat food for sensitive stomachs after a move

An international move plus a sudden food brand change is a classic recipe for digestive upset in cats — so the loose stools your one-year-old is having right now are almost certainly a reaction to that combination of stressors rather than a deeper health problem. Digestive sensitivity in cats is usually down to food intolerance rather than a true allergy, and the most reliable fix is a limited-ingredient or novel-protein diet that gives the gut a clean, simple base to settle around. To point you in the right direction: are the stools just loose, or is there also vomiting or mucus? And what food were they eating before the move, and what are you feeding now?

That makes a lot of sense. Going from a consistent, familiar food to an unknown local brand in one step — on top of the stress of a move — is quite a shock to a young cat's digestive system. The fact that she's active and not vomiting is reassuring; this looks like a straightforward transition reaction rather than illness. Before I suggest a food, a couple of quick questions: are you able to order from Amazon UK or international shipping, or do you need something locally available? And do you know if she has any history of protein sensitivities, or was she generally fine on the Whiskas?

Perfect. In that case, my recommendation is Royal Canin Sensitivity Control wet food in duck and tapioca. It's a limited-ingredient formula built specifically for cats with digestive upset — duck is a novel protein for most cats who've been on standard chicken or fish-based foods, and tapioca is a highly digestible carbohydrate source that's gentle on the gut. The formula also supports the intestinal barrier directly, which helps speed up recovery from the kind of stress-triggered loose stools she's experiencing. It's consistently available on Amazon UK and well-regarded by vets for exactly this type of situation. Transition her onto it gradually over five to seven days — mix it with the current food starting at about 25% new, 75% old — and you should see her stools firm up within a week or two.

If her stools are firming up at all within two weeks, you're on the right track — even gradual improvement is a good sign. The things to watch for that would mean a vet visit sooner rather than later: blood in the stools, significant weight loss, lethargy, or if the loose stools become full-on watery diarrhoea more than once a day. If she's just slow to firm up but otherwise bright and eating well, give it the full two weeks on the new food before reassessing. Most cats in her situation come right fairly quickly once the diet stabilises.

Great choice — it should do the job. Keep the transition slow and she'll likely be back to normal within a fortnight. If things don't settle or you're unsure at any point, don't hesitate to check in with a local vet just for peace of mind. Hope you and your cat settle into the new country well.