Senior Exotic Shorthair sensitive stomach food

Digestive sensitivity in cats is often down to food intolerance rather than a true allergy, and in older cats there's frequently a gut motility component on top of that — so the food itself matters a lot. Limited-ingredient or novel-protein diets are usually the most effective starting point. To get a clearer picture: what are the symptoms you're seeing — loose stools, firm then soft, or something more erratic — how long has this been going on, and what is your Exotic Shorthair currently eating?

That pattern — cycling between loose stools and straining — is pretty classic for reduced gut motility in a senior cat. The dry kibble is likely making things harder. Older cats often don't drink enough to compensate for a dry-only diet, which slows transit and causes that inconsistency. Switching to a high-moisture wet food with highly digestible protein is usually the first practical move. Is she eating any wet food at all currently, and does she have any known protein sensitivities or ingredients she tends to refuse?

Good — that gives us some flexibility. For a 10-year-old Exotic Shorthair with suspected motility issues and inconsistent stools, I'd go with Royal Canin Digestive Care in wet pouches. It's formulated specifically to support digestive transit, uses highly digestible proteins to reduce gut workload, and the moisture content alone will make a real difference after years on dry food. It's not a novel-protein diet, but given there's no known intolerance, the digestibility and motility support are the priority here. I'd transition gradually over 7–10 days — mix a small amount with her current kibble to start, then shift to wet-only or wet-led feeding. If stools haven't steadied within three to four weeks on the new food, that's the point to go back to the vet and discuss whether a prescription GI diet or motility support medication is needed.

Worth watching, yes. Wet food is lower in calorie density by weight than dry, so make sure you're matching her caloric needs rather than just matching volume. Royal Canin's feeding guidelines on the pack are a reasonable starting point, but for a slim senior cat I'd aim for the higher end of the suggested range and weigh her every couple of weeks during the transition. If she's losing weight rather than maintaining, you can supplement with a small amount of a calorie-dense topper or speak to your vet about appetite support. The good news is that once her digestion settles and she's absorbing nutrients more efficiently, weight often stabilises on its own.