Is your feline companion still staring at the bowl of prescription diet i/d cat food you just poured—then walking away in silent protest? You’re not alone. Intestinal upsets, food boredom, flavor fatigue, and skyrocketing clinic prices have millions of guardians hunting for a vet-approved alternative that still soothes sensitive tummies. The good news: therapeutic-level digestive care no longer lives exclusively inside a single blue bag. In 2025, advances in hydrolyzed proteins, post-biotic fermentation, and gut-targeted micronutrients mean you can match the clinical goals of Hill’s i/d—without the prescription price tag or poultry-by-product fatigue—provided you know what matters (and what doesn’t) on today’s label.
Before you gamble on the first “sensitive stomach” recipe that pops up in an Instagram ad, let’s decode the science, the legal loopholes, and the feeding tactics that separate a true i/d alternative from run-of-the-mill marketing fluff. Below, you’ll find a complete, vet-informed roadmap covering everything from guaranteed-analysis math to transition timelines, so you can build a rotational menu that calms vomiting, firms up loose stools, and still makes mealtime feel like a treat rather than a treatment.
Top 10 Prescription Diet I/d Cat Food Alternative
Detailed Product Reviews
1. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken Flavor Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 8.5 lb. Bag
Overview: Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Dry Cat Food is an 8.5 lb veterinary diet engineered for adult cats with chronic or acute digestive upset. The kibble is chicken-flavored and embedded with Hill’s proprietary ActivBiome+ prebiotic fiber blend, plus elevated B-vitamins and electrolytes to replace nutrients lost through vomiting or diarrhea.
What Makes It Stand Out: ActivBiome+ is the headline differentiator—clinically shown to shift the feline gut microbiome toward beneficial genera within 48 h of first feeding. The kibble texture is deliberately porous, dissolving quickly in stomach acid to reduce gastric load while still providing mechanical dental cleaning.
Value for Money: At ≈ $0.51/oz it is 2-3× the cost of OTC “sensitive-stomach” diets, but most veterinarians report resolution of diarrhea 30-50 % faster, translating to fewer follow-up visits and less wasted food from refusal.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros—high palatability even in nauseated cats; visibly firmer stools within 3-5 days; resealable bag keeps omega-3s from oxidizing. Cons—requires prescription; first three ingredients include corn and brewers rice, problematic for owners seeking grain-free; calorie-dense (431 kcal/cup), so portion control is critical for indoor cats.
Bottom Line: If your vet diagnoses simple gastro-enteritis, IBD, or post-antibiotic gut dysbiosis, this is the fastest, science-backed dry option—worth the premium price for the microbiome data alone.
2. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 2.9 oz. Cans, 24-Pack
Overview: This 24-can variety (2.9 oz each) delivers Hill’s i/d formula as a silky chicken & vegetable stew designed for cats that associate kibble with nausea. The macro profile mirrors the dry sibling—highly digestible, low-residue, boosted B-vitamins—yet the 82 % moisture aids hydration during bouts of vomiting or constipation.
What Makes It Stand Out: Individual pull-tab cans eliminate waste for tiny feline appetites; the stew format mixes effortlessly with warm water to create a “slurry” that can be syringe-fed if appetite is nil. Each batch is screened for common food allergens, making it a safe first re-feeding choice post acute pancreatitis.
Value for Money: $20.68/oz sounds shocking until you realize a typical 10 lb cat needs only 2.5–3 cans daily during recovery—roughly $7.50/day—cheaper than one sub-cutaneous fluid appointment at the clinic.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros—aroma entices even anosmic senior cats; puree texture reduces regurgitation; cans are BPA-free. Cons—price per calorie is extreme for long-term maintenance; contains wheat gluten (not grain-free); once opened, food darkens within 4 h—some cats refuse the oxidized product.
Bottom Line: Stock one case as a convalescent pantry staple; rotate to the dry i/d once appetite stabilizes to spare your wallet while preserving gut-microbiome benefits.
3. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken & Carrot Stew Wet Cat Food, 24 x 2.8 oz Pouches
Overview: Packaged in 2.8-oz tear-off pouches, this i/d variant swaps the canned stew for a shredded chicken & carrot recipe suspended in light gravy. The pouch format targets owners who dislike storing half-used cans and prefer to pour, not scoop.
What Makes It Stand Out: Soluble + insoluble fiber duo (psyllium, beet pulp) gives the formula a mild stool-bulking effect that the canned stew lacks, making it ideal for cats prone to both loose stools and hairball-related constipation. Electrolyte ratio is tuned for cats with chronic renal-compensated diarrhea.
Value for Money: $0.94/oz positions it mid-way between the ultra-premium cans and mainstream grocery pouches; because the shreds are less calorie-dense than pate, expect to feed 3–3.5 pouches daily—about $3.25—still tolerable for a prescription diet.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros—no can-openers, no fridge odor; carrot flakes entice picky eaters; pouch material is recyclable via TerraCycle. Cons—shreds can be flicked out of bowl by finicky cats; gravy increases phosphorus, so borderline-CKD cats need vet approval; not resealable—must use entire pouch at once.
Bottom Line: Choose pouches if your cat oscillates between diarrhea and constipation; the fiber blend offers a gentle “normalizing” effect while maintaining the core i/d microbiome technology.
4. Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 8.5 lb. Bag
Overview: Hill’s z/d is the brand’s gold-standard elimination diet: an 8.5 lb dry kibble whose protein (chicken) has been hydrolyzed to <3 kDa peptides, paired with a single carbohydrate (rice) to minimize immune recognition. It’s prescription-only, aimed at cats exhibiting concurrent skin and GI signs of adverse food reactions.
What Makes It Stand Out: Hydrolysis is performed in-house, then each batch is ELISA-tested for undeclared proteins; the resulting “cryptic” peptides reduce flare-ups in >90 % of food-allergic cats within 6 weeks. Added omega-3:6 ratio (1:3) rebuilds epidermal barrier without fish proteins—critical for seafood-allergic patients.
Value for Money: $0.62/oz is steep versus OTC limited-ingredient diets, but independent studies show z/d achieves remission 2–3 weeks faster, sparing costly steroid courses and hypoallergenic injections.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros—single hydrolyzed protein source; clinically documented to reduce pruritus and vomiting; kibble coated with citric acid to reduce urinary crystals. Cons—requires strict 8-week diet trial (no treats); hydrolyzed chicken still smells “medicinal,” causing 15–20 % rejection; contains corn oil—some owners object to GMO crops.
Bottom Line: If your vet suspects cutaneous food allergy with secondary enteropathy, z/d remains the evidence-based starting point; accept the price as a short-term investment toward a definitive diagnosis.
5. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Digestive Care Original Flavor Wet Dog Food, Veterinary Diet, 13 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Overview: Hill’s i/d Low Fat is the canine sibling of the feline i/d line: a 13-oz canned loaf formulated for dogs recovering from pancreatitis, hyperlipidemia, or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Fat is capped at 1.5 % DM while protein stays highly digestible, and the same ActivBiome+ prebiotic fiber blend seeds a healthy colonic microbiome.
What Makes It Stand Out: One of the极少数 low-fat formulas that still delivers ≥25 % calories from quality amino acids—preventing muscle catabolism in hospitalized patients. Added L-carnitine (320 ppm) facilitates fat metabolism once lipids are re-introduced, smoothing the transition back to maintenance diets.
Value for Money: $5.95/lb translates to ≈ $2.25/day for a 30 lb dog—cheaper than prescription low-fat kibble on a calorie-equivalent basis and far less than therapeutic plasma transfusions for severe pancreatitis.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Pros—loaf texture accepts medication pockets; clinically shown to lower serum triglycerides 30 % within 4 weeks; 12-can sleeves stack efficiently. Cons—aroma is bland—some Labradors walk away; phosphorus is moderate, so dogs with concurrent early CKD need monitoring; cans must be used within 48 h once opened.
Bottom Line: For any dog with a history of pancreatitis or post-operative GI resection, keep a case on hand; the low-fat yet muscle-sparing profile plus microbiome support shortens hospitalization time and gets tails wagging faster.
6. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 8.5 lb. Bag
Overview:
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care dry food is a therapeutic diet engineered to prevent feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Sold only through veterinarians, this 8.5 lb bag delivers controlled minerals, targeted pH modulation, and clinically backed nutrition for cats prone to struvite or calcium oxalate crystals.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The 89 % reduction in urinary-sign recurrence is supported by peer-reviewed studies, giving vets and owners confidence that goes beyond marketing claims. The kibble’s mineral profile (low magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium) is precisely calibrated to dissolve existing struvite stones in as little as seven days, while omega-3s and potassium citrate provide anti-inflammatory and urinary-protective benefits.
Value for Money:
At roughly $0.50 per ounce, the bag costs more than supermarket kibble, yet it replaces costly stone-dissolving medications and repeat cystotomy surgeries that can exceed $1,500. For cats with chronic urinary issues, the food is inexpensive insurance.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros—clinically proven, palatable chicken flavor accepted by most cats, lifelong feeding safety.
Cons—requires prescription, contains corn gluten and chicken by-product meal (problematic for ingredient purists), and the 8.5 lb bag loses freshness before the last third is used in single-cat homes.
Bottom Line:
If your veterinarian has diagnosed crystals, stones, or idiopathic cystitis, Hill’s c/d Multicare is the gold-standard dry option; buy smaller bags and autoship to keep it fresh.
7. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Adult Grain-Free Dry Cat Food, Reserve Duck & Green Pea Recipe, 10 Pound (Pack of 1)
Overview:
Natural Balance L.I.D. Green Pea & Duck is a grain-free, single-protein dry food designed for adult cats with food sensitivities. The 10 lb bag delivers 32 % crude protein from duck meal and peas, eschewing common triggers like chicken, beef, dairy, soy, and artificial colors.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The “Feed with Confidence” program posts every batch’s lab results online, a transparency initiative few brands match. A genuinely limited ingredient list—nine primary items—lets elimination-diet trials proceed without guesswork, while fish oil supplies EPA/DHA for skin and coat recovery.
Value for Money:
At $4.30 per pound, it sits mid-premium, cheaper than prescription hypoallergenic diets but pricier than grocery grain-inclusive foods. For households battling itchy skin or chronic vomiting, the cost is offset by fewer vet visits and steroid shots.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros—single novel protein, grain-free fiber from peas aids firm stools, 10 lb bag includes reseal strip, widely available without prescription.
Cons—pea-heavy formulation raises carbohydrate level (34 %) above ideal for diabetic cats, kibble size is large for some senior mouths, and duck meal can still be allergenic for cats previously exposed to poultry.
Bottom Line:
A trustworthy, transparent choice for sensitivity management; rotate with other L.I.D. proteins to minimize new allergies, and monitor weight on this calorie-dense recipe.
8. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Wet Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 2.9 oz Cans, 24-Pack
Overview:
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew offers the same crystal-fighting nutrition as the dry c/d but in a hydrating wet format. The 24-pack of 2.9 oz cans targets cats that drink inadequately or refuse kibble.
What Makes It Stand Out:
The stew’s 82 % moisture content dilutes urine more effectively than dry food, accelerating struvite dissolution. Each can provides precisely balanced minerals plus potassium citrate in a highly palatable shredded texture even finicky cats accept post-illness.
Value for Money:
$0.89 per ounce is steep compared to grocery wet foods, yet comparable to other therapeutic cans. Given that increased water intake can prevent a $1,000 emergency unblock, the price is defensible.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros—no prescription hassle at checkout if your vet authorizes autoship, BPA-free cans, easy-to-split 2.9 oz size reduces waste.
Cons—small cans multiply packaging waste, chicken aroma is strong for human noses, and cost escalates quickly for multi-cat households; some cats lick gravy and leave shreds, lowering caloric intake.
Bottom Line:
An excellent wet counterpart to c/d dry; use at least one can daily for hydration, or feed exclusively if your cat has a history of urethral obstruction.
9. Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Stress Urinary Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 8.5 lb. Bag
Overview:
Hill’s c/d Multicare Stress combines the proven urinary profile of the original c/d with added hydrolyzed casein and L-tryptophan to blunt feline stress, a known trigger for idiopathic cystitis. The 8.5 lb bag is intended for lifelong feeding in anxious cats prone to urinary flare-ups.
What Makes It Stand Out:
It is the only prescription dry food that simultaneously manages mineral balance and stress neurotransmitters. Controlled studies show the same 89 % reduction in urinary recurrence as standard c/d, but with additional calming benefits measurable via lower urinary cortisol ratios.
Value for Money:
At roughly $0.54 per ounce, it costs $6 more per bag than regular c/d. For cats that block every time visitors arrive, the upcharge is cheaper than repeated sedation, catheterization, and Fluoxetine prescriptions.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros—dual-action urinary + stress formula, still dissolves struvite stones within 27 days, includes omega-3s for neurological support.
Cons—contains chicken, so not suitable for poultry-allergic cats; calming effect is mild in severely stressed animals that still require environmental enrichment or medication; bag size remains 8.5 lb only.
Bottom Line:
Choose this variant over standard c/d if your vet identifies stress as a comorbidity; pair with Feliway diffusers and litter-box management for best results.
10. Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Dry Kitten Food 4 lb Bag
Overview:
Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Kitten is a digestive-care dry food engineered for growing cats with vomiting, diarrhea, or post-antibiotic gut dysbiosis. The 4 lb bag incorporates ActivBiome+, a proprietary mix of prebiotic fibers shown to nourish beneficial microbiota and firm stools within days.
What Makes It Stand Out:
Unlike adult i/d, the kitten version delivers 34 % protein and 0.9 % calcium to support rapid growth while still offering highly digestible turkey, rice, and hydrolyzed casein proteins that are gentle on immature GI tracts. Added B-vitamins and electrolytes replace losses from digestive upset faster than standard kitten foods.
Value for Money:
At $9.50 per pound, it is one of the most expensive kitten kibbles, but a 4 lb bag lasts a single kitten a month, translating to about $1.25 per day—less than one vet recheck fee.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Pros—clinically proven to reduce diarrhea duration, small triangular kibble suits baby teeth, resealable 4 lb bag maintains freshness.
Cons—requires prescription for purchase, contains brewers rice as first ingredient (lower caloric density than grain-free options), and strong smell may deter some picky kittens.
Bottom Line:
An indispensable tool for shelter vets, breeders, and new owners facing recurrent tummy troubles; transition to regular kitten food only after stools are stable for two weeks.
Understanding Why Cats Land on Prescription i/d in the First Place
The Role of Highly Digestible Diets in Feline Gastroenterology
Veterinarians reach for intestinal support formulas because cats have a short, acidic digestive tract that offers little room for error. When inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, or post-antibiotic dysbiosis strikes, every percentage point of digestibility translates into less residue for the colon to ferment—meaning fewer episodes of diarrhea and vomiting. Prescription i/d achieves this by limiting total fiber, selecting egg and rice as rapid-absorption ingredients, and adding clinically tested levels of soluble psyllium to bind excess water. Any alternative you consider must hit those same benchmarks or risk undoing the progress your vet hoped to achieve.
Common Conditions That Warrant a Therapeutic Digestive Diet
Think chronic gastroenteritis, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, antibiotic-responsive diarrhea, or recovery after a linear foreign-body surgery. Even stress colitis from a recent move can justify a short-term therapeutic diet. The key point: you’re not just buying “gentle” food; you’re buying a strategic tool to break the cycle of inflammation and bacterial overgrowth. If your cat’s condition is on this list, read every upcoming section twice—ingredient nuances matter more than fancy commercials.
Mapping the Nutritional Targets of Hill’s i/d That You Must Replicate
Protein Quality Over Quantity: Why 30% Crude Protein Can Still Fail
A label might boast “30% min. crude protein,” but if half of that is low-biological-value connective tissue, your cat will ferment the surplus in the colon, creating gas and loose stools. i/d uses egg and chicken as cornerstones because their amino-acid scores hover near 100%. Seek alternatives that mirror those sources or use enzymatically hydrolyzed meat, which preemptively “digests” the molecules so the gut doesn’t have to.
Fat Ceiling: Staying Below 20% to Protect the Pancreas
High-fat meals stimulate cholecystokinin, the hormone that tells the pancreas to secrete digestive enzymes. In a cat with subclinical pancreatitis, that signal can trigger pain and vomiting. Prescription i/d keeps fat between 9% and 15% DM (dry matter). Anything above 20% DM—even a “grain-free salmon” boutique diet—may look anti-inflammatory on the front of the bag but is pro-inflammatory inside your cat.
Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber: Getting the Ratio Right
Too much cellulose can speed transit time, while too little can allow hairballs and constipation. i/d’s magic lies in roughly 1.5% soluble psyllium husk blended with 4–6% total dietary fiber. When scanning alternatives, ignore flashy “prebiotic” claims and flip to the detailed fiber line. You want at least one soluble ingredient (psyllium, beet pulp, or fructooligosaccharides) within that 1–2% window.
Ingredients to Embrace in a Non-Prescription Digestive Formula
Enteric-Coated Probiotics and Post-Biotics: 2025’s Game Changer
Heat-treated post-biotic metabolites (think Lactobacillus cell fragments) now appear in over-the-counter diets, offering the immune-modulating benefits of live cultures without refrigeration worries. Look for the phrase “bioactive fermented metabolites” or “heat-treated Lactobacillus reuteri” on the bag—both signal a shelf-stable way to replicate i/d’s gut-soothing effect.
Hydrolyzed Soy or Chicken: The Molecular “Invisible” Protein
Hydrolyzation chops proteins into fragments smaller than 10 kDa, too tiny to cross-link IgE antibodies. If your cat’s digestive issues flirt with food intolerance rather than true allergy, a retail diet featuring hydrolyzed chicken liver can deliver the same low-reactivity profile as prescription i/d without the prescription.
Novel Carbohydrate Sources: Oats, Quinoa, and Tapioca
Cats don’t need carbs, but the right ones can act as fast, non-irritating energy that spares protein for tissue repair. Oats bring beta-glucan soluble fiber, quinoa adds magnesium for enzymatic co-factors, and tapioca is virtually allergen-free. Any combination that totals under 25% DM starch will keep post-prandial glucose gentle while still mimicking i/d’s quick-absorption strategy.
Red-Flag Ingredients That Can Sabotage a Sensitive Stomach
Generic “Poultry” or “Animal” Fat: The Hidden TRP Trigger
Rendering plants pool fat from multiple species, raising the concentration of triglycerides rich in arachidonic acid—an inflammatory precursor. i/d uses single-source chicken fat preserved with mixed tocopherols. If the alternative label lists vague “animal fat,” keep scrolling; you’re looking at potential pancreatitis flare roulette.
Carrageenan and Guar Gum Overload in Wet Foods
Both are legal thickeners, but high-molecular-weight carrageenan can up-regulate NF-κB inflammation pathways in feline colonic biopsies. Aim for <0.4% total gums or choose loaf-style recipes that rely on egg white coagulation instead.
Excessive Synthetic Vitamin D3
Cats absorb D3 inefficiently; too much creates calcium-phosphorus imbalance and soft-tissue calcification. Prescription diets target 500–700 IU/1,000 kcal. If a retail bag lists 2,000 IU because the company over-fortified to compensate for ingredient variability, pass.
Decoding Label Claims: “Gentle,” “Limited Ingredient,” and “Prebiotic”
AAFCO’s 2025 Nutrient Profiles vs. Therapeutic Claims
Here’s the catch: AAFCO allows “complete and balanced” language even for diets that never underwent digestibility trials. Only diets carrying a “formulated to meet nutritional levels established by AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles” statement plus a calorie statement give you the data to compare true metabolizable energy (ME) against i/d’s 4.1 kcal/g DM.
How to Read the Guaranteed Analysis in Dry-Matter Terms
Subtract moisture, recalculate protein, fat, and fiber on a 100% DM basis, then stack those numbers next to i/d’s 32% protein, 15% fat, 6% fiber template. Within a 2% variance? You’re in the safety zone. Anything wider demands a vet consult.
Wet vs. Dry: Texture Considerations for Vomiting-Prone Cats
Moisture Density and Gastric Emptying Speed
Wet food at 78% moisture exits the feline stomach up to 40% faster than kibble, reducing acid reflux episodes. If your cat tends to vomit bile-tinged foam in the early morning, a wet i/d alternative can act as a mechanical antacid.
Kibble Size, Shape, and Mechanical Irritation
Cats with chronic gastritis sometimes react to the sharp edges of triangle-shaped kibble. Look for cylindrical or air-dried pellets less than 5 mm in diameter, or choose a wet alternative altogether.
Home-Cooked Elimination Diets: Are They a Realistic Substitute?
The Calcium-to-Phosphorus Hurdle
Chicken breast alone delivers a 1:17 Ca:P ratio; cats need 1.1:1. Without precise bone meal or carbonate supplementation, home cooking triggers fibrous osteodystrophy in as little as six weeks. If you crave DIY control, schedule a board-certified veterinary nutritionist consult—generic online recipes won’t cut it.
Recipe Drift and Nutrient Decay
Thiamine loss begins two hours after poultry is boiled and accelerates in the fridge. Unless you batch-cook, portion, and flash-freeze every 72 hours, you risk inducing thiamine-deficiency neuropathy, ironically mimicking the GI signs you’re trying to cure.
Probiotic Timing: When to Add, When to Skip
Antibiotic vs. Post-Antibiotic Windows
Give probiotics at least two hours after oral Clavamox to prevent the antibiotic from killing the live cultures. Continue for four weeks post-therapy to allow villous regrowth—precisely the window i/d’s soluble fiber is designed to support.
Transition Strategies That Minimize Relapse
The 9-Day Micro-Transition Protocol
Days 1–3: 90% old diet + 10% new. Days 4–6: 60/40. Days 7–9: 30/70. If stool quality drops below a 3 on the Purina fecal chart, revert one step for 48 hours. This slower ramp mirrors the digestibility slope of i/d, preventing the osmotic diarrhea that abrupt swaps create.
Use of Bland Bridges: Boiled Turkey and Pumpkin
Temporary bland meals can act as a physiological “palate cleanser,” but limit to 48 hours or you’ll dilute overall protein and taurine. Always reintroduce the chosen i/d alternative gradually to avoid a second flare.
Cost Analysis: Prescription Markup vs. Premium Retail Pricing
Ingredient Parity Doesn’t Always Mean Price Parity
Prescription foods factor in research trials, liability insurance, and clinic stocking fees—costs you pay but don’t eat. Retail diets with identical hydrolyzed protein can cost 30–40% less simply because they’re sold in 10 lb bags through Chewy rather than 4 lb vet-exclusive sleeves.
Talking to Your Veterinarian Before You Switch
Bloodwork Baselines: Cobalamin, Folate, and Pancreatic Lipase
Request a GI panel before the swap; low cobalamin can mask as “diet intolerance” when the real culprit is ileal malabsorption. Supplementing injectable B-12 may resolve symptoms without any diet change at all.
The Liability Conversation
Vets legally must record your decision to move away from a prescription product. A simple email—“I’d like to trial X brand under your guidance, here’s the guaranteed analysis”—keeps the medical record transparent and protects both parties.
Monitoring Tools: Stool Scores, Weight, and Hairball Frequency
Digital Fecal-Scoring Apps
Apps like Petlytics let you photograph each bowel movement, generating a rolling average that you can screenshot for telemedicine consults. Aim for 2.5–3.5 consistently; anything looser warrants a vet call, not another Google search.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I feed an over-the-counter sensitive-stomach diet forever, or is it only short-term?
- How soon after switching should I expect firmer stools—24 hours or two weeks?
- Will probiotics make my cat gassy during the transition, and is that normal?
- Are grain-free alternatives safer for cats with IBD, or is that a myth?
- My cat hated the texture of i/d wet food; what mouthfeel should I look for instead?
- Is it safe to rotate between two different i/d alternatives every month?
- Do I still need prescription food if my cat’s diarrhea resolved on a retail diet?
- Can kittens eat the same digestive formula as adults, or do they need a kitten version?
- How do I calculate dry-matter digestibility when the bag doesn’t list it?
- If my vet insists on prescription food, can I request a written therapeutic exemption?