Cats are among the most popular household pets in the world. Over 46 million cats are in homes today. Many people adore them because they do hilarious things and are adorable and cuddly.
You might be gently petting their bellies and potentially hearing if they are purring with your ear, and suddenly, you notice your cat’s belly gurgling or bubbling. In this case, it may concern you, especially since they do not seem affected, but as a cat parent, you want what is best for them. In that case, why does your cat’s stomach bubble, and should you be concerned? Let us find out down below.
A cat’s stomach bubbles because food is moving throughout its digestive system. This does not bother your cat and is entirely normal.
However, there might be some concerns you might want to watch out for, such as your cat having a type of food intolerance, anxiety, parasites, ingestion of foreign objects, or underlying health concerns. It is essential to note that if your cat does not seem distressed, then odds are there is nothing to be concerned about.
Today, we will explore whether it is normal for a cat’s stomach to bubble and discover why it could be doing this. Being a parent of a tiny fur baby such as a cat means you want to ensure they live the longest and happiest lifestyle, including keeping them healthy. In that case, we recommend continuing with the article.
Is It Normal for Your Cat’s Stomach to Bubble?
As noted above, your cat’s stomach is typically expected to bubble as it processes its delicious kitty meals. However, a few circumstances might cause it to gurgle, which may be a solid reason to visit a vet.
Hearing the gurgling, bubbling noises but having your pet beset by other symptoms like gas, vomiting, gagging, diarrhea, distress, or direct changes in your pet’s mood, like abnormal hiding or becoming less energetic, can all warrant a visit to a doctor to check in on your little one.
Below, we will discuss some of the most common reasons why your cat’s stomach may bubble and what can alleviate the symptoms or, at the very least, give you some tell-tale signs to look out for.
Why Does Your Cat’s Stomach Bubble?
Aside from digesting the food properly, there are a few reasons your cat’s stomach might be bubbling. Let us take a look at them below.
1. Food Transitions
Suppose you’ve been experimenting with new brands to help foster a better lifestyle for your pet. In that case, you may have noticed they are either more excited to eat or significantly less enthusiastic about chow time. Either way, the change in food can cause your cat’s stomach to react poorly to the shake-up, with a notable increase in bubbling and even a few kitty “toots.”
These changes can be completely normal and take time for your kitty’s stomach to adapt to the new food type, but it is wise to be vigilant, as the bubbling alongside other symptoms can be a reason to visit a vet, change food types, or even both.
2. Food Intolerance
In much the same way, a food transition for your cat’s betterment can be positive, but it can also be negative. To that end, your cat’s stomach may not agree with the new food or kibble type you are trying.
When attempting to alter your pet’s diet, it’s good to take a mental note of what ingredients are included in it and then compare what ingredients have been added to the older brand. These changes may come in handy for self-diagnosing the cause of the new bubbling or give you something of value to bring to your vet’s attention should it get to that point.
3. Underlying Health Concerns
Suppose you haven’t changed your cat’s diet recently but have noticed a significant increase in stomach bubbling accompanied by a change in behavior or other symptoms that could negatively impact your cat’s health (vomiting or diarrhea being the primary culprits). In that case, you may want to get your cat to a vet immediately.
It’s imperative to get them to a doctor as soon as possible. The two symptoms noted above don’t usually occur without a good reason and can harm your pet’s health and well-being. The severity of these symptoms worsens the longer your animal has to endure them.
4. Anxiety
If you’ve ever been in a particularly stressful circumstance, you may have experienced your stomach going into knots, butterflies, jitters, or a powerful urge to vomit. Well, your cat isn’t too different from you in that regard. Highly stressful situations can make your pet feel queasy and give them stomach gurgles.
Anything from having company to a sudden burst of loud, unexpected noises can cause these bubbles. If it happens, you may take some time first to eliminate the instability that is upsetting your pet (if you can, sometimes house renovations, projects, or company visiting can’t be dealt with immediately) and then comfort your kitty.
Isolating them as far as possible from the noise, giving them some reassuring pets, and gentle talking can help foster a better connection, trust that you have their best interest at heart, and acknowledge their upset.
5. Ingestion of Foreign Objects
While your cat playing with yarn, string, or smaller objects and smacking them around the house can be entertaining initially, if left to its own devices, your cat can very easily ingest things it isn’t meant to. Be it out of hunger or an honest mistake, these foreign entities inside your pet are sure to make a ruckus going down and, unfortunately, coming out.
In these cases, you’ll want to observe your pet carefully and take them to the vet if you notice said objects missing (and are unable to locate them after diligently searching) or if your pet is obviously suffering due to eating said baubles.
One of the biggest reasons you’d want to be hasty about getting your pet to the vet after this particular scenario plays out is that foreign objects can either damage or block your cat’s intestines or internal organs, leading to a litany of possible dangers. Therefore, time is of the essence when responding to these issues.
6. Parasites
One of the final possibilities would be that your cat has managed to eat something that has given them one of the parasites that are now causing your pet distress. While these changes can be relatively uneventful, like bubbling with an occasional fart, they can cause organ inflammation and more depending on the type and severity of the infestation.
Regular checkups with your vet will often catch these kinds of things, but direct exposure cannot exactly be predicted, especially with outdoor cats. So, scheduling routine checkups and taking them in if you notice something is amiss is your best bet to stay on top of this issue.
What Are Some Potential Causes of Bubbling Due to Non-digestive Issues?
Increased stress levels in your cat due to new environments, new people, loud noises, or new pets can cause your cat to have more prominent stomach bubbling.
If you are moving, it’s vital to take some time to help get your pets acclimated to the new place just as much as you are taking care of yourself and your family. Touching base on new pets is the same.
Ensure you are giving your cat equal (or at times more) attention than they were receiving so they don’t feel as if they are being forgotten in lieu of the new, possibly younger pet.
What Are Some Home Care Tips & Remedies for Your Cats Digestive System?
There are several ways to help remedy your cat’s digestive system. Let’s discuss them below.
1. Changing the Food
If your cat’s stomach issues have recently cropped up due to a change in kibble or food type, it may be a good idea to revert to their former preferred meal (assuming it’s safe and hasn’t been recalled, for example) or go to a more bland variant to stabilize your cat’s stomach first before attempting something a little more complex.
2. Ensure Proper Sanitation
Double-checking your cat’s food bowl, water bowl, and general area for sanitation could also cause irritation. Despite being an animal, hygiene does matter, so drinking and eating from unclean areas can easily cause stomach irritation.
3. Extra Fiber
Fiber is essential for your fur baby because it can help with stool quality and digestive functions. It also helps if your cat has an upset tummy. For example, you can provide your cat with some beet pulp or apple pomace, which are considered moderately fermentable fiber sources for your cat.
4 Probiotics
Finally, you can give your cats beneficial probiotics to promote a healthier digestive tract by adding bacteria that can expedite or make the process easier. Either way, your cat will be better off for the change, but you may want to double-check if the specific brand is approved by your vet.
When Should You See a Vet?
The most crucial time to see a vet is when your pet is either in obvious pain, struggling with normal activities that are part of its daily routine, or becoming unable to keep its food and water down. All of these constitute a significant challenge to their well-being and, as such, merit an immediate visit to the vet.
