Gassy Sphynx Cat Farting Too Much? Here’s How to Stop It.

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Flatulence a.k.a farting is a normal physiological process that all living beings experience, however, It becomes a problem when the release of gas becomes excessive and unusually smelly. I’ve noticed many sphynx owners complain about their cat’s frequent farting and gassy nature.

Could flatulence be a breed-related issue affecting the sphynx breed or is it something normal, that owners have to deal with? Let’s find out!

While it’s normal for sphynx cats to fart, generally 1 or 2 toots a day is considered normal, anything more could suggest a bowel issue. Excess farting is basically a sign that the cat’s body is reacting strongly to certain ingredients or is a symptom of underlying digestive issues. While there are many digestive issues that affect the sphynx breed, most of the time these issues are the result of their diet.

The first step is to monitor their bowel movements and look for other symptoms to check if the problem persists. Don’t go making unnecessary changes to their diets without making sure that there is a problem.

Knowing the sphynx’s gluttonous nature sometimes your sphynx could’ve indulged in something they shouldn’t have. In this situation, the problem usually passes in a day or two, but if the problem continues after a few days it confirms that there is something wrong.

Sphynx cats have unusually sensitive stomachs in which they are prone to many digestive issues. These issues are some of the reasons why they may fart so much, may appear abnormally gassy, or may result in diarrhea. Most of the time wrong foods and harsh ingredients are to be blamed.

At times you may think that their diet isn’t the problem because there are no symptoms visible but in some cases, it takes time for their bodies to develop resistance against certain foods. Only after a while does these foods trigger a bowel reaction that is visible.

Because the sphynx cat is quite a new breed in terms of other domestic cat breeds there is still a lot of research that needs to be done to understand this breed better. Especially when finding the right diet.

Due to this great lack of knowledge, many sphynx owners run trial rounds testing different foods and diets to find the right one. While these issues are unavoidable to a certain extent you can effectively reduce or stop many digestive issues by simply finding the right diet.

Understanding The Digestive System Of A Sphynx Cat.

Understanding the sphynx breed will ensure you are able to provide the best care for their optimal health and well-being. Sphynx cats are a peculiar and unique breed. They are very different and they require care that’s specific and targeted to their needs.

Have you ever wondered why sphynx cats experience problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, farting, or any sort of poo issues? So often I hear sphynx owners complaining about these issues without even realizing that most of the issues they face are caused by the lack of knowledge and breed-related care.

Their digestive systems are highly sensitive and delicate. This means their tummies can easily be upset based on the foods they eat and the hidden ingredients it’s made up of. And as you know gut health is at the heart of most issues.

Maintaining a healthy gut will eliminate most digestive and skin issues while making sure they are at their best, however, the biggest problem is finding the right foods that agree with their bodies.

Most commercial pet foods contain fillers, artificial ingredients, and other harsh substitutes which may not affect regular cats but are troublesome for sphynx cats to digest.

It’s no wonder why their little bellies become bloated, discomforted, and gassy and in some cases, they may need to vomit the food out.

Finding the right diet for your sphynx cat will solve most of the problems you are experiencing as a sphynx owner. It’s important to note that there is no one fit diet for all, this means that you have to test a lot of different diets and quality foods to find what works.

What Causes A Sphynx Cat To Fart So Much?

It’s important to know that excess gas isn’t really the problem. It’s merely the by-product of the problem. For example, if the cat eats something that isn’t easily digestible.

Portions of foods that can’t be broken down and digested by the intestines travel to the cat’s colon, which is full of bacteria. The bacteria in the colon ferment these undigested particles of food, resulting in gas, burping, and flatulence.

Such causes include:

1. Food Intolerance.
2. Food Allergies.
3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
4. Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
5. Worms or Intestinal Parasites
6. Stomach Ulcers.
7. Bad quality foods with artificial ingredients.

Ways To Treat A Gassy Sphynx Cat.

The first step in finding a way to treat a gassy sphynx is to find the cause of the problem. You want to keep track of all things surrounding your cat’s gut health.

You want to regularly check the consistency of their feces, vomiting, bad smell, noises in their bellies, skin issues that may have surfaced, and flatulence. Most of the time the main cause is their diet and that’s what you need to change first.

But before you make any changes to their diet, you can either take them to the vet to get tested for any allergens, intolerances, or bowel diseases. If not you can continue to try other foods to find one that works.

Most owners have found that changing their sphynx diet made a severe impact on their cat’s gut health. Raw food remains king as most sphynx owners have found success incorporating the BARF diet, which means Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. 

These are foods that are untouched and retain their nutritional values without the bad artificial stuff. What I’ve noticed is that most of the time these commercial dry foods are to be blamed since they have a lot of unidentified ingredients which may be allergenic.

So finding the right diet and combination is the key to solving sphynx cats’ digestive issues. Remember it takes time and a lot of testing to find what works.

Each sphynx is different so try to test a combination of reputable food. Either quality dry food, wet food, or raw food. From my experience what works for most owners is a diet of 50% raw food and 50% dry sensitivity control food.

Once you have made the necessary changes to their diet, allow for a week or two and track their symptoms. If symptoms still continue you can either try different foods specifically formulated for sensitive tummies or you can get medical advice on a way forward.

Even though most of the time these issues aren’t serious and are often resolved by the correct diet, it’s still important to seek professional help if you feel you cannot find the right diet.

Best Foods For The Sphynx Breed.

From several test trials and a lot of failures, sphynx owners have found that a raw diet works best for their sphynx cat. This diet provides food that is nutritious and free from any allergenic ingredients which may upset their tummies.

The only problem you will face when trying the raw diet is its drastically reduced shelf life. The food only remains good for a few hours once you’ve served them, especially with raw meat bacteria grows rapidly making it inedible.

What works is smaller meals being served throughout the day so foods can remain good for them to consume while they are full throughout the day.

The second option is combining raw food with dry food to make up the cat’s diet. As mentioned before sphynx owners have found that 50% raw diet and 50% dry sensitive control kibble work well together.

Depending on your sphynx you can arrange their diet in a way that works for them. I suggest you take advantage of freeze-dried raw foods that are great for sphynx with tummy issues since they retain their nutritional value with a greater shelf life.

Freeze-dried raw foods are game changers for sphynx cats with tummy issues since it provides a healthy alternative while being simple and effective.

Here are my best picks of food for sphynx cats with sensitive tummies.

1. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Dinner
2. Stella & Chewy’s Skin & Digestive Boost

Common Foods To Avoid.

It’s wrong of me to generalize what foods are troublesome for the sphynx breed since all sphynx are different and their bodies react differently to what they digest. So instead I will share some of the foods that most sphynx owners have found to not agree to their sphynx.

1. Gluten6. Food Containing Dyes
2. Wheat7. BHA and BHT (preservatives and antioxidants)
3. Dairy8. Eggs
4. Poultry9. Red meat
5. Soy10. Corn.

Tips To Maintain An Healthy Sphynx Gut.

Maintaining the health of your sphynx gut is probably the most important thing you need to do. About 70% of cats’ immune cells are found in their gut and if there is an imbalance or a problem it can significantly affect their well-being.

Here are tips to make sure your sphynx digestive tract is healthy and well-balanced.

1. Balanced Diet.

An appropriate well-balanced diet for your cat’s metabolism is a great way to improve your cat’s gut health. Therefore, choosing a diet adapted to your cat’s needs is a key factor: choosing a cat food specially formulated to help support your cat’s natural defenses can help.

If you feed your sphynx cat foods that are high in carbohydrates this may suggest that their gut has excessive amounts of carb-loving bacteria. Some of these bacteria have been linked with excessive inflammation, potentially resulting in cat health issues.

For owners feeding a protein riched raw diet, carbohydrates are minimal while the quality of the proteins highly influences the health of the gut.

2. Fresh Water.

Sphynx cats love water so trying to make sure they drink enough water isn’t really a problem. Water is very important since the foods that most cats eat are very dry. Without enough water, it’s difficult for foods to be absorbed creating a whole host of other problems.

Luckily sphynx owners don’t have this problem, but if your sphynx isn’t drinking enough water try to encourage it by placing more water bowls throughout the house. Or you can get a cool water fountain that will attract them.

3. Exercise.

Indoor cats are at risk for obesity due to their low activity level and have profound negative effects on their gut microbiome and, consequently, their overall health.

Healthy and active cats have more Faecalibacterium living in their guts compared to less active cats, putting them at a decreased risk for developing chronic digestive diseases and even some types of cancer.

Exercise also stimulates the cat’s intestines to ensure regular bowel movements.

4. Dental Hygiene.

When oral hygiene is neglected bacteria increases in the cat’s mouth. Even though these bacteria don’t usually survive in their digestive tract, some of these disease-causing bacteria are found to possibly contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease.

A recent study found that when certain strains of bacteria from the mouth make their way to the gut and settle down in the intestine, they can trigger chronic inflammation. This provides sufficient evidence to not neglect their dental care.

5. Mental Stimulation

A cat’s mental well-being can highly influence its health. Gut bacteria can influence your cat’s mood, and it turns out that moods can also influence your cat’s microbiome. Stress has been shown to shift the microbiome toward an unhealthy state.

If your cat already suffers from digestive issues, stress can exacerbate the symptoms. Ensuring your sphynx is appropriately stimulated and in a well-enriched environment can positively affect their well-being which will enhance their body’s ability to function.

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