Feline Nutrition • Melbourne, Australia
Royal Canin Digestive Care: A Practical Guide for Better Gut Health & Shiny Coats
Written by the ADS Pet Store Editorial Team • Updated October 2025 • Location: Moorabbin (Melbourne) • Educational content
If your cat’s tummy is happy, you’ll see it in the litter box and on the coat. This guide explains how Royal Canin Digestive Care supports stool quality, gut flora, and skin/coat health—plus a simple mix-feeding table and practical tips for Australian homes.
1) Sensitive Stomachs: What You’ll Notice (and Why It Happens)
Digestive sensitivity in cats often shows up as soft or inconsistent stools, frequent hairballs, post-meal gulping or bloating, and on-off appetites. Indoor lifestyles, sudden food changes, stress, low water intake, and oversized meals can all nudge the gut off balance. The aim isn’t to chase symptoms—it’s to feed a precisely balanced recipe that stabilises digestion so nutrients are properly absorbed.
When digestion improves, the litter box becomes predictable, hairball incidents drop, and coats look smoother. This isn’t just cosmetic—efficient digestion ensures amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals reach the skin and hair follicles where they’re needed for renewal.
2) How Good Digestion Shows on the Coat
Fur strength and shine rely on amino acids (for keratin), omega-3 & omega-6 (for skin barrier and calmness), plus trace minerals like zinc and copper (for skin resilience and coat colour). These are mainly absorbed in the small intestine. If the gut is unsettled, even a premium diet can under-deliver because nutrients pass through unabsorbed. Get digestion right first, and the coat usually follows.
3) Royal Canin Digestive Care: The Science in Simple Terms
Digestive Care is built around measurable outcomes such as stool quality and tolerance. It combines highly digestible proteins (L.I.P.), targeted fibres including psyllium, prebiotics (FOS/MOS) to nurture gut flora, and balanced minerals for urinary comfort. The dry kibble’s ring shape encourages chewing, which slows eating and supports mechanical pre-digestion.
Proven results*: Over 95% healthy stool quality in 10 days when cats are fed ROYAL CANIN® Digestive Care dry and wet formulas as directed. *Royal Canin internal study, see the AU site for details: royalcanin.com/au.
4) Ingredient Deep-Dive: What Each Part Does (Digestive Care Dry)
Understanding the label helps you choose with confidence. Here’s what key ingredients contribute, using the official list you provided:
Proteins & Energy
- Wheat gluten (L.I.P.) — a concentrated, highly digestible protein selected for very high digestibility. Helps reduce unabsorbed residues in the colon, supporting better stool quality.
- Dehydrated poultry protein — dense animal protein for essential amino acids that maintain muscle and fuel coat/skin turnover.
- Dehydrated fish — adds animal protein and naturally occurring omega-3s to help calm skin reactivity and support a glossy coat.
- Hydrolysed animal proteins — proteins broken into smaller peptides to support tolerance and palatability; useful for sensitive cats that react to larger protein structures.
Digestive Comfort & Stool Quality
- Psyllium husks & seeds (0.50%) — a gel-forming fibre that regulates transit time and helps form well-shaped stools; also assists hair to move through the gut (hairball management).
- Chicory pulp — a source of fructooligosaccharides (FOS, 0.47%), a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria and supports a balanced microbiome.
- Hydrolysed yeast (source of mannooligosaccharides, MOS) — supports normal gut flora and intestinal barrier function.
- Vegetable fibres — add bulk and support stool consistency without pushing stools too hard or too soft.
Skin/Coat & Overall Wellness
- Fish oil — omega-3 (EPA/DHA) for skin comfort and coat shine.
- Soya oil — omega-6 to support skin barrier function and healthy fur texture.
- Vitamins & minerals — e.g., Vitamin A & D3 for skin/immune/bone support; Zinc (126 mg) and Copper (10 mg) aid skin integrity and coat colour; iodine, iron, manganese, and selenium support metabolic and antioxidant processes.
- Clinoptilolite (technological additive) — a natural mineral often used to help bind certain by-products in the gut and support stool quality.
- Antioxidants — help protect fats and nutrients in the food and support overall oxidative balance.
Carbohydrate Matrix & Energy Delivery
- Rice, maize flour & maize gluten, wheat flour — provide digestible energy and help shape a consistent kibble that chews well; paired with prebiotics/fibres, they can support steady digestion for sensitive cats.
- Animal fats — dense, palatable energy to meet feline caloric needs without oversizing meals (which can stress digestion).
Full label (as provided): Wheat gluten*, dehydrated poultry protein, wheat flour, rice, animal fats, maize gluten, dehydrated fish, hydrolysed animal proteins, maize flour, vegetable fibres, minerals, chicory pulp, soya oil, fish oil, psyllium husks and seeds (0.50%), fructooligosaccharides (0.47%), hydrolysed yeast (source of mannooligosaccharides). *L.I.P.: protein selected for its very high digestibility. Nutritional additives include Vitamins A & D3 and trace minerals (Fe, I, Cu, Mn, Zn, Se); technological additive: clinoptilolite; plus antioxidants.
5) How Digestive Care Dry Helps Solve Common Problems
- Soft or irregular stools: L.I.P. proteins minimise unabsorbed residues; FOS/MOS and psyllium stabilise the microbiome and stool form.
- Hairballs: The fibre matrix (incl. psyllium) helps carry swallowed hair through the intestines, reducing retching episodes.
- Gulping meals: Ring-shaped kibble encourages chewing, slowing intake and aiding mechanical breakdown.
- Low hydration: Pairing dry with wet Digestive Care pouches lifts daily moisture for digestive and urinary comfort.
6) Easy Mix-Feeding Guide (Digestive Care Gravy + Digestive Care Dry)
Start here if you’re adding one pouch of Digestive Care Gravy per day and completing the rest of the calories with Digestive Care Dry (ideal-weight cats with normal energy needs):
Always measure dry portions by grams for accuracy. Adjust every 2 weeks based on weight, appetite, and stool quality. For other Digestive Care variants or different calorie needs, please follow the specific feeding table printed on the product packaging.
7) Transition Plan (Protect the Microbiome)
Switching foods slowly helps the gut adapt and keeps the litter box predictable. Use this simple 7-day glide path:
- Days 1–2: 75% current food + 25% new
- Days 3–4: 50% current + 50% new
- Days 5–6: 25% current + 75% new
- Day 7+: 100% new
If stools loosen, hold the current ratio for 1–2 extra days. Keep water fresh and feeding times consistent.
8) Signs It’s Working
Most owners first notice improvements in stool form and frequency. Over the next few weeks, coat texture usually becomes sleeker, hairball episodes decline, and post-meal comfort improves. If you don’t see progress—or symptoms worsen—speak with your vet.
9) FAQs
Is Digestive Care suitable for indoor cats?
Yes. Indoor cats often benefit from the stool-quality focus and structured fibre blend. For hairball-prone cats, combining Digestive Care Dry with Digestive Care Wet can further help.
Can I feed Digestive Care long-term?
Many cats stay on Digestive Care as their everyday diet, especially if it keeps stools consistent and hairballs down. Reassess portions and body condition every few weeks.
How quickly will I see changes?
Stool quality often improves within about 10 days when fed as directed (per Royal Canin’s internal study). Coat improvements typically follow as the gut stabilises.
What’s the difference between Digestive Care and Sensible 33?
Digestive Care focuses on stool quality with L.I.P. proteins, prebiotics (FOS/MOS) and psyllium. Sensible 33 is designed for digestive sensitivity and picky appetites, using three kibble shapes and higher energy density. Choose based on your cat’s needs—consistent digestion or enhanced palatability.
Should I choose wet, dry, or mix feeding for a sensitive stomach?
Mix feeding often works best: dry food offers chewing and portion control, while wet food provides hydration and flavour. A practical pairing is Digestive Care Gravy + Digestive Care Dry, measured by calories rather than volume.
How do I measure portions—cups or grams?
Use grams for accuracy. Kitchen scales reduce overfeeding and make it easier to follow the feeding guide. Re-weigh portions weekly and adjust according to your cat’s body condition score (BCS).
Does Digestive Care help with hairballs?
Yes. The fibre matrix (including psyllium) helps move hair through the gut. For heavy shedders, alternate with Hairball Care Dry or add a hairball wet pouch to maintain coat health and gut flow.
My cat is a picky eater—any tips?
Transition slowly over 7 days, serve food at room temperature, and try mix feeding for aroma and texture appeal. If pickiness persists, Sensible 33 offers high palatability while maintaining digestive comfort.
Can senior cats or indoor cats use Digestive Care?
Yes. Senior and indoor cats often benefit from the digestibility and stool-quality support. Monitor hydration (add wet food or a fountain) and check weight monthly to maintain a healthy balance.
Can I use Digestive Care if my cat needs urinary support?
Digestive Care includes balanced minerals for urinary health in healthy adults. If your cat has a diagnosed urinary condition, ask your vet about Royal Canin Veterinary Urinary formulas and do not mix without professional advice.
What ingredients make Digestive Care good for sensitive stomachs?
L.I.P. proteins, prebiotics (FOS/MOS), psyllium, and balanced omega-3/6 ratios work together to stabilise the microbiome, support stool formation, and reduce gut irritation. The ring-shaped kibble also promotes slower eating for smoother digestion.
What if stools are soft during transition?
Pause the transition for a few days, maintain fresh water, and limit new treats. If stools remain soft for more than a week or show blood or mucus, see your veterinarian promptly.
How do I choose the best cat food for sensitive stomachs in Australia?
Look for high digestibility, proven prebiotics, and balanced fibre blends. In Australia, Royal Canin Digestive Care and Sensible 33 are both strong choices trusted by vets for cats with sensitive digestion.
Further reading: WSAVA Nutrition Guidelines · AAFCO: Complete & Balanced · RSPCA Australia: Feeding Cats
10) Melbourne Delivery & Moorabbin Click & Collect
ADS Pet Store offers fast Melbourne metro delivery and convenient Moorabbin Click & Collect. Order before 9am for the next available delivery day, or visit our warehouse to pick up your feline essentials in person. We serve cat parents across Melbourne’s south-east (Brighton, Bentleigh, Hampton, Caulfield, Cheltenham).
