Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food
The best-evidenced sensitive-stomach cat food here and roughly half the per-calorie cost of Royal Canin Digestive Care. Corn protein meal at position three is the main label compromise.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 83/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 81/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Chicken” is named whole meat; 1 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 32.6% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 28%). Deductions: Concentrated corn protein used to lift the crude protein number without adding meat..
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 70/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 0 by-product/unnamed and 1 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 92/100
AAFCO statement: Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that this food provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 80/100
One recall event, announced in three waves between January and May 2019: a withdrawal of roughly 22 million cans of Science Diet and Prescription Diet wet dog food for elevated vitamin D traced to a supplier premix error. FDA issued Hill's a warning letter the same year over incoming-ingredient verification. No dry food, cat food or treats were affected, and nothing has been recalled since.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 96/100
Algorithm: about $2.39 per 1,000 kcal ($$ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 94/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Feeding-trial validated - the only sensitive-stomach cat food here with that level of evidence
- Chicken leads with brewers rice and barley, and just 2.5% fibre, which is the profile you want for a reactive gut
- About $2.39 per 1,000 kcal, roughly half the cost of Royal Canin Digestive Care
- 4.7/5 across roughly 1,400 ratings, with omega-6 and vitamin E specified for skin and coat
What we don't
- Corn protein meal is the third ingredient, adding plant protein high on the label
- Not a true limited-ingredient diet - chicken, corn, barley and pea protein are all present
- 30% protein is good but not exceptional for an obligate carnivore
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
Hill's takes the same approach it uses in dogs - chicken first, brewers rice and barley for easy digestion, fibre held to just 2.5%, and omega-6 plus vitamin E for skin and coat - and backs it with AAFCO feeding trials rather than formulation. At about $2.39 per 1,000 kcal from a 15.5 lb bag it is also far cheaper than the specialist alternatives.
It is not an elimination diet. Chicken, corn protein meal, barley and pea protein are all in the recipe, so a cat with a suspected specific protein allergy needs a genuinely limited formula instead. And while 30% protein is respectable, corn protein meal at position three means part of it is plant-derived.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Cat Food for Sensitive Stomachs:
65/ 100 Royal Canin Feline Care Nutrition Digestive Care Adult Dry Cat Food
Frequently asked questions
Is Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Adult cats with intermittent vomiting, loose stools or itch, where evidence matters more than ingredient novelty. It is not the best fit for: Elimination trials, and cats with confirmed chicken or corn sensitivity. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Hill's Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food cost?
Expect roughly $4.39 per pound ($$ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.