Food caused DIARRHEA? Or not using just 1 food caused it?

[Cat Caregiver]

My diabetic cat Oliver just spent two days in the hospital ($,$$$ ouch!!!) because of sudden diarrhea and vomiting. It turned out for the best because we switched vets and the new vet put him on Lantus. The old vet gave no other options than Vetsulin, which he'd been on for a month.

Anyway, turns out the other cat had diarrhea at the same time too. (It took me a while to notice since he used clumping litter.) Over the past month, he's been slowly switching over from dry food to the wet food that the diabetic cat is eating. It's been a very gradual shift.

In retrospect I see now that both cats had diarrhea at the same time and both cats had been eating (at least some) of 3 different low carb canned foods: Fancy Feast Classic Pate, Friskies Pate, Fancy Feast Gravy Lover's.

Bottom line: any of the three foods could have been "bad" and caused the diarrhea in both cats, or just eating 3 different foods and not sticking to one could have done it. Probably the latter since both cats always ate the exact same dry all the time before Oliver became diabetic. Cat gastrointestinal tracts like to keep things the same from my experience.

As of today, Oliver had his first FORMED poop, thanks to starting Fortiflora (per vet) yesterday. But the other cat--who normally will eat anything at anytime--left his Friskies uneaten this morning. I did get him to eat a little FF with Fortiflora. He truly has the runs right now and is not his usual self.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

My diabetic cat Oliver just spent two days in the hospital ($,$$$ ouch!!!) because of sudden diarrhea and vomiting. It turned out for the best because we switched vets and the new vet put him on Lantus. The old vet gave no other options than Vetsulin, which he'd been on for a month.

Anyway, turns out the other cat had diarrhea at the same time too. (It took me a while to notice since he used clumping litter.) Over the past month, he's been slowly switching over from dry food to the wet food that the diabetic cat is eating. It's been a very gradual shift.

In retrospect I see now that both cats had diarrhea at the same time and both cats had been eating (at least some) of 3 different low carb canned foods: Fancy Feast Classic Pate, Friskies Pate, Fancy Feast Gravy Lover's.

Bottom line: any of the three foods could have been "bad" and caused the diarrhea in both cats, or just eating 3 different foods and not sticking to one could have done it. Probably the latter since both cats always ate the exact same dry all the time before Oliver became diabetic. Cat gastrointestinal tracts like to keep things the same from my experience.

As of today, Oliver had his first FORMED poop, thanks to starting Fortiflora (per vet) yesterday. But the other cat--who normally will eat anything at anytime--left his Friskies uneaten this morning. I did get him to eat a little FF with Fortiflora. He truly has the runs right now and is not his usual self.

good lord. smh always something. FWIW I rotate Zoes different foods She get FF 2 meals and Merrick for lunch. ALL flavors rotated but if your cats are use to one food...It could be the switch caused the diarrhea...
sending positives this all settles soon

 

[Critter Mom]

Fancy Feast Classic Pate, Friskies Pate, Fancy Feast Gravy Lover's.

I suggest having a look at the proteins in the foods you gave which triggered the diarrhoea (if you can remember). There might be some that disagree with your kitties. For example, my civvie, Lúnasa can't tolerate beef or duck.

If it's just the switch then maybe the probiotic will help settle things down. It might take a little while before properly formed stools become the norm again.


Mogs
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[Gracie85]

We suddenly have a 6 month old, perfectly healthy indoor kitten with diarrhea/very soft stools. 2 year old cat with soft stools. Started when we got new cases of FF classic pate, all the fish flavors, ordered in. I called Purina to ask if they changed the formulations, and the guy said no, not for several years.

HOWEVER, He repeatedly and pointedly asked me, "Have they been eating it faster? Are they really digging into it and eating it faster? More?" several times. Did not think about it during the call, because I had other questions on my mind, hoping to find an answer to our problem. Now, it strikes me as very odd that these questions were asked repeatedly. Makes me wonder if they did mess with what's in there, trying to "improve" how much and how fast a cat eats it, and that's what's messing their guts up.

Because the kitten is still growing, and very active, and the 2 year old is very active, and the old 14 year old is huge, and needs the diabetic diet to keep off insulin, we use 9-12 cans of FF a day. One cat is allergic/sensitive to chicken, and cannot have any or the diarrhea and horrid smell starts. We need an inexpensive food that meets their requirements, low carb, no chicken. They don't much like the friskies. Any other suggestions? Because I think FF is messing with things or quality of ingredients.