Need Food Help-Allergies, Multiple Cats

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Gracie85

Member Since 2018
We have Lamborghini, age 14, basically toothless (FORL), was hyperthyroid then I-131 treated and now hypothyroid on levothyroxin, and along with all of that he was bordering on diabetes, which we got under control by changing his diet as recommended here, to Fancy Feast Classic Pates, the fish flavors because cat #2, Maggie, is allergic to chicken. As Lamborghini has only 3 canine teeth, maybe a total of about 6 incisors, and one weak old molar left, he has to have soft mushy canned food, and diabetic-diet type low carb flavors. Lamborghini is a big cat, 13 pounds (not fat, big), and with all he went through with the thyroid disease, he walks, he climbs onto furniture, but he does not jump or climb high anymore. This is helpful in controlling which food he can get to.

Cat #2 is Maggie, 2 years old. Allergic to chicken--she gets the stinkiest diarrhea if she eats anything with chicken in it. Maggie is also a Maine Coon mix, so diarrhea in a fluffy-butt cat is not a pretty sight, nor any fun for all involved in cleaning her up afterwards. Maggie is a medium size cat (9-10 lbs).

Cat #3 is Yeti, approx 7 months old, appears to be a Turkish-Van/Siamese mix (has siamese coloring marks on an everything else matches Turkish Van parameters exactly.) He's almost as big as Maggie, tho he is only about 7 pounds so far, so there's no separating anyone by size. Yeti is our problem:

Yeti has suddenly, recently, developed diarrhea. Brown, smelly to the ends of the earth, diarrhea. Which he poops in front of the litterbox on the vinyl tile floor, which happens to be marbled, mottled, cat-crap brown tile, perfect camouflage, to make things even worse. Started with a new shipment of our usual FF cans, we use 9-12 little cans a day so we buy by the case, in bulk. Took him to the vet, had him checked, nothing obviously wrong, but she put him on an antibiotic that helps with stool, a gel probiotic, and a bunch of Hills bowel food, which was all chicken flavor so a nightmare to feed him without letting Maggie get to it.

We got some FF beef pate for him, and her. Lamborghini would eat his fish flavors (as we have cases of it on hand), Yeti and Maggie would eat beef. Things got mostly better, tho Yeti still poops in front of the box, but at least it was solid poop only 1-2 times a day. We have also had a small daily portion of Tiki Cat Fish Luau dry food out, up high to keep Lambors away from it, as Yeti is still a growing, very active kitten, and Maggie is almost as active, and we have to make sure they are not shorted on food. We feed the wet food 4 times a day, but Lambors will eat everything in sight if he can, so we cannot trust the younger cats are getting enough.

Lambors started crossing over and eating the beef flavors, leaving more fish flavor out and Yeti may be eating it sometimes. We finished the antibiotic, and finally ran out of the gel probiotic. Suddenly, Yeti is back to full-on diarrhea, several to many times a day.

I have vision problems, severe double vision and other issues, running rampant right now. I cannot keep cross-referencing the food chart here and available cat foods (we prefer to order from Chewy) that I need to to find a diabetic-approved (Lamborghini), chicken-free (Maggie), possibly fish-free (Yeti?) wet food at reasonable cost (we use close to 12 cans, 3 oz, per day. Plus thyroid meds, plus 2 dogs on 2 different meds. Cost is becoming an issue.)
So, can someone please help me? Food suggestions? Maybe time to go to novel proteins, but which are less expensive brands? And if someone can suggest a dry food that's not too bad (carb-wise) that meets the limitations, so we can leave some of that up high for the younger cats to make sure they get enough calories to keep growing properly, that would be such a help, too. (They prefer the wet food, but nibble on the dry when Lambors eats up all the wet food. Our cats don't eat their meals all at once, they eat a bunch when it's first put down but then leave the rest and keep coming back to nibble.)

I just don't have the vision capabilities to do my own research. I'm sorry to impose on you, but would appreciate the help. If Lamborghini develops diabetes and needs insulin, I'm afraid it will be too much for hubby to deal with, he now has to do all the animal care plus help me out with my disabilities now. But I need my furbabies to be okay, and stay healthy.
 
Are you sure Lambors isnt diabetic? Eating everything he can reach?...why doesnt he jump? It scares me he may need insulin.
Also... an only fish diet is not healthy. Fish are being found with higher amounts of mercury than ever. I think you have a bigger problem on your hands with just that.
There are lower carbed dry foods Dr Elseys ( I dont know if it has chicken in it) and Young Again are lower carb dry.
How many litter boxes do you have down for them? From what I know there should be as many boxes as you have cats. That might be Yetis issue.
With that much diarrhea, Yeti must be dehydrated. This isnt good and could cause problems.
chicken free :
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Cat Food
Wild Calling Western Plains Stampede Rabbit & Sweet Potato
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison Cat Food
Smalls for Smalls Fresh Beef Minced
NomNomNow Flavorful Fish Feast
Wellness CORE 95% Turkey Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Hound & Gatos Gamebird Formula Grain-Free Cat Food
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Real Lamb Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food
(I just found these from google)
I hope this helps some...I'm not very good at researching. :(
j
 
Are you sure Lambors isnt diabetic? Eating everything he can reach?...why doesnt he jump? It scares me he may need insulin.
Also... an only fish diet is not healthy. Fish are being found with higher amounts of mercury than ever. I think you have a bigger problem on your hands with just that.
There are lower carbed dry foods Dr Elseys ( I dont know if it has chicken in it) and Young Again are lower carb dry.
How many litter boxes do you have down for them? From what I know there should be as many boxes as you have cats. That might be Yetis issue.
With that much diarrhea, Yeti must be dehydrated. This isnt good and could cause problems.
chicken free :
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe with Real Rabbit Dry Cat Food
Wild Calling Western Plains Stampede Rabbit & Sweet Potato
Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Venison Cat Food
Smalls for Smalls Fresh Beef Minced
NomNomNow Flavorful Fish Feast
Wellness CORE 95% Turkey Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Hound & Gatos Gamebird Formula Grain-Free Cat Food
Instinct by Nature’s Variety Original Grain-Free Real Lamb Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food
(I just found these from google)
I hope this helps some...I'm not very good at researching. :(
j
Okay, full story: Lamborghini's bloodwork has checked out fine since we switched his diet. We keep an eye on it. He had gone very hyperthyroid two+ years ago, and lost several pounds, you could feel every angle of every bone in his spine, mostly muscle mass had gone. We put him on methimazole, and for a while he was doing well, then he kept needing higher and higher doses, rapidly, and yet his thyroid numbers were remaining out of control, extremely high. This is an indication that the thyroid tumor has gone from benign to malignant, the condition cannot be controlled by meds alone, so we went for the radioactive I-131 treatment to kill off the tumor. Somewhere earlier on in this situation, when he was very very low weight, and still a metabolic mess (hyperthyroid messes with all your other systems as well) he came home from a day at the vet's (they needed to check his blood at a specific time after medication, and with hubby at work, we had to drop him off for the day) and could only shuffle to walk (stress? mishandling? both on top of so little remaining muscle?). Took him a long time to regain proper walking again (yes, we were giving him the nerve supplement, etc). Took him longer since his thyroid kept going up again, to regain real muscle mass, that really didn't start to happen until after his I-131 treatment; he had gained back some weight, but muscle rebuilds slowly when you are hyperthyroid. After the I-131, because his thyroid was so out of control and probably a malignant tumor he had a very high dose to be sure the situation was terminated, he became hypothyroid, and is now on levothyroxine. This was earlier this year. We have had to adjust his dose several times, but now feel he is probably at the right level (due for another check in a few weeks). He is finally feeling solid again, muscle is covering his bones, and he's at about his right, healthy weight. However, he's a big cat. And he has always been a pig, if not careful he will gladly become fat. And every increase in thyroid meds triggers an increase in eating as his body revs up a bit more, at least until he adjusts. But, in all that, while he got to walking normally again, he has never started jumping again. He doesn't run, he does a fast trot if he feels the need to run. We have a step stool for him to get onto the couch so he doesn't claw his way up. Don't know if he is actually incapable of jumping, still, or just after all of the last two+ years of illness he just doesn't know he probably could now. But he doesn't. And he was a big, clumsy, klutzy lug back even when he was young and healthy, so it's probably best that he takes it slow now, anyway. But finally, he looks good, feels good, his fur is thick and soft and healthy. He doesn't drink abnormally, or pee too much. And we check his bloodwork frequently. It's been a long, hard, journey. Poor Lamborghini. But at least we caught that he was heading for diabetes, or early diabetes, and got it under control with the food change. So that's a very important part of solving our overall food/ingredient issues, we must keep the carbs really low so Lamborghini stays healthy.
Cat food companies put chicken in everything. Doesn't matter what they call the flavor, so many things have chicken, chicken liver, chicken fat, chicken chicken chicken. Used to be our cats wouldn't eat the beef flavor, and didn't much like the turkey, and in FF pate there's only one of each that's both low carb and chicken-free. Formerly, Lamborghini and two other cats we no longer have would not eat the beef flavors, and only begrudgingly the turkey. Maggie clearly cannot have chicken, and didn't much like beef. So we ended up on the fish flavors. Now, I guess the beef seems novel after various fish flavors, so they are eating it.
Dr. Elsey's dry food is chicken, the "with salmon" flavor is also chicken, but with salmon. So is Young Again. So are most, it seems, or else loaded with grains and tapioca and other bad carb stuff. Maggie and Yeti are not diabetic, so they don't have to be on a low carb diet, but lower is better for them and they have long lives ahead.
We have three litter boxes. Two downstairs, one upstairs. However, two of these are not traditional litter boxes. They are giant plastic storage tubs, roughly 20x32 inches with a doorway cut down in one corner. Takes two full pails of litter to fill them. All three cats could be inside one at once, with room to spare. Lambors has always been a big dork, would go in a litter box, dig and dig, turn and turn, hang his butt out the doorway and pee and poo out the front of the box, then attempt to bury it by shoveling all the litter out the door onto the floor. So long ago we went with big, high plastic storage boxes. Now he doesn't really squat, so he pees kind of straight backwards, so the high sides are essential. Maggie is really fluffy, especially down her back legs and between her toes. More room in the box keeps her from "cling-ons" and clumping. Yeti had no problems with using the boxes until his recent bowel problems. We scoop frequently. Don't know what more they could want, short of living on a sandy beach.
Yeti seems fine, as active and kitten-psychotic as ever. We mix extra water in their FF. Two huge water bowls also available at all times. Got more of the probiotic/gut gel from the vet today. Yeti hasn't had diarrhea since. Stopped serving fish flavors to Lamborghini today, to make sure Yeti doesn't get into it, it's beef or turkey for everyone now, like it or not. Going to do only one flavor for several days at a time, to see what's triggering him, and make sure it doesn't trigger someone else. FF claims they didn't change the recipe, but they must have done something, or changed to different quality sources, as it suddenly seems to cause problems. But I think we're going to need more options. And another income, as Yeti is a psychotically active, growing kitten, Maggie is as active as a kitten, and Lamborghini is a massively big guy still recovering his health, and so we're serving 30-36 ounces of wet food a day.
But we must keep the carbs really low so Lamborghini stays healthy. He's been through too much to then shorten his life by risking something else acting up.
 
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Well? It sounds like you are doing everything right. When I read my post this morning I see its rather curt, I didnt mean to be.
I just dont know how else to help you. That doesnt mean there is no help. I'm just not the right person. I'm thinking maybe add "food allergies" to your title?or multiple cats different issues? something to draw more eyes.

I am glad the fish has been rotated out. I'm sure its ok occasionally. I know how our cats tastes can change on a dime but when allergies are in play it becomes somewhat of a nightmare...and I only have one cat. I couldnt imagine having to juggle multiple.
We are a community of diabetic care givers so when thats not an issue it may take longer to find the right people to assist.

Hang in there I have some reading to do.
j
 
One thought is to use a homemade raw diet. There are pre-mixes available that contain all of the necessary supplements that you mix with water and add to the raw food. I use a product from FoodFurLife but Alnutrin is another reputable brand as is TCF which is apparently available on Amazon these days. You can pick your protein (e.g., ground lamb, pork, beef) to prevent the allergy issues.

You may also want to consider adding a probiotic to your cat's food. S. boulardii is a miracle worker for diarrhea. I use ReNew (available from Amazon) and Jarrow's S. boulardii + MOS is also a brand that's recommended. You start with 1/4 of a capsule and gradually increase to get the poop problems under control.
 
What about mixing one of the nutrient blends in with something like this--
Wellness Ninety-Five Percent Turkey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food Ingredients Turkey, Water Sufficient For Processing, Natural Flavor, Cassia Gum, Carrageenan.
Wellness Ninety-Five Percent Beef Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Ingredients
Beef, Water Sufficient For Processing, Natural Flavor, Cassia Gum, Carrageenan.
Wellness Ninety-Five Percent Lamb Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Ingredients
Lamb, Water Sufficient For Processing, Natural Flavor, Cassia Gum, Carrageenan.

It's a dog food topper, not actual complete food, and is basically just meat with a little bit of the extras. We already get it to add a couple spoonfuls to our dog's meals. And Lambors needs finely ground food, mush really, he has no useful teeth left. poor ol' gummy cat.
We need easy. Really easy. Poor hubby is doing not only all of the animal care for three cats and two dogs and 20-something finches, but also all of the everything else for me and us, cooking, shopping, cleaning, pretty much everything right now, as well as working full time.
 
I would not recommend adding a pre-mix to dog food. There are supplements in dog food so I don't know what the effect would be of adding a pre-mix to a canned dog food. You could contact the people that make FoodFurLife.

In addition, the products you noted contain gums and carrageenan. These can be contributing to GI problems. The one food I know that doesn't contain gum or carrageenan is ZiwiPeak. There are novel proteins (e.g., venison, rabbit and lamb) and they have canned as well as air dried raw varieties.
 
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