When Erin isn't happy

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It KILLS me that the vets hardly ever even ASK what an animal is eating...and that they push the most unwholesome foods...look at the ingredients on the cans in the waiting room. And then multiply that by 2 meals a day for years and years and years...

Yes indeed. And one of those cat foods recalled because of deadly gluten from China was one of the "special" really expensive veteranarian cat foods sold for "renal health".....imagine!- paying a fortune for special "kidney health" food you buy from your vet, that actually gives your cat kidney failure!
This China toxin recent pet catastrophe taught us all one thing- that we need to carefully look at what is in pet food we buy, and that toxins can easily be in ANY commercial food- whether bargain or "high end" (Eukanuba was also recalled for example). Read the labels. Avoid all gluten for now (both wheat and rice), and meat "by-products", be wary of wheat, and look for organic ingredients. Ugh.

[Eden]

Since the cat food scare I've been feeding my kitties Ziwi Peak - (its from New Zealand). It only has meat and fish in it - no meat byproducts, no grains period.
My cats love it (well they love the Venison and the Venison and Fish flavors, but they aren't fond of the Lamb.......) and they look absolutely fabulous on it. They are nice and fit looking with wonderful shiny fur.

I give them a little Avoderm kibble for a treat every once in a while, but I'm hearing more and more now that they don't need kibble to keep their teeth clean. A long time ago I was told to feed my cat only kibble because he had tartar. Now I hear that an all kibble diet is more harmful to their kidneys (cats don't really like to drink and should get most of their moisture through diet!) and doesn't really keep teeth clean.

I was pretty shocked when all of the stuff about the gluten came out that so many brands of cat food all came out of the same big vat - from cheap store brands to uber expensive boutique brands - they were all the same crap.

[mimitabby]

since the cat food scare my cats are eating 50% whole ground chicken. And guess who's grinding the meat! me! their other 50% is the nutro brand catfood.
I got a catfood recipe from one of the cat ladies in town; their fur has gotten sleeker and my fat cat is no longer fat.

[onimity]

I'm with the others, my cat had terrible allergy problems which manifested themselves with digestive nastiness, a poor appetite, weight loss and a general desire to make everyone else miserable as well. I tried everything I could think of, medications, 'prescription' foods, acupuncture... I saw dozens of vets & the thing that finally fixed her problems was high quality wet food and no dry food *whatsoever.* She simply can't tolerate it in spite of the fact that she loves it. (We brought home a sample for my other cat and she got into it... BAD news) My cats eat a combination of Wellness (Old Mother Hubbard) and Merrick foods and we've had no problems since starting them on that routine.

Both are made entirely of human-grade ingredients & if your local store doesn't carry them they should be able to order them.

Her dry treats bothered her too, but a local pet store makes a lot of treats out of pure chicken, she loves those more than any others...

Good luck & I hope that Erin feels better!

Anne

[elk]

since the cat food scare my cats are eating 50% whole ground chicken. And guess who's grinding the meat! me! their other 50% is the nutro brand catfood.
I got a catfood recipe from one of the cat ladies in town; their fur has gotten sleeker and my fat cat is no longer fat.

You and me, Mimi. My 4 dogs get whole ground raw chicken and turkey...which I ground myself (for many years) but now I can buy them in convenient frozen "chubs" -and this Orijen "6 fish" kibble which makes my collie shine and keeps her color really rich. Proteins, vegetables. The only grains they get are in the occasional cookie....

Arguably, grains of any kind are filler, and not only unnecessary--they can in fact be unhealthy, to dogs and especially cats....Cats are more pure in thier carnivorous-ness.

Do you give them raw wing tips? Clean their teeth like nothin else...

I have been obsessed with dog nutrition for 15 years....it's like my hobby...!!I tend to go on and on...

My motto is get mostly food made as close to you as possible that is as whole as possible and has passed through the least amount of hands...

BTW: Eukanuba is Iams. Like Science Diet, it used to be a decent food...but not anymore.....

[mimitabby]

Elk, no i don't give them wing tips. My cats are eating the meat ground. even if i give them hearts (supposedly the tastiest part) without grinding them; they don't eat it.
So i'm also giving them high quality dry food so that they don't ruin their teeth.
I tried buying commercial ground meat pet food and none of my cats liked it.
They prefer mom's mix (me) which is all chicken, with extra hearts and livers and egg yolks. I tried freezing the whites and well, that's another story.

[elk]

ah...perhaps little mousies then?? with tiny little bones..

cats are so finicky!! no matter...they are getting great food.

although kibble doesn't do much for teeth..it's like using Grape Nuts to brush yr teeth...

[rij73]

Poor little baby... Hope she feels better. I can't agree enough with Elk, though! Try a great food even if you have to mail order it. Commercial foods are full of unnecessary fillers that can wreak havoc on a pet's immune system. You would be surprised at how much a good food can keep your pet out of the doc's office. Good luck!