Food allergies/intolerances in cats

[Koronin]

Actually corn is a major allergy issue for cats.

One of our cats is allergic to corn, which sucks because she actually needs a prescription diet which of course has corn in it. (However dealing with the allergies is a lot better than dealing with stones in her bladder). So we have the Royal Canin prescription food. The other dry food we feed is Nature's Variety Instinct. Nature's Variety also has a wet food which all 3 of our cats like. I have one that is exceptionally picky about what she eats and she actually loves Nature's Variety wet and dry foods. However you are not going to find this food in Petsmart or Petco. We actually have to drive 2 hours to a local pet store in Raleigh to get it.

[indysteel]

Hmm; I'll have to try Nature's Variety. The pet store most convenient for me apparently sells it. Thanks for the tip.

[Eden]

Actually corn is a major allergy issue for cats.

I wouldn't really call it an allergy..... it's more like cats just aren't meant to eat grains and veggies.... they are meant to eat critters... Their bodies and digestive systems don't work like a humans (or even like a dog's for that matter) To paraphrase something I once saw, when was the last time you saw a cat out raiding the corn field...

I was unable to get my male (who is a puker) to tolerate raw food, or I'd have gone that route, but 2nd best, I feed mine Ziwi Peak. It is meat, meat and meat... no grains, no veggies period (except perhaps what the critters in the can have eaten - I'd swear I saw a pea in there once or twice...)

[Koronin]

They really aren't meant to eat grains, but they can be allergic to them as well. Our one cat gets itchy bumps from eating any food with corn in it. We really have two choices, an allergy shot (which we'd prefer not to do) or using a waterless cat bath with oatmeal, which helps her immensely.

indysteel, if your local pet store carries, definitely give it a try. For the dry food there are three varieties. Chicken, duck and rabbit. My cats do not like the duck, and do like the chicken. Haven't tried the rabbit yet. There are a couple more choices in the wet food.

[Becky]

Anyone have a cat who doesn't tolerate beef? DH reminded me last night that, when she was younger, she barfed up any beef-based cat food. And what's one of the ingredients in her chicken food? Beef liver.

Thanks for the suggestions on food brands. I'm going to ride over to the LPS this weekend and read some labels.

[Koronin]

That's a new for me. I have a cat that is lactose intolerant. Good luck finding a a food your kitty can eat.

[bmccasland]

I have a kitty that seems to be intollerant of chicken. She was on Wellness, but had the trots (and perferred to poop next to the litter box. Oh what fun.
Her vet suggested I switch her to Duck and Green Pea (can't remember the brand, not currently at home). No more trots, but still won't poop in the litter box. She's still getting little packets of pro-biotics in her kibble which she likes.

[Blueberry]

I have a kitty that seems to be intollerant of chicken. She was on Wellness, but had the trots (and perferred to poop next to the litter box. Oh what fun.
Her vet suggested I switch her to Duck and Green Pea (can't remember the brand, not currently at home). No more trots, but still won't poop in the litter box. She's still getting little packets of pro-biotics in her kibble which she likes.

Natural Balance. We're feeding the Green Pea and Chicken with some success (at lease much better success than any other food...).

[winddance]

I have a lactose intolerant cat AND a cat who doesn't tolerate beef well. The lactose intolerant cat does not do well with fish, either. Basically, I feel foods with poultry. Then they're both happy.

The lactose intolerant cat LOVES yogurt. He even tried to drink my chai latte? That is definitely something I would never have expected to appeal to a cat, but there he was, dunking his drinkin' paw in there.

My two were eating EVO and I was transitioning them more to canned until the orange beast developed pancreatitis. I had to cut out the EVO, which is higher in fat, and put them on a low-fat diet. They're eating Innova Low-Fat right now, which they seem to like reasonably well. He doesn't love the canned food, but I offer it anyway and I'm just happy he's eating anything.

For finicky-tummied cats, I've had good luck with California Natural. This same kitty had an AWFUL time as a kitten with different foods, but California Natural, which was among the first foods for cats with allergies, worked really well for him for years. It's just chicken and rice. It definitely settled his digestive tract right down.

[Blueberry]

For finicky-tummied cats, I've had good luck with California Natural. This same kitty had an AWFUL time as a kitten with different foods, but California Natural, which was among the first foods for cats with allergies, worked really well for him for years. It's just chicken and rice. It definitely settled his digestive tract right down.

Funny - we just had the complete opposite experience. We know we have a fish allergy. All are OK on Chicken. Nothing solid so long as there was one kibble of California Natural in the bowl....