When we adopted two of our cats from the local shelter 2.5 years ago, they had urinary tract infections and the doctor said that they needed to be on Friskies' Special Diet for life (they were also given meds and the infections resolved). Now, we've adopted a new cat who is not fond of this special diet--seriously, she protested by dropping the kibbles into the litter box (we had slowly acclimated her to the food by mixing her shelter food with the special diet food over a month-long period; but still she waged this protest and seems to have gastrointestinal issues which I think may be associated with the food).
So, my question is, must we keep the other two cats on the special diet when the issue resolved itself over two years ago? I'd like all 3 cats on the same diet. Anyone else have a similar experience?
Answers:
Check this out:
http://www.catinfo.org
Vet schools don't teach much about nutrition, and less about the unique nutritional needs of cats. I think your vet gave you some bum advice about feeding your kitty.
Food related GI issues are not uncommon in cats. The vet who created this site had a cat with serious GI issues, and a couple others with less severe nutritional issues, and she tells about what she learned and how she got them straightened out.
You might try a food trial and see if the other 2 cats' urinary problems recur after switching to a non-urinary diet. You should probably notify your vet before switching though. There are lots of special urinary diets on the market, so maybe your vet can recommend a different forumula that everyone can agree on.
Yes, the two first cats MUST remain on the diet for their future urinary tract health. Although the issue has resolved, the food is what is maintaining their good health. Some foods can cause problems and if they have been problem free, you should continue with that diet.
Feeding the other cat may be a challenge, but if she has gastrointestinal issues, a vet should be consulted. The only other suggestion would be to keep them separate (which can be a problem since cats tend to nibble throughout the day). Good luck.
it should be ok to change it if you do it slowly and switch back if they start getting sick again and keep them on the meds
my cat had that he's 2 now but we had him on the same food as my 15 year old cat so what ever the cats like is ok. i don't think it matters. buy different food and put it in a bowl next to the other food and see witch one the cats like better. good luck! :)
I would consult many of the websites under search for natural remedies for pets. They offer many different kinds of natural supplements etc. Maybe if you use these things instead of special food you can keep them on the same diet. Many different things can cause urinary tract infections including having a toxic intestinal system. Hopefully after 2 years this has resolved. Using these kind of supplements usually works well. Consult your vet first or at the very least if you notice some of the same symptoms as before in your original cat. Good luck!
Keep doing what you where doing for the two cats that where with you first, doctors orders/advice. This is what they need. the other cat you just got is not use to this type of special diet food, This new cat is from the streets use to eating things that he or she can survive on the shelter food is what it is use to this was the survival food it was given once rescued from the streets or where ever it was abandon. Remember if it doesn't fit don't force it. THE CAT IS TRYING TO TELL YOU THIS. LOL
The special diet contains methionine to acidify the urine. The natural Ph of the cat's urine is slightly acid. Urinary crystals form when the urine is too alkaline. Infections develop from the irritation of the bladder by the alkalinity.
If your new cat's urine is normal, slightly acid, you are running the risk of making it too acid. This leads to stones which have to be removed surgically. So she should not eat that food.
My male Siamese cat would spike urines with a ph up to nine! The methionine did not help him. A raw meat diet did and he had no further problems. The meat makes the cat's urine normal -- that's what they are meant to eat. Dry food does not provide sufficient moisture for your male cats.
I would suggest that you feed 50% dry and 50% canned to the cats. Quality canned meats are made with high quality meats. Natural Balance has good food. My cats like the "flavors" they have -- at least three or four. Same with the dry foods, get a premium brand which has a quality and high meat protein. More quality meat in the diet should make the urine properly acid.
There are many quality foods. I just happen to be using NB right now. They had Wellness for a while and the manufacturer has changed their formulation so my cats didn't like it anymore. My cats still have a raw meat diet that I make for them and I do use canned food as a supplement. Some of my cats have dry food for breakfast.
I'm skeptical about the Friskies diet.bcz of the Ash content. I always have found supermarket catfood to be high in it. Have you looked at the ingredients on the bag to see how high it is? I don't think it should be over 6%----over 6% can cause the urinary tract infections. Changing diets for cats is always a challenge to both the owner and the cat(s). Where we prefer it, they don't like it. Anytime I've had to for a good reason, I've done like that other read suggested and mixed a little of each in their dish until they're used to the mix, but then, I GRADUALLY remove the food I want to stop, so it's gets to be a greater and greater strength of the new FUD. (sorry.a little influential humour from Heathcliff there! lol).
What I'd do is, introduce ALL of them on ONE food, by mixing them as mentioned, and reducing the old food a little at a time, until the new food for all 3 cats is full-strength (this should take you about a week. That's long enough for the other 2 cats to adjust and long enough for the new kitty to become healthier.
Anyway, watch the Ash count.and make sure your cats have water constantly, and if you're going to change, change for a good food for your kitties---like IAMS, Eukaneuba to name a couple I do NOT like Science Diet (I used to, but there are so much better quality fuds on the market now that it's just not even in contention.
But, kindly, make sure ALL 3 CATS HAVE GOBS %26 GOBS OF WATER.the UTI might just disappear on its own.
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