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One more question. To change foods I have heard that you should do that gradually, like go half and half for a while and slowly decrease the old food? What do you think?
I personally prefer the cold turkey approach with the cats we have had because they are fosters and we often have no idea what they were fed before they get to us. If you must feed kibble, I would go for a good grain-free variety and make sure that you have a good water fountain for your cat and even consider adding water to the food. Solid Gold Indigo Moon and Wellness are a bit more accessible for most people who have access to Petsmart or PETCO. I prefer the small mom & pop types of stores but realize that they aren't everywhere. Although many of us are extremely passionate about what we feed, just feed what you feel comfortable with. We have some cats that come through that absolutely refuse to eat canned food. So, just make sure you are feeding a food without any corn in it. It tends to encourage gassy results in cats. Good Luck!
When Checkers was clearing the room with his flatulence, the cause was a parasite. If switching foods doesn't solve the problem, it's something to consider.
I can sympathize with you, Fritz is the gassiest. I never heard of a cat having gas until we adopted Fritz. When he was a kitten he had issues with diarrhea so he was tested for parasites and was on an array of medicines. He doesn't have diarrhea anymore but he still has gas. We've tried feeding him yogurt and it does nothing. I'm thinking of changing his food from Natural Balance to a grain-free. I'm just worried about changing anything because he's so sensitive. OP, let us know how it works out.
That is a myth. And don't ask pet food store employees for advice about cat nutrition.
thank you, for that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nocontengencies
One more question. To change foods I have heard that you should do that gradually, like go half and half for a while and slowly decrease the old food? What do you think?
Gradually is best most of the time, especially when going kibble to kibble. But sometimes you just have to take the plunge.
My kitten was being fed Purina kitten chow, a vile "food", when I rescued her. I couldn't stand the smell of the stuff, so threw it out and started her right away on canned foods, wellness and blue brands.
However, to help guard against intestinal and tummy upsets, especially diarrhea, I gave her a probiotic daily for several weeks. The probiotic did the job and she never had any trouble with the sudden switch.
One more thing: I think I saw this mentioned already but not sure....if your kitten hasn't been de-wormed, this needs to be done. And if she has, it may need to be done again. Do NOT get an over the counter de-wormer. Get drontal from your vet.
I can sympathize with you, Fritz is the gassiest. I never heard of a cat having gas until we adopted Fritz. When he was a kitten he had issues with diarrhea so he was tested for parasites and was on an array of medicines. He doesn't have diarrhea anymore but he still has gas. We've tried feeding him yogurt and it does nothing. I'm thinking of changing his food from Natural Balance to a grain-free. I'm just worried about changing anything because he's so sensitive. OP, let us know how it works out.
Definitely get him onto a grain-free food!
Those grains are fermenting in his gut, and that's what is causing the gas. And while I know the olfactory consequences are pretty vile, think for a moment how your guts feel when you have really awful gas, the bloating and cramping you have - that's what your cat is going through from the grain in his food.
I never heard a cat toot until we got Finn. Before we changed his diet to grain-free food, there'd be a "pfffffft" every time he jumped into my lap, every time he jumped off my lap - you could hear it from across the room. And smell...... Oh my goodness. He walked around with a seemingly permanent putrid greenish miasma following him, to the point where friends and family would make up the most bizarre excuses to avoid coming in our house. And really, I couldn't blame them; his toots were enough to make your eyes water and peel the paint from the walls.
Finn has been on a fully grain-free (except when he steals a cracker from the counter) diet now for a year and a half, and he has virtually no gas at all. He is currently on Nature's Variety 95% protein grain-free canned, and is healthy, glossy, energetic and at the perfect weight for his frame. And our friends no longer make excuses to avoid visiting us.
If my mother ever threatens to come visit me again, I will ask to borrow one of your most odoriferous super-farting cats and a bushel of corn to have on hand, as it were. I smell a solution!
Finn has been on a fully grain-free (except when he steals a cracker from the counter) diet now for a year and a half, and he has virtually no gas at all. He is currently on Nature's Variety 95% protein grain-free canned, and is healthy, glossy, energetic and at the perfect weight for his frame. And our friends no longer make excuses to avoid visiting us.
If grain-free gets rid of his gas for good then I'm sold!! Besides the cloud of smell (as you so accurately put it!) that follows him, I definitely don't want my little guy to be uncomfortable. I'll look into Nature's Variety. I suspected but wasn't sure it was the grains in the food that were the culprit. After hearing that your kitty was completely cured of the poots after switching to grain-free, I'm ready to switch. Thanks!
If my mother ever threatens to come visit me again, I will ask to borrow one of your most odoriferous super-farting cats and a bushel of corn to have on hand, as it were. I smell a solution!
<pun intended>
It works! We warned our guests as they snuggled on the couch with Fritz at our Superbowl party that he might poot. And then mid game our friend turns to us and says "it happened" and hands us our little smell machine.
It works! We warned our guests as they snuggled on the couch with Fritz at our Superbowl party that he might poot. And then mid game our friend turns to us and says "it happened" and hands us our little smell machine.
I looked up Wellness Core and Blue Buffalo Wilderness foods, which claim to be grain-free. Both foods contain potatoes, is this ok? Or I guess I'm asking will potatoes cause gas just as the grains have been?
I looked up Nature's Variety and noticed that there are no grains or starches at all in the food. Clay is listed as an ingredient but when I googled this I found that it's apparently used like yogurt is to help with digestion. NV doesn't have fish varieties though. I know it's not good for cats to have much fish because of mercury, but my guys love it...
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I never heard of a cat having gas until we adopted Fritz. When he was a kitten he had issues with diarrhea so he was tested for parasites and was on an array of medicines. He doesn't have diarrhea anymore but he still has gas. We've tried feeding him yogurt and it does nothing. I'm thinking of changing his food from Natural Balance to a grain-free. I'm just worried about changing anything because he's so sensitive. OP, let us know how it works out.
