about upset tummies.. - Paw Talk

djstar · #1 06-20-2004, 12:14 AM

I have a friend who adopted a little kitty a few months ago.
It was a hot, Arizona afternoon and they all looked a bit the worse or wear and when it got home, it had a bit of the runs...
Apparently, months later, and a number of vet visits, it has yet to have normal cat box scoop ups!
The are doing medicines and it seems to have no viral problems... anyone know of any conditions that could give cat, gaining weight, playing and in every other way healthy, chronic diarreah?
Thanks
dj*

**kittygurl823** · #2 06-20-2004, 03:22 AM

Hi DJ, I am so sorry to hear about your friend's kitty.

The vet did a number of tests and everything checked out just fine? Hmmm..

One thing I wanted to ask, what kind of food is she on? Something simliar happened with my dog, Jasmine. She was on Science Diet as a puppy and they just kept saying she had colitis. Well, finally, after a trip to the specialist, they said she had a food allergy to the food. Not sure to what exactly, but probably all the by-products and fillers in that food. Since then, all of my dogs and cats are on a natural food, called Wellness. Jasmine is now doing great on it. It's a wonderful food! I was curious as to maybe something in her food giving her a tummy problem... Did the vet mention anything like that to your friend? A possible food allergy? There are alot of other great foods out there, too!!

I don't know if this could be it, but I hope I could help you a little bit! I hope your friends kitty is feeling better!

catnapper · #3 06-20-2004, 08:21 AM

That was my Allen too for the longest time. He didn't do well on the food we'd been feeding him. We switched to Nutro Natural and he's doing great! Now all we have to do is convince him to go INSIDE the box.

djstar · #4 06-20-2004, 09:15 AM

Thank you for the thoughts. I agree. At least the idea is not crazy. It sounds like a baby with lactose intollerance and it is good to hear that some others out there have experienced it. They have given both their cats feed from the vet and have had a bit of relief with antibiotics, but it has never really fixed it.
Perhaps a few trys at natural cat food and a bit of experimenting on their own may be the key!

Your icon looks like my neighborhood cat, oreo, that I recently did a pastel of...

Very nice to meet you!
dj*

Chrisanne · #5 06-20-2004, 12:13 PM

I'm with Jackie here... what's the food. Maybe a switch to a good top quality food would make a difference.

***Jade*** · #6 06-20-2004, 02:23 PM

They might also try adding some probiotics to the food, in addition to a higher quality feed. So long on anti-biotics alone will screw up the natural balance of bacteria in the GI tract. You can get acidophilus capsules at most drug stores and sprinkle them on the food.

djstar · #7 06-20-2004, 02:48 PM

GOOD point.
I know antibiotics can wreck my system!
I know she is frustrated. She and her boyfriend would not be as upset but as it was a rescue, she is still feeling her way around with it and you know how hard it is to worry about an old friend. You feel double guilty with a new one!

I will see about that acidophilus idea! Anyone know if kitties like yoghurt!?
dj*

***Jade*** · #8 06-20-2004, 03:15 PM

I personally would avoid the yogurt, as it contains lactose. Most adult kitties have trouble processing lactose in large amounts and with an already upset GI tract, I'd just stick to the acidophilus.

Candycane · #9 06-21-2004, 03:13 PM

Weber Naturals makes an acidophilus capsule that is dairy-free. The bottle is white with a purple lid.

My cats really like the taste of the powder so I just mix it with their wet food.

It sounds like the cat may have food allergies and/or IBS. My cat also has IBS. We added the acidophilus and also switched him to a food without corn or by-products. After an antibiotic treatment (the vet suggested that the irritation may have caused an infection in his intestines), and an upgrade in food, he hasn't had a bout in two years.