Our boy's dodgy tummy

[LittlePenBigHeart]

We adopted Pepsi and Dylan in May when they were 3 months old. From the moment we got her home Pepsi could not tolerate normal cat food and we had to give her sensitivity biscuits and either cooked chicken or all natural foods. Dylan, on the other hand, has been able to eat anything at all.

Until now.

A few days ago I gave him his new normal biscuits (he's had Purina One before now but my husband bought Go Cat a week or so ago for when they ran out). On Thursday, an hour after eating these biscuits, he started chewing what seemed like air for about 10 minutes, then he threw up (rather spectacularly), 20 minutes passed and he threw up twice more, in quick succession. Sometimes this happens with cats so I didn't worry too much as he seemed perfectly okay otherwise. But the next day the exact same thing happened. I figured this time it must be the biscuits so the last few days he's had the sensitivity biscuits Pepsi is having and he's been fine.

This evening, around 8pm, my husband gave the cats biscuits and absent-mindedly gave Dylan the normal kitten biscuits. Well, about half an hour ago he threw everything back up again, then went down the hall and did a large runny poo on the welcome mat. A runny poo with blood in it. I've seen this before and I know it's a symptom of food intolerance but I don't understand why it's suddenly come out of nowhere!

Only thing I can think of is that they had their 2nd feline leukemia vaccination on Saturday. It won't explain the problems he had on Thursday or Friday but I'm wondering if that could be why he's reacted so much worse to the biscuits this week?

[Lilith]

Hi, sorry to hear about Dylan's problems, but it does seem, on reading this, that the Go-Cat isn't agreeing with him.

Been doing some reading up on this and I'm surprised to learn that Purina makes Go-Cat. I'd thought it to be a separate brand entirely. It does look to me like Dylan tolerates the Purina 'posh stuff' but not the Go-Cat. Are he and Pepsi siblings? Could there be some shared food intolerance?

Hopefully there will be people along soon who are more knowledgeable about the different ingredients in these foods and can advise more fully. But for a few extra quid, personally, I'd stick with the posh stuff...my cats love it and do well on it (and I don't have shares in the firm - wish I did lol.)

Hope Dylan feels better now, poor chap, fusses to him

[MarkB]

Our Alice used to throw up and have bloody, mucousy diarrhea if she ate anything with wheat or dairy in. She would react to dairy within minutes. She was fine with Purina Ones sensitive though. I have said over the years, that it is the best food all-round. I have yet to find a cat that doesn't like it and it is 6kg for £18.99 on Zooplus. (often on offer for £10 for 3kg in Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's) I have tried foods with a higher meat content, but they never go down as well.

The sensitive version is Turkey and rice. No wheat, but I think it might contain corn.

[LittlePenBigHeart]

Thanks both, I really appreciate the replies.

We've been giving the Sensitive food to Pepsi for the last couple of months because she was having runny poos constantly (yes, they are siblings. The only two in a litter). But Dylan has always been fine until now, no matter what we give him so maybe it's Go Cat specifically.

I'm actually starting work at a great pet shop this week and they sell only pet food with minimum 70% real, natural meat. Most of it is all-natural, and Pepsi has been able to eat that food with no problems so I guess we'll be switching both cats over!

[MarkB]

Hopefully you will be able to get some trial-size packs. I have spent a fortune in the past on very high meat content foods, only to have all the cats turn their noses up at it

I bought a small back of Orijen 6-fish back in May, it was a hit with Kylie, whose was losing her appetite so I went back to Pets Corner and paid £28 for a 2kg bag - just about the time she went downhill and we lost her. None of the other cats will eat it. I have been leaving out bowls on a table in the garden for passing cats to eat (not on the ground, because of the hedgehog) and had similar experiences with other 'super premium' foods. One did did go down well, was Purizon, from Zooplus, so I will order some more of that when I do a Zooplus order.

[LittlePenBigHeart]

How funny!! You'd think they'd prefer the better quality stuff, wouldn't you!? Maybe it's like switching from pizza to salad, though. And let's be honest, most of us would much rather have the pizza, lol!

Thankfully, I have bought some of the 70% real meat one before and they gobbled it up very enthusiastically so that bodes well, at least. Guess I'll find out soon!