Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-23-2003 10:02 PM         

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Going along with my food theme: My cat that has Irritable Bowel Syndrome needs a food that is high in fiber. The foods that are higher in fiber are the weight control and older cat formulas. I worry that if I give her one of these she will be lacking nutrients that she needs at her age. She is only a year and a half old and she is a little cat, not even close to overweight. Any thoughts on whether the weight control or older cat formulas would be harmful for her?

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From:uk
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-24-2003 06:14 AM         

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the senior formula's and the ones for overweight cats should cause no problems as they have all the nutrients cats need but less fat and more fibre whcih stops cats having bowl problems as they get older i would give it a try and see how she gets on but i wouldnt worry about her not getting enough nutrients from these foods...

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 10-24-2003 10:05 AM         

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That makes me feel better. I was worried about her not getting as much fat. I guess as long as she doesn't lose weight it will be okay.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 10-24-2003 03:23 PM         

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I agree with Charmedagain. As long as she eats enough of it...she should maintain her weight fine.

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Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-24-2003 03:48 PM         

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I have heard grinding up small amounts of psyllum husks and bran into your cats food can help their fiber intake.

NTC

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 10-24-2003 04:36 PM         

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What are psyllum husks?

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From:NY, USA
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posted 10-24-2003 04:50 PM         

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Plant fiber....same stuff thats in Metamucil.

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 10-24-2003 08:25 PM         

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I supplement her diet with soft food mixed with metamucil.

I was noticing that the hairball formula has more fiber than the normal food. I thought about trying that instead of the overweight formula.

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From:NY, USA
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posted 10-24-2003 09:47 PM         

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Good idea. It might be worth a try.

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posted 10-25-2003 06:55 PM           

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Go see a vet!!! my cat has inflammatory bowel symdrone (which is what your cat has - humans get irratable bowel symdrome) I was told NOT to give too much fibre to my cat as it can irritate the bowel lining - which is the cause of the problem. I use a good quality dry food and limit her wet food and only give her fish once a week - as this causes flare ups. again - speak to a vet - anouther opinion might be advisable

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From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-25-2003 11:13 PM         

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I did see the vet. I would never figure out that she had IBS on my own, I didn't even know cats could get that. My vet told me that sometimes IBS can be controlled through high fiber, but that if the fiber didn't work I would have to switch her to a protein source that she has never had like duck or lamb. Her IBS is stress induced, so that may call for different treatment than other causes. The fiber seems to work for her, her IBS has been a lot better lately.

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 11-05-2003 04:41 PM         

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I haven't been able to find a hairball formula that has good ingredients. I want one with real meat as the 1st ingredient and with the omegas. All of the hairball formulas I found don't stand up. I tried her on regular formula Chicken Soup, Innova, and California Natural, none of those worked so I guess we are back to light formulas. She has the light version of Chicken Soup, but she doesn't really like it. I might try the light California Natural next. Interestingly enough she didn't like Innova, but she liked the light Innova. I thought that was odd.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 11-05-2003 04:50 PM         

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Is there a lite California Natural formula? I thought there was only one formula for CN cat food.
Im using Innova Lite right now...mine did like the regular Innova but seem to like the Lite formula better...I have a feeling the shape of the kibble has alot to do with it though.

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posted 11-05-2003 11:24 PM         

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I don't know. I just assumed that there was. She likes California Natural, but it doesn't have enough fiber for her.

I don't know if her dislike of Innova had to do with the kibble or not. The food she had from the vet's had little round kibbles fairly similar to Innova's and she liked that. Hard to say, she can be a picky little thing. The only soft food she will eat is the generic Wal-Mart brand.

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 12-03-2003 10:24 PM         

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I just realized nern was saying her cats liked Innova light better than the regular formula. Mine did too. They didn't like the regular formula at all, but they liked the light formula. I thought that was weird.

Just wanted to give an update on my kitty with IBS:

I have had her on Authority hairball formula for awhile. She really likes it and it is helping her. She's doing great. The problem is we are running out and I have to drive 2 hours to get her more!

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From:NY, USA
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posted 12-04-2003 03:20 PM         

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Im glad to hear your IBS kitty is doing well on the Authority.
Too bad you have to drive so far to get it.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-04-2003 09:07 PM         

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Your local petsmart dosent carry authority? I know almost mine do. Maybe you can see if they can order it in for you that way you dont have to drive so far!
I would check around at the local pet stores just to see if they can order it for you.
I know my friend wanted to feed Royal Canine persian formula and ours didnt carry it, she asked them to order it and now they keep a supply of it just for her!
So it never hurts to ask

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 12-05-2003 10:13 AM         

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My local Petsmart is 2 hours away! I live in a small town. I have to drive up to Billings, MT to get it. There is only one pet store in town, they don't carry Authority. She said the only food they can special order is Precise, but I think I will check back with her. It would be nice not to have to go so far to get it.

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Posts: 260
From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-05-2003 12:16 PM         

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oh wow, I didnt realize that petsmart was that far away from you!

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From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-05-2003 04:28 PM         

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lol. It's a different world here in Wyoming! I don't even know if there is a petsmart in the State. If there is its probably in Cheyenne, which is only a few miles from Colorado.

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Registered: Oct 2003

posted 12-05-2003 06:13 PM         

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I have a 12 year Maine coon with IBS. I feed him a mix of Hills WD (only can get it at the vet) and regular Hills. He also gets one table of prednisone every other day. The prednisone has been like a Godsend for his IBS. Keeps it under control so well.

I'm been thinking of switching his food to Wellness brand, but am afraid too. I'm going to post a question to see if anyone else has used it.

Rae

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From:sheridan, wy
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posted 12-05-2003 09:11 PM         

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My cat was on Hills WD, my vet gave me an extra bag. The reasons I didn't keep her on that are: 1) it's expensive and 2) I didn't really like the ingredients.

I haven't given her prednisone, I never heard of that as an IBS treatment.

I tried different foods for her and she has done well on the Authority hairball formula. My kitty also did well on light Innova. If you are interested in Wellness, give it a try. But I would use the light formula as it has more fiber.

Something interesting that I recently read about IBS is that fatty acids can aggrevate it. Authority has fatty acids, and it hasn't affected my kitty but it's something to keep in mind.

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