Cat with Possible IBD

[smokey308]

My cat was vomiting daily about two weeks ago and the Vet didn't find anything abnormal in his blood or urine. He was eating and drinking normally and then had about a week during which he wasn't eating much (wouldn't touch his wet food at all).  The vet prescribed Hills z/d (low allergen dry food) for possible inflammatory bowel disease.  He seems to like the food and was doing ok until this week.  His stool has been very loose and he has been leaving it outside his box.  This morning he peed on the bed.  Because of his new diet, we are not giving him any table food (though he is begging for it).  

How long can it take for a cat to adjust to the new food?  It has been hard to give him any wet food because he throws it up if I give him too much at a time.  I gave him a little wet food this morning and he seemed to be protesting--like he wanted more of the wet food. He did have dry food to eat though.  After that, he went in the bedroom and peed on the bed.  

I'm going to call the vet tomorrow but wonder if his "out of the box" problem is behavioral or physical.  He's obviously trying to tell us something. Is it that he's uncomfortable when he has to go to the bathroom or is he upset that he's not getting table scraps that he loved.

[opus88]

table scraps are 100% protein, cats need a proper mix of phosphorus as well as vitamins and minerals just as we do, too much protein is hard on their kidneys....
yes Hills has corn...genetically modified corn, like most dry diets...not good.

Blue Buffalo canned is supposed to be a very good diet. Just remember, the grains and additives are what gives the bad diets taste/flavor..just like us eating a diet of junk food, so when switching it takes time...we'd never go for broccoli after getting used to junk food...lol also a fast transition causes diarrhea. start by a 50/50 mixture of his dry and the canned...gradually reduce the dry.
go slowly Dr. Pierson gives ideas on how to transition on her site too. she does say even a CHEAP canned food is better than the best of dry foods....b/c of the moisture content. cats need lots of moisture. dry is very dehydrated already and cats never drink enough to compensate.
again I urge you to feed small meals throughout the day...if he was eating whiskas before perhaps there was something in the ingredients of that one that he was either allergic too or couldn't digest. I would try a new canned brand just to be sure.

[smokey308]

It looks like Blue Buffalo has grain-free canned cat food.  The same colleague I was talking about above mentioned Blue Buffalo to me a few weeks ago.  I tried Blue dry food about a year ago per a suggestion of the same colleague and kitty had the runs.  I could try the grain-free canned--along with the Slippery Elm.  I'm assuming it will have to be gradual and can try the small amounts of wet food.

[smokey308]

I have heard about the raw food diet, though the vet said that there's way too much protein in table food (or does the cooking do something that isn't good for cats?)  A colleague at the Cat Annex where I volunteer though that the Hills food had corn in it--not good.  I will check the ingredients.  What would you recommend for a grain-free canned food? Friskies indoor is probably too cheap.  I have given kitty a little at a time and he seems to be doing ok with that.  

The Slippery Elm Bark may be worth a try.  Poor kitty...he probably doesn't feel comfortable when he goes to the bathroom.  

[opus88]

annie is correct in saying that there are times when steroids are very useful particularly in cases of inflammation...just always be aware of the side effects of them never ever give more than 3x's per year.....I wish I had known all this before my one kitty died because of over use of steroids...for IBD,

[opus88]

hi...and welcome. I suppose there are instances when the issue is behavioral(I have one too)...but the majority of the time inappropriate elimination is exactly as you say...'they are trying to tell us...something hurts' and cats don't differentiate between bowel &/or bladder pain. since you said everything was good in the blood and urine, I am assuming there are NO crystals in the urine to be causing him pain...this is very common in male cats.

so if the Vet is correct and saying its IBD....the worst thing you could be feeding is dry food, thats likely what caused the disease to start with, and I don't care that its a prescription formulation, they are loaded in grains....(carbs). but don't take my word of this I wll send you a link to a Vet that deals with nutrition. read her whole site. its very informative.
I lost a cat a few years ago to IBD and over use of steroids, I wish I had found her site before that happened. the one thing I don't agree wiht that she mentions is long term use of steroids ...unless the IBD becomes life threatening, I don't agree with the use. it leads to diabetes and other health issues...so read all abt it carefully before ever going that route.
Not everyone is comfortable feeding raw food. but it is the route to go for best results. at least another alternative is a very good quality grain free commercial food...CANNED.
because your kitty tends to vomit it up....feed really small amounts 4-5x's per day...thats the best way to feed kitties, I feed at least that often, its the best for their systems...

something that I've now found that is very helpful for bladder and bowel pain is a supplement called Slippery Elm Bark. I use it for both the kitties I now have to soothe their GI tracts. this is also an excellent product for both constipation or diarrhea b/c of the soothing properties. Its very good for cats, however be sure to buy the brand I will mention or if getting another that be sure its free of soy, salt, sugar and preservatives. this would be avail at a HUMAN Vitamin supply store...if you do buy it post me back and I will tell you how to prepare it for a cat...and how much to give.

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Slippery-Elm-Powder-4-oz-113-g/788

this is the site I want you to read carefully. good luck and post anytime if you have more questions..

http://www.catinfo.org/#Inflammatory_Bowel_Disease_%28IBD%29

[AnnieBrooke]

My cat had something very similar, and we tried a couple of different approaches, and nothing worked until the vet finally gave him a short run of triamcinolone, which is a steroid, I think.  Though the vet was not wanting to keep him on it very long, it did work.  He said it is used for intestinal inflammation.  I later wondered if my cat had gotten into some of the dog's food, which was one of those boutique natural type foods, and it was a time when there was a big recall of various all-natural dog-food brands due to an ecoli issue at the processing plant.  I never proved that was what happened, but it did seem like the cat was getting at something that was simply inflaming his intestines.  His big symptom was bowels producing soft mushy poop that he could not apparently control enough to get to the catbox, despite being a fastidious cat about the box at other times.