Cat With Chronic Soft Stool

I have had Sienna since April and have not been able to keep her stool
firm for more then 2 weeks. I started her with Wellness dry, then
Before Grain dry, then Science Diet DD, which she lasted the longest
on, then after I opened the 2nd bag, she started throwing up and would
not eat it. The vet suggested it because she believes she has a food
allergy and even though the DD is for skin allergies, it worked on
another cat with very similar symptoms. I also have another cat to
consider who eats the same food and was vomiting on the Before Grain.
This is literally starting to drive me nuts!!!!!! Any input as to
what food would be best for food allergies??? Any help would be
appreciated.

"Jannie" wrote in message
...
I have had Sienna since April and have not been able to keep her stool
firm for more then 2 weeks. I started her with Wellness dry, then
Before Grain dry, then Science Diet DD, which she lasted the longest
on, then after I opened the 2nd bag, she started throwing up and would
not eat it. The vet suggested it because she believes she has a food
allergy and even though the DD is for skin allergies, it worked on
another cat with very similar symptoms. I also have another cat to
consider who eats the same food and was vomiting on the Before Grain.
This is literally starting to drive me nuts!!!!!! Any input as to
what food would be best for food allergies??? Any help would be
appreciated.

Don't feed your cats dry food.

On Oct 24, 4:38*pm, "cybercat" wrote:
"Jannie" wrote in message

...

I have had Sienna since April and have not been able to keep her stool
firm for more then 2 weeks. *I started her with Wellness dry, then
Before Grain dry, then Science Diet DD, which she lasted the longest
on, then after I opened the 2nd bag, she started throwing up and would
not eat it. *The vet suggested it because she believes she has a food
allergy and even though the DD is for skin allergies, it worked on
another cat with very similar symptoms. *I also have another cat to
consider who eats the same food and was vomiting on the Before Grain.
This is literally starting to drive me nuts!!!!!! *Any input as to
what food would be best for food allergies??? *Any help would be
appreciated.

Don't feed your cats dry food.

I am just finding out that wet food is better, however would the fact
that it is dry food cause the soft stool?

"Jannie" wrote in message
...
On Oct 24, 4:38 pm, "cybercat" wrote:
"Jannie" wrote in message

...

I have had Sienna since April and have not been able to keep her stool
firm for more then 2 weeks. I started her with Wellness dry, then
Before Grain dry, then Science Diet DD, which she lasted the longest
on, then after I opened the 2nd bag, she started throwing up and would
not eat it. The vet suggested it because she believes she has a food
allergy and even though the DD is for skin allergies, it worked on
another cat with very similar symptoms. I also have another cat to
consider who eats the same food and was vomiting on the Before Grain.
This is literally starting to drive me nuts!!!!!! Any input as to
what food would be best for food allergies??? Any help would be
appreciated.

Don't feed your cats dry food.

I am just finding out that wet food is better, however would the fact
that it is dry food cause the soft stool?

It could be a reaction to the carbs. We would think that additional fiber
such as that in grains would not cause soft stools, but she is allergic.
Many other things might affect her stool, as you know. Do you give her milk?
Many cats are lactose intolerant. Does she go outside? She could pick up all
manner of bacterial and viral crud there. Is she a rescue? What tests have
you had done? Give us a little more information, many of us have had similar
problems/

I assume she has regular vet care because you mention the vet, but he is
busy selling you dry food, so hmmm .... My allergic and asthmatic cat does
great on Fancy Feast flavors that have no wheat gluten and beef, chicken, or
fish as a first ingredient. She no longer gets lesions as she used to get
from EGC (an allergic condition.) But it all depends on your cat.

On Oct 24, 7:50*pm, "cybercat" wrote:
"Jannie" wrote in message

...
On Oct 24, 4:38 pm, "cybercat" wrote:





"Jannie" wrote in message

....

I have had Sienna since April and have not been able to keep her stool
firm for more then 2 weeks. I started her with Wellness dry, then
Before Grain dry, then Science Diet DD, which she lasted the longest
on, then after I opened the 2nd bag, she started throwing up and would
not eat it. The vet suggested it because she believes she has a food
allergy and even though the DD is for skin allergies, it worked on
another cat with very similar symptoms. I also have another cat to
consider who eats the same food and was vomiting on the Before Grain.
This is literally starting to drive me nuts!!!!!! Any input as to
what food would be best for food allergies??? Any help would be
appreciated.

Don't feed your cats dry food.
I am just finding out that wet food is better, however would the fact
that it is dry food cause the soft stool?

It could be a reaction to the carbs. We would think that additional fiber
such as that in grains would not cause soft stools, but she is allergic.
Many other things might affect her stool, as you know. Do you give her milk?
Many cats are lactose intolerant. Does she go outside? She could pick up all
manner of bacterial and viral crud there. Is she a rescue? What tests have
you had done? Give us a little more information, many of us have had similar
problems/

I assume she has regular vet care because you mention the vet, but he is
busy selling you dry food, so hmmm .... My allergic and asthmatic cat does
great on Fancy Feast flavors that have no wheat gluten and beef, chicken, or
fish as a first ingredient. She no longer gets lesions as she used to get
from EGC (an allergic condition.) *But it all depends on your cat.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I do not give her milk, she eats no human food, and she does not go
outside. I found her under the hood of my van (she crawled inside to
keep warm), when I pulled into my garage!! She must have crawled in
when I was at my pilates class and then I drove around on and off for
2 hours, poor little thing. Anyway she was about 6 months old then.
I think she may have eaten scraps or out of garbage pails because she
begs for food when I cook and is always trying to get into the garbage
or the dishwasher. The vet did a fecal a couple of months ago and it
was negative. That was it. They tested her for feline leukemia and
aids when she was spayed and was negative. Those are the only tests
she has had. Thanks for your input.

"Jannie" wrote
I do not give her milk, she eats no human food, and she does not go
outside. I found her under the hood of my van (she crawled inside to
keep warm), when I pulled into my garage!! She must have crawled in
when I was at my pilates class and then I drove around on and off for
2 hours, poor little thing.

Bless you for taking her in and taking care of her. She really needed you.


Anyway she was about 6 months old then. I think she may have eaten
scraps or out of garbage pails because she
begs for food when I cook and is always trying to get into the garbage
or the dishwasher. The vet did a fecal a couple of months ago and it
was negative. That was it. They tested her for feline leukemia and
aids when she was spayed and was negative. Those are the only tests
she has had. Thanks for your input.

Who knows what she went through before she found you, you know? Poor baby.
It is hard to say what is causing her loose stools, but that is a nasty
daily problem.
My allergic cat Gracie gets loose stool when she goes too long between Depo
Medrol shots. This is a steroid shot that controls her asthma and
scratching, but it is not something you want to put your cat on without
trying other measures to control her allergies, because it can cause
diabetes.

The vet explained that when allergies progress they can cause Irritable
Bowel Syndrome. (I had been trying to go as long between Depo Medrol shots
as I could to make sure to minimize the diabetes risk. Next thing I knew,
Gracie was having diarrhea. Got her a Depo shot and she was fine. She gets
about 3-4 a year now, and has for eight years with no ill effects. I think
it is time for your vet to pay a little more attention to this problem.
First do some reading, though. Google "cat allergies and irritable bowel
syndrome," maybe. Others will chime in. I'm so glad you are taking care of
her. She might just need some probiotics, you know, Jamie Lee Curtis style.
Activi- ahhhh! There have been folks here who give their cats yogurt.

On Oct 24, 10:36*pm, "cybercat" wrote:
"Jannie" wrote

I do not give her milk, she eats no human food, and she does not go
outside. *I found her under the hood of my van (she crawled inside to
keep warm), when I pulled into my garage!! * She must have crawled in
when I was at my pilates class and then I drove around on and off for
2 hours, poor little thing.

Bless you for taking her in and taking care of her. She really needed you..

Anyway she was about 6 months old then. I think she may have eaten
scraps or out of garbage pails because she
begs for food when I cook and is always trying to get into the garbage
or the dishwasher. *The vet did a fecal a couple of months ago and it
was negative. *That was it. *They tested her for feline leukemia and
aids when she was spayed and was negative. *Those are the only tests
she has had. *Thanks for your input.

Who knows what she went through before she found you, you know? Poor baby..
It is hard to say what is causing her loose stools, but that is a nasty
daily problem.
My allergic cat Gracie gets loose stool when she goes too long between Depo
Medrol shots. This is a steroid shot that controls her asthma and
scratching, but it is not something you want to put your cat on without
trying other measures to control her allergies, because it can cause
diabetes.

The vet explained that when allergies progress they can cause Irritable
Bowel Syndrome. (I had been trying to go as long between Depo Medrol shots
as I could to make sure to minimize the diabetes risk. Next thing I knew,
Gracie was having diarrhea. Got her a Depo shot and she was fine. She gets
about 3-4 a year now, and has for eight years with no ill effects. I think
it is time for your vet to pay a little more attention to this problem.
First do some reading, though. Google "cat allergies and irritable bowel
syndrome," maybe. Others will chime in. I'm so glad you are taking care of
her. She might just need some probiotics, you know, Jamie Lee Curtis style.
Activi- ahhhh! There have been folks here who give their cats yogurt.

Oh and she is the sweetest little thing. I checked with the people
that lived around my pilates class to make sure no one owned her
because I am sure she climbed in there. It is in a neighborhood with
a lot of cats. I had made so many stops and she didn't cry until I
pulled in my garage and I could not find a cat anywhere so the only
place left to look was under the hood, I made my husband look and she
was sitting on top of the battery. She was only 5 pounds and her nose
was a little burned but otherwise okay.

I am glad Gracie is doing so well with the shots. I just feel like it
is a food allergy because the two times I switched her food, the very
next day her stools would be normal. Almost like once the new food
gets into her system, she starts having loose stools. I may just have
to prepare human food for her. I have two other cats, too, and it
would be nice if everyone could eat the same thing. I am going to
take your suggestion and do some more research. THANKS!

"Jannie" wrote
Oh and she is the sweetest little thing. I checked with the people
that lived around my pilates class to make sure no one owned her
because I am sure she climbed in there. It is in a neighborhood with
a lot of cats. I had made so many stops and she didn't cry until I
pulled in my garage and I could not find a cat anywhere so the only
place left to look was under the hood, I made my husband look and she
was sitting on top of the battery. She was only 5 pounds and her nose
was a little burned but otherwise okay.

Aww. She probably did not cry because she was too terrified. I'm so glad she
wasn't hurt.

I am glad Gracie is doing so well with the shots. I just feel like it
is a food allergy because the two times I switched her food, the very
next day her stools would be normal. Almost like once the new food
gets into her system, she starts having loose stools.

That sure sounds like a food allergy. But bear in mind that these things
tend to come in groups. Gracie has food allergies but also reacts strongly
to fragrances and chemicals, perfumed sprays and cleaning agents send her
into asthma attacks. And the constant grooming from being itchy gives these
cats more hairballs.

I may just have to prepare human food for her.

You know, cats need things humans don't. For example, if you fed your cat
tuna and table food, even the most expensive people food, she might go blind
from the lack of taurine, something cats need that is not found in
sufficient amounts in human grade food. I think in nature it comes from
mouse guts and such.

My vet told me grains might be the culprit in Gracie's diet, but that many
cats have allergies to specific protein sources like beef, chicken, or fish.
This is why you find these lamb and venison cat foods. She gave me a dry
food that was expensive, lamb based I think, and Gracie would not touch it.
She does very well on Fancy Feast flavors where meat is the first ingredient
and there is no wheat. She loves Purina One dry, and is underweight and not
otherwise interested in food, so I do let her have it. It has corn, not
wheat.

I have two other cats, too, and it would be nice if everyone could eat the
same thing. I am going to
take your suggestion and do some more research. THANKS!

You're welcome. I think if you try quality canned food 12 hours apart (and
there is better food than Fancy Feast as you know, but you don't necessarily
have to buy Wellness either) the added water will be helpful. Do a search on
acidophilus and cats, I have never done that. I know it firms up the stools
of humans, and is the active ingredient in yogurt. Let us know how you do.

It would seem that you are changing foods too often. Choose a good
grain free wet food and stick with it. I have fed both cats Wellness
Chicken for many years. I give them small amounts of Innova Dry as a
treat. In addition they always have oat grass to nibble on.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

On Oct 25, 12:52*pm, (---MIKE---) wrote:
It would seem that you are changing foods too often. *Choose a good
grain free wet food and stick with it. *I have fed both cats Wellness
Chicken for many years. *I give them small amounts of Innova Dry as a
treat. *In addition they always have oat grass to nibble on.

* * * * * * * * * ---MIKE---In the White Mountains of New Hampshire

* (44° 15' *N - Elevation 1580')

Hi Mike,

I have written to you last November when my cat Eilish died. Sienna
was on the wellness dry for about 4 months or more and she always had
the soft stools but I thought perhaps it was because of the change of
lifestyle and being a kitten. So I finally took her into the vet and
she just examined her and took a fecal. That is when I switched to
the Before Grain and then after 2 weeks of firm stools, they got soft
and that is when the vet suggested the rx diet. Which eventually made
her vomit and then she just didn't like it. So now she is just back
on the Wellness dry (since I had so much of it left), and she has very
loose stools. I thought perhaps a food allergy, but I read the
ingredients on the BG and the Wellness and not sure what it could be
because there are not really any fillers. So I don't know if just by
switching to wet it would make any difference. Like you said I don't
want to keep switching food constantly. I thought I would try some
probiotics.

Janice