IBS or sensitive system?

smokiethecat · Aug 12, 2008

One of my cats has had somewhat loose stools since i got her(January 08).She will be 1 yr Oct 2. Our other cat has normal stools (male,2yrs).I
have had to very slowly transition whenever I've switched foods to prevent
the "runs". She won't hardly eat any wet at all,so I've mainly dealt with dry foods. Last two weeks or so,she has had more "runs" than normal and one day I had to lock her in the basement with water and litter box because she had 7 poo accidents (uncontrollable)on the floor. She acts good and has a great coat,lots of energy...eats fine. The vet had me withhold foods for 24 hours and let her drink water only...I also had to give her some poo firming type of medication orally. She is now using the litter box again but its still very runny...not like water,but runny...and brown.
He thinks she has either a sensitive tummy or possibly IBS....
any thoughts or suggestions? What is the difference between the two?

Thanks

sharky · Aug 12, 2008

what is she eating>>>??? brands and formulas please

IBS is usually a rotating diarrea and constipation

forensic · Aug 12, 2008

IBS is human way of saying 'I don't know.'

Could it be a food allergy? Maybe to a certain ingredient or meat?

sharky · Aug 12, 2008

Originally Posted by Forensic

IBS is human way of saying 'I don't know.'

Could it be a food allergy? Maybe to a certain ingredient or meat?

NO it is an actual DIAGNOSABLE condition ... yrs ago it was a JEE we know what it is not

smokiethecat · Aug 12, 2008

I had her on nutro for a while.......then purina one.........when the main problem started she is on Iams. I've only tried these three since Jan 08.She
started throwing up on the ONE. I think I switched off the nutro to One because of the price...which now does not matter, I just want my cat to have normal stools!
The vet recommended Science Diet sensitive stomach and if that doesn't work she can try the ID formula.

Can't remember,did I mention her stool showed no worms,bacteria or giardia,etc?

Any suggestions?

sharky · Aug 12, 2008

YOU likely need a low to no corn formula... WHat stores do you have access to ??

smokiethecat · Aug 12, 2008

Oh, all the brands had chicken as the main meat,by the way.
I am relatively near petco and petsmart. I also have some farm
feed stores that I just saw have chicken soup for the soul, royal
canin(but that has corn?)and one has taste of the wild.
So I should stay away from SD sensitive stomach ya think?
She's on Iams original adult right now since she's so close to 1 yr.
She weighs about 9 lbs.

smokiethecat · Aug 12, 2008

Would going back to nutro be a good choice? I can't really remember having any issues with that one...... and if so, adult complete or indoor adult complete??? Can't remember if that one had corn or not.....
What amazes me is that my outside barn(some feral) cats eat a cheapy
brand since thats all i can afford for them,and they aren't walking around with poopy butts..........go figure.

faith's_mom · Aug 12, 2008

It sounds like it could be IBS, given that she appears healthy otherwise; these cats usually DO appear healthy, they just have icky stools, that can be pretty rancid; Do rule out parasites, and other intestinal\
enal issues though, before treating the IBS (there are medications for it).

I would definitely try to steer clear of foods with tons of grain in them (fillers), and stick with ones like Taste of the Wild, Buffalo, Solid Gold, etc...

sharky · Aug 12, 2008

Originally Posted by faith's_mom

It sounds like it could be IBS, given that she appears healthy otherwise; these cats usually DO appear healthy, they just have icky stools, that can be pretty rancid; Do rule out parasites, and other intestinal\
enal issues though, before treating the IBS (there are medications for it).

I would definitely try to steer clear of foods with tons of grain in them (fillers), and stick with ones like Taste of the Wild, Buffalo, Solid Gold, etc...

you realize Solid gold and Blu are actually VERY grainy... Filler IMHO is a mis used term ... ie indigestable IMHO = filler and even corn is digestible to a pt ...

I like TASTE and it works for my four plus the $$ is reasonable

Try the Nutro again ... which one max or natural choice??? that might help narrow the sensitivity

cc12 · Aug 12, 2008

My cat Lucia has IBD. A raw diet cleared it up for her. However I know that not everyone is prepared to go raw.
It seems to me that she needs a higher quality of food. Have you tried grain free formulas?
Science diets are expensive and not all that high quality. I would skip it

formermermaid · Aug 13, 2008

I have had good results with Wellness CORE dry food, which is grain free, with my former-stray boy who had a big problem with runny stools when we took him in. Nothing I tried seemed to help until I started him on the Wellness Core, but I supplement that with a raw diet of chicken mixed with Feline Future's Instinct TC. I never knew I could get so happy about a firm, well-formed stool! Now he only has loose stools when he gets into our other cat's special CRF food.

tamgirl99 · Aug 13, 2008

Has the cat been tested for everything, including tritrichomonas foetus (special test - PCR)? I think IBS is a common misdiagnosis when typical stool tests come back normal. However, TF is definitely a possibility if your cat has not been tested. It gives the same symptoms of IBS but fortunately can be cured. Here are some links for more info:

www.tffelines.com is a great site that has stories about cats with TF
http://www.cvm.ncsu.edu/docs/jody_gookin.html Dr. Gookin's site with lots of details and links on TF. She is the leading expert on TF in cats. It also includes a sample submission form for the PCR test. I would only use her lab for this test since she has set the protocols for testing of this parasite in cats.

Good luck with your kitty!

stephenq · Aug 13, 2008

IBD is diagnosable but because it can have multiple causes many vets just play the odds and try remedy 1, 2, and 3 in order of likelihood and see if any work, not necessarily a bad approach when a definitive diagnosis can only be found via an intestinal biopsy if the cat doesn't respond to early treatments.

The first treatment is usually a diet change. Tylan powder, an antibiotic that can restore proper balance in the intestines is often #2. After that there may be other things to try but if they dont work the biopsy is the next step. IBD, if correctly diagnosed can be controlled.

smokiethecat · Aug 14, 2008

Thanks all for the replys. I haven't checked out foetus?...I will have to read the sites later tonight. Can they get this without ever going outside? Including her parents?

sharky, I used nutro complete care. should i try that one or the indoor formula?

I have tommorrow off. I want to make my food purchase then and start transitioning her....i'm thinking nutro/taste/chicken soup...any more opinions???
I see that chic soup has a LOT of fruits in it...does that ever cause problems in cats?

also,my youngest just admitted to me that he let her drink some milk the weekend before last..Could that have caused her stools to go crazy? No accidents outside of box since Saturday. She drank the milk on sunday the 10th...started loose stools around the 12th? and had the lack-of-control of stools on Sat the 16th in the am. She's had loose stools since then,but its been in the box. argh. todays poo is a little firmer.

tamgirl99 · Aug 14, 2008

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

Thanks all for the replys. I haven't checked out foetus?...I will have to read the sites later tonight. Can they get this without ever going outside? Including her parents?

sharky, I used nutro complete care. should i try that one or the indoor formula?

I have tommorrow off. I want to make my food purchase then and start transitioning her....i'm thinking nutro/taste/chicken soup...any more opinions???
I see that chic soup has a LOT of fruits in it...does that ever cause problems in cats?

also,my youngest just admitted to me that he let her drink some milk the weekend before last..Could that have caused her stools to go crazy? No accidents outside of box since Saturday. She drank the milk on sunday the 10th...started loose stools around the 12th? and had the lack-of-control of stools on Sat the 16th in the am. She's had loose stools since then,but its been in the box. argh. todays poo is a little firmer.

Most cats are lactose intolerant so the milk definitely could have triggered this. If the stools return to normal from here on out, then at least you will have narrowed it down.

Tritrichomonas Foetus is usually only symptomatic in younger kitties as it typically resolves after 2 years. Many adults don't show symptoms as their immune systems are stronger. This parasite is being identified more and more in purebred and shelter kitties. I don't recall if you said where you got your cat from so it may or may not be likely for your kitty.

smokiethecat · Aug 14, 2008

My relative raises siamese kittens. I think there are three mothers and the father. They are all kept indoors at all times.

Any advise anyone on if i should go with TAste of the wild, chicken soup or back to nutro(which is better- indoor or complete care)?
I need to get it tommorrow.

My vet wants her on SD sensitive stomach but I looked at the ingredients
and meat isn't until the 4th item!!!

petco recommended sd or royal canin supposedly has a sensitive system
one also.

sharky · Aug 14, 2008

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

My relative raises siamese kittens. I think there are three mothers and the father. They are all kept indoors at all times.

Any advise anyone on if i should go with TAste of the wild, chicken soup or back to nutro(which is better- indoor or complete care)?
I need to get it tommorrow.

My vet wants her on SD sensitive stomach but I looked at the ingredients
and meat isn't until the 4th item!!!

petco recommended sd or royal canin supposedly has a sensitive system
one also.

I would NOT use the chicken soup as it has MULTIPLE grains... I use taste of the wild and am happy but my girls used to be fine with nutro complete care not indoor:_

smokiethecat · Aug 15, 2008

Okay, I did not get the chicken soup...I thought it would be good because the first 3 ingred were all meat, oh well.
I got the Taste...so I begin the process of transitioning them over to that.......
I didn't get the nutro, it was actually more expensive than Taste of the wild.
Whats wrong with the indoor compared to the complete care? by explaining,it will make me a wiser consumer.....
Her poo looked really pretty normal today,but I'm switching to Taste anyway.
I got a 5 lb bag for $10. They said if I liked it,they could purchase the 15 lb bag for $25. I got it at a small farm and home store......15 minutes away. Yippee!!!!
Thanks everyone.

sharky · Aug 15, 2008

Originally Posted by smokiethecat

Okay, I did not get the chicken soup...I thought it would be good because the first 3 ingred were all meat, oh well.
I got the Taste...so I begin the process of transitioning them over to that.......
I didn't get the nutro, it was actually more expensive than Taste of the wild.
Whats wrong with the indoor compared to the complete care? by explaining,it will make me a wiser consumer.....
Her poo looked really pretty normal today,but I'm switching to Taste anyway.
I got a 5 lb bag for $10. They said if I liked it,they could purchase the 15 lb bag for $25. I got it at a small farm and home store......15 minutes away. Yippee!!!!
Thanks everyone.

Indoor is NOT bad it happens to have less fat , SOY ( high allergen) and more veggie matter than the reg ...
Yes Taste is very $$$ effective

IBS or sensitive system?

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