Silver Bengal kitten with loose, odorous stool

Hello all,

My almost 6 month old Silver Bengal kitten has always had loose, foul smelling stools since he came to me at 14wks old. He was tested for worms and was negative. He is active and seems normal (I have had many cats in the past), but I notice he is ALWAYS hungry and thirsty too. Today I saw a smidge of fresh blood, about 1 drop. I have him on dry Royal Canin Kitten food, but he eats my older cats food (Siamese and DSH: eat Purina Special Care) too if I am not watching him. He isn't loosing weight, but he is gaining too slow I think...he is 6#. I don't think it is the food. (He gets Fancy Feast once a week too.) I read somewhere that he may be "pancreatic insufficient"? Have any of you been through that, and if so, what do you suggest? The vets only want to give antibiotics, but I don't agree. He is an indoor cat. He was bred for show, but he is only a pet. (He is a champion pedigreed Silver Bengal, which is rare, but I wondered if this is a common thing in the breed?) Any ideas?
Thanks!!


Chris and "Alex"
His pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffchris101

I would first do as the vet suggests and take it from there. More testing may be needed. Good luck with your kitty.

Have him tested for tri trichomonas foetus as soon as possible. If your Vet hasn't heard of this parasite, tell him to google it. This is problem parasite in bengals and other breeds, that is often missed by Vets who are unfamilar with it.

Good luck.

Originally Posted by Kai Bengals

Have him tested for tri trichomonas foetus as soon as possible. If your Vet hasn't heard of this parasite, tell him to google it. This is problem parasite in bengals and other breeds, that is often missed by Vets who are unfamilar with it.

Good luck.

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You beat me to the punch! This is also becoming common in aby's as well as my little girl was diagnosed with it in May.

Chris - Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

Thank you all for the insight! I was hoping someone knowing Bengals would reply, so thanks!
For that test, is it blood work or a test on the stool? Also, what is the usual treatment? Is it easy to get rid of?
Has anyone had the "pancreatic insufficiency" in their kitten either? It is probably more rare, but just wondered. His symptoms seem to match that too.
I will have to get the Trich. test after Labor Day....no one's open....

Chris

Originally Posted by chris32799

Thank you all for the insight! I was hoping someone knowing Bengals would reply, so thanks!
For that test, is it blood work or a test on the stool? Also, what is the usual treatment? Is it easy to get rid of?
Has anyone had the "pancreatic insufficiency" in their kitten either? It is probably more rare, but just wondered. His symptoms seem to match that too.
I will have to get the Trich. test after Labor Day....no one's open....

Chris

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TTF is tested by stool sample. There are two tests, a PCR test and a pouch test. Both take a week or 2 to get results. I think it's important to eliminate this possibility first, then work your way down the list. Your cat may have Giardia, also a parasite, which causes the symptoms you describe. It could also be as simple as a food problem.

Unfortunately TTF is not so easy to get rid of. So far there is only one effective drug, Ronidazole. This drug can be dangerous, so there is a delicate balance between giving a dose effective to kill the parasite and not poisoning your cat.

Pancreatic insufficiency is actually very rare in kittens and not something reported in bengals as a breed, that I'm aware of. You can test for this as well, the test runs about $150.

In case it's a food issue:

I have noticed, as a breed, bengals do not seem to do well on fancy feast and a variety of dry foods.
We have had good luck with Royal Canin Kitten and IAMS Hairball for dry kibble. I would suggest very strongly, that you offer your bengal a ready made raw diet, in addition to the kibble. The kibble should only be a third of his diet. Natures Variety makes a good easy to serve pre made raw diet. The Rabbit and Venison are favorites with my bengals.
If you don't like the idea of raw, then feed 75% of his diet with canned, but not fancy feast. I have had luck with Friskies prime fillets, Turkey in gravy, not causing loose stools. It's certainly not the best food available, but the idea is to get his bowels under control first, then slowly switch him to a better quality food.

On a side note, keep him on the RC Kitten food until he is 18 months old.

My Bengal had loose stools for a long time. I found that adding Eagle Pack Holistic Solution to her food, no matter what the food, totally eliminated the loose stool. I am in the process of switching all my kitties to raw food. I suspect, but don't know, that after doing that she won't need the HS.

Before discovering the HS I had her throughtly tested for parasites though, including T. foetus. Also her loose stools weren't particularly odorous.

I hope you find a solution soon!

My Bengal Zoey had terrible diarrhea and stinky farts when I first got her. I had a awful time with her. She was treated for Giardia and it cleared the problem up. I told the vet about the tri trich and that was the next thing we were going to test for if she didn't clear up. She has been doing really good and I haven't had any problems for months.

Thanks again all!
I wrote all that down, and will try the raw food this weekend, then the stool tests next week. I will post again once I figure out what caused it. He doesn't seem that uncomfortable, but I know this can't be normal. He goes once, maybe twice a day. Other than the huge appetite and thirst, his energy level is great. Just wish he had less messy stools!
He definately gets into everything...even tried to steal a piece of pizza out of the box on the counter, draging it to the living room (it was bigger then him!) before I chased him down. (He didn't eat any.) He also has tried to drag my wrapped "subway" sandwich off the table behind my back... but he is learning and we watch him well. Bengals seem alot more like a puppy then a cat! He is our joker and makes us smile!
(Alex's pictures: http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffchris101)

Thanks for the ideas...I will keep I touch! Glad I found this site!

Christine (and Alex)

Just an update...
Alex was tested for all the above tests mentioned, and thank goodness all were negative. The messy stools continue though this month they look a little more firm, but still odorous. I didn't test for pancreatic insuff, but I started him on pancreatic enzymes, "Bio Case powder", and it may be helping, but hard to tell. It is added to his food, but only when I give him canned. I also have him eating his Royal Canin dry kitten food, mixed with Innova "Evo". I think this may be a better food for him eventually. My other 2 cats seem to like it. My vet still seems to think the moist stools are caused from his under-developed kitten intestines, and food. My vet says it is common in kittens to see this, and it may last the first year. He remains without any other symptoms.
Any comments on the food change?
Thanks again for all your input!

Chris (and Alex)

EVO usually is not on my list for cats with digestive upset s as it is very very rich .. but if your issue is really a grain intolerence or allergy then it may work

I was also going to say the same thing. EVo is known for being really rich and causing loose, stinky poop.

Now I am not as sure what to feed!

I know the Royal Canin kitten food is suppose to be ok, but if not the Evo, what other is a good kibble? I read the pros and cons. I do feed canned food...they love the Friskies Prime fillets that I am trying every other day. I know it isn't great either though. I read the threds on feeding raw, but I don't have the time unfortunately to feed it daily. I have a parrot also with special "fresh diet needs" and he already takes me an half hour before going to work to prepare his stuff! (No excuse but it is the truth!) I could buy some of the frozen medallians, but am I making too many changes? Is too much variety bad? If not raw, what is a good canned, and a good kibble for when I don't have the time to open cans for all 3 cats? My Bengal and Siamese aren't the picky ones, but my tabby ASH is very picky!
Thanks for the info,

Chris

HOLD on the changes for a bit ... intro a new canned like twice a week dry intro s take 1-4 weeks depending on cat ... i would look for a one meat one starch / grain food for dry

Originally Posted by chris32799

I didn't test for pancreatic insuff, but I started him on pancreatic enzymes, "Bio Case powder",

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Why are you using pancreatic enzymes?? Plant based enzymes are more commonly used to treat loose stools if I'm not mistaken.

Originally Posted by mschauer

Why are you using pancreatic enzymes?? Plant based enzymes are more commonly used to treat loose stools if I'm not mistaken.

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both plant and meat types are usually in a common mix

Originally Posted by sharky

both plant and meat types are usually in a common mix

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The OP explicitly wrote "pancreatic enzymes" not a "mix" of plant and pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes are destroyed by stomach acids and so are not nearly as effective as a digestive aid as plant based enzymes which are not destroyed by stomach acids.

Originally Posted by mschauer

The OP explicitly wrote "pancreatic enzymes" not a "mix" of plant and pancreatic enzymes. Pancreatic enzymes are destroyed by stomach acids and so are not nearly as effective as a digestive aid as plant based enzymes which are not destroyed by stomach acids.

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my knowledge of pancreatic enzymes is they are are a mix ... How and when the enzymes are destroyed depends on How made and what the delivery system is ... Most high quality ones who processes that the enzymes are not harmed by stomach acid unless they are in fact stomach enzymes ... in the case of Pancreatic it should be breaking down in the small intestine ...

Originally Posted by sharky

my knowledge of pancreatic enzymes is they are are a mix ... How and when the enzymes are destroyed depends on How made and what the delivery system is

... Most high quality ones who processes that the enzymes are not harmed by stomach acid unless they are in fact stomach enzymes ... in the case of Pancreatic it should be breaking down in the small intestine ...

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We'll have to agree to disagree on this. Everything I have read states clearly that pancreatic enzymes ingested as a supplements are destroyed by stomach acids unless taken in pill form with a coating that is soluble only in the intestines. The OP states she is using a powder, not a pill.

Originally Posted by mschauer

We'll have to agree to disagree on this. Everything I have read states clearly that pancreatic enzymes ingested as a supplements are destroyed by stomach acids unless taken in pill form with a coating that is soluble only in the intestines. The OP states she is using a powder, not a pill.

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I would love to know what you are reading ... supplement enzymes are to either aid or replace the ones that should be there thus since for the OP the digestion is in the small intestine the supplement destroyed by stomach would be a waste of $$ , time and really would do no good ...

FYI even powders are made with proper dispersal