Why even bother with Rx

diggerled

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Because one of my cats has urinary issues they are both eating Royal Canin Urinary SO 33.

This is what aggrivates me; The vet must prescribe this food. The three vets who dealt with my cat's problem all said the same thing. "Sure you can feed it to both cats. It wont hurt the other one a bit". The first two said this about Hill's CD. The third said it of SO.

If it wont hurt a cat then why guard it in the store.

And what makes otherwise crappy food cost so much?
The SO makes my cat drink more and pee more. Other than that benefit it has no redeeming qualities. The ingredients are not anything I would choose for my cat. Same goes for the CD.

It's a conspiracy.
 

strange_wings

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Well, they want people to bring their cats to the vet and not try to self treat these problems themselves. Especially not with some of the formulas. But yes, I'm quite sure it's also to help keep price up.
 

momofmany

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I hear ya. One of my cats will block if I try to take him off the prescription food. I feed 10 cats. Go figure what my food bill is each month!

So does your vet recognize your voice when you call them by now?
 

blueyedgirl5946

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If your cat has urinary issues he needs to eat the prescription food. I have one cat that does and one that does not. They don't eat the same food because of the cost. I feed them each two times a day. The cat with the urinary issues gets a measured amount of food each feeding. When it comes time to eat, I put them in separate cat carriers and put their food dish in with them. They have learned to eat like this. In between feeding times, they get nothing. It works for me and keeps me from having to feed them both the prescription food.
 
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diggerled

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Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946

When it comes time to eat, I put them in separate cat carriers and put their food dish in with them. They have learned to eat like this.
My cats both want to eat whatever is in the other cat's bowl.
 

blueyedgirl5946

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How can they know what is in the other cat's bowl if you separate them to feed them.
 

darlili

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My male cat requires prescription food since he had struvite chrystals. Last urinalysis, he was ok - next one is in mid-March. But, for me, yay prescription food - it's working.

My vet said it was ok to feed both cats Hills CD, even though my girl doesn't need it. I too have issues of trying to feed different foods, but it wouldn't be totally impossible if I absolutely had to. Having said that, Hills CD doesn't seem that much pricier than premium foods, and Lord knows you don't have to feed much, given how caloric it is. And it works....big key point for me.

Ingredients may not look good to a layperson, but, if it works, well, again, yay to the vets and dieticians who designed and tested this food and all the other prescription foods targeted at various conditions.

My two appear to be happy, glossy and healthy.
 

sharky

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Rx foods equal medicine for kitty...

I do Not agree with vets saying feed healthy cats a RX ... I have talked to many, many vets about it and all but one said no unless the animals eat out of the same bowl and wont switch..

The science in a Rx is what makes it worthwhile .... They are not on regular shelves because Most do not need them and a Vet is the Only one who truly has the knowledge to say you need one
 

otto

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Originally Posted by diggerled

My cats both want to eat whatever is in the other cat's bowl.
Cats are trainable.


I have three cats, three different diets. Mazy is on the Hills c/d kibble. (she won't eat the canned, after it's been refrigerated, even warmed up. If they would sell it in three oz cans, Mazy would eat canned c/d )

While Mazy is doing terrific on it, (and by trial and error I know she HAS to be on this food for life) I do not feed it to the other cats.

However, Tolly's (who eats canned Innova, two flavors) and Jennie's (who eats canned grain free wellness, one flavor) diets each cost more than Mazy's prescription c/d.

One reason the food is by prescription only is because while it may be okay for healthy cats, there are some cats who should not be eating it at all. For instance a cat with kidney disease should not eat SO or c/d. A healthy cat should not eat k/d, too low in protein. And so on.

The prescription foods are made to target specific disorders. From a legal stand point the prescription required also makes sense. Since the manufacturers do not recommend feeding healthy cats their prescription foods, if you do give it to a cat who doesn't need it, and something happens, they are not liable.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by sharky

Rx foods equal medicine for kitty...

I do Not agree with vets saying feed healthy cats a RX ... I have talked to many, many vets about it and all but one said no unless the animals eat out of the same bowl and wont switch..

The science in a Rx is what makes it worthwhile .... They are not on regular shelves because Most do not need them and a Vet is the Only one who truly has the knowledge to say you need one
Yes, I agree. As does my own vet.
 
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diggerled

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When I started this thread I was being critical of the protocol regarding Rx food. The three vets I used all said the same thing. No caveats, no big deal. All three are Purdue University trained. I guess we just do things differently here in Indiana.

I'm going to try to get Marlow off the SO. There is a chance that Sasha will decide he will only eat SO. Marlow, who will eat anything, can be switched back at any time.
 

otto

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Originally Posted by diggerled

When I started this thread I was being critical of the protocol regarding Rx food. .
I know.


My reply was written in an effort to explain why prescription foods are available by prescription only.

One reason the food is by prescription only is because while it may be okay for healthy cats, there are some cats who should not be eating it at all. For instance a cat with kidney disease should not eat SO or c/d. A healthy cat should not eat k/d, too low in protein. And so on.

The prescription foods are made to target specific disorders. From a legal stand point the prescription required also makes sense. Since the manufacturers do not recommend feeding healthy cats their prescription foods, if you do give it to a cat who doesn't need it, and something happens, they are not liable.
 

darlili

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If I could keep my boy and girl from raiding each others bowls (both wet and dry), I'd be pleased. However, for me, when the toss-up is between stressing them out re the feeding patterns and using the same food, under vet supervision, I'll go for that until we find a reason otherwise - also, I'm gone from home from 7:00 to 7:00 and what can I say - both of mine are nibblers and still like their kibble, even when offered wet food.

I'm lucky in that both cats are seen by the same vets and I'm religious about getting senior panels, etc.

My vets are mostly from U of I-Urbana, with one from Cornell - my impression was if you can feed separately, that's terrific, but doesn't always work in real life. Maybe we are different in the midwest
 

blueyedgirl5946

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It took awhile for mine to get used to the separate eating and the measured amounts of food. I felt I had to do it because two of mine had problems getting blocked. The vet told me it was imperative for their health and so I followed his instructions. lt paid off even though they complained until they got used to it and learned they were not going to eat all day long.
 
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