Can cats be allergic to chicken?

carlysmom

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I know in dogs chicken isn't the easiest protein/meat to digest so I wondered how cats fair with this meat as the primary source of protein? I had Carly on NB pea and duck formula and got poops back to normal. I tried NB pea and chicken and I'm getting mushier poops. Now I'm giving it a bag before I know for sure because I just wormed everyone so that might be the looser stool but I have a sneaking suspicion we might have a chicken sensitivity.
 

mews2much

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How long have you been feeding it?When I first fed Cleo and Wrinkles N/B Duck and Green Pea they had mushy also.
I believe they had to get used to the peas.
Cats can be allergic to chicken also.
It took them 3 weeks to get used to the food.
 

strange_wings

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I have one that a vet and I determined that chicken is likely a problem for. He eats chicken, he gets diarrhea. Turkey can make his stools softer, too.

He does well on the NB green pea and duck - and any canned that's not chicken or turkey. If NB duck works fine for your cat, stick with it.
 
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carlysmom

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I got the chicken for the kittens because I am having a hard time feeding them by separating her and I'd like to keep everyone on the same food. It's complicated otherwise. She will eat anything I try to feed them so I cannot feed them regular kitten food unless she's not around. It makes her nervous if I lock her out from her kittens so I went to the chicken thinking it was good for the kittens. On the duck formula she had more and larger bowel movements but at least they were solid and not mushy. I haven't checked today, this is the first full 24 hours they didn't get wormed, to see if her stools have hardened up more. The kittens did not seem to be affected by the wormer so in narrowing it down, I'd have to say it is probably the chicken.
 

carolina

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Absolutely cats can be allergic to chicken... My Bugsy is... He does not do well on Duck either...
 

stephanietx

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My Callie can't have any canned fish in her food or it comes back up. Learned that the hard way! Cats can definitely be allergic and/or not be able to handle certain meats.
 

auntie crazy

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Do keep in mind, however, that these allergies are often for the greatly processed version of the protein source and not the fresh raw meat.
A cat that can't eat a "Chicken something or other" from Nutro without a bout of loose stools may very well do fine with a chunk of fresh, non-enhanced, chicken breast.
 

sharky

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Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Do keep in mind, however, that these allergies are often for the greatly processed version of the protein source and not the fresh raw meat.
A cat that can't eat a "Chicken something or other" from Nutro without a bout of loose stools may very well do fine with a chunk of fresh, non-enhanced, chicken breast.
they can also go the opposite...

along the lines of the above , what the chicken eats can play a Huge role in how the cat reacts no matter how it is processed
 

carolina

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Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

Do keep in mind, however, that these allergies are often for the greatly processed version of the protein source and not the fresh raw meat.
A cat that can't eat a "Chicken something or other" from Nutro without a bout of loose stools may very well do fine with a chunk of fresh, non-enhanced, chicken breast.
I would change that often to sometimes - it largely depends on the cat. A cat can also be allergic to all types of chicken, such as my Bugsy - the worst episode he ever had was with raw. I have tried raw, cooked, canned, dry and in treats. No go for all of them. The only chicken he can eat is the hydrolyzed chicken liver on Z/D - that he is fine with it, as it is not recognized as chicken by his organism.
There are also many cats who are allergic to chicken who will not do well with like proteins, such as duck - also Bugsy's case.

I would steer clear from all types of processing of a determined meat, if it is found that that cat is in fact allergic to that protein, including raw. At least for a long while.

If is to to do raw, I would try the other meats, there are plenty out there... no need in risking IMHO.
 
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