I am newly registered here but have been reading for awhile now, so hello everyone!
I need a cat food recommendation. I've been reading so many things about cat nutrition, my head is going to explode.
In 2008, my cat Carly had to have an operation for a calcium oxalate crystal. The vet recommended that she be on Science Diet x/d indefinitely (the formula was changed sometime later to c/d). I have since fed it to my other cat Audrey with no problems from either cat.
Last year, my cat Audrey had scabs and was losing hair around her neck. Turns out that despite the fact that neither cat goes outdoors, she had fleas and is apparently allergic. No problem. Now all the cats are on Frontline and she hasn't experienced any further problems.
In February of this year my sister had twins and I volunteered to take her cat Bronte. Bronte is about 10 years old. Ever since we've had her, she has been losing hair. We first noticed that the back of her legs were balding but I didn't think it was a big deal. Then she started losing hair at the base of her tail, on her belly and basically anywhere she can reach. I do notice hairballs from time to time. I obviously took her to the vet who said it may be an allergy and they gave her a steroid shot. This worked for a few days and then the itching and biting came back. Recently, I noticed some scabbing under her chin and marks where she is constantly itching. She sometimes bites at her nipple to the point where they bleed and scab. She also appears to be losing weight. She feels bony to me and her tail looks very thin. The vet suspects the cause could just be anxiety and stress as she is a relatively new pet that came into a two cat household but she seems to have adapted pretty well. She is very fond of my boyfriend and I and never hides. She sometimes even lays near the other cats although they do get in slap fights and still hiss at each other from time to time. She rolls over on her belly in front of the other cats too which I have heard is a sign of comfort.
My vet also mentioned the possibility of an allergy. It can't be fleas as she is on Frontline with the other cats. I thought maybe the litter could be the problem but me and my sister use the same litter. I thought it could may be the carpet freshener we use but I have stopped using that for months. The only thing I can think of is the food, the Science Diet c/d. What's funny is my sister said she used to feed Bronte pretty much what was on sale with no problems but would try to consistently feed her Purina One. I guess cats can develop allergies?
Which brings me to my questions: I can't for the life of me find a food that is good for both that is prone to calcium oxalate crystals and a cat who could be potentially allergic to chicken or wheat or whatever else crap is in c/d. As a side note, after looking up cat nutrition, I am not exactly thrilled with the contents of c/d but I am at a loss as to a nutritious food that will also prevent calcium oxalate crystals from forming. The vet had briefly mentioned Nature's Balance Duck and Pea as a possible alternative for the allergic cat. But I can't find concrete evidence that that would also be suitable for a cat with crystals. Feeding the cats separately is near impossible as they all graze. Bronte, however, will not eat the other cats dry food as she doesn't like jumping up on the washer and dryer (where the food resides) but the other cats will graze on her food which is located in our bedroom.
I don't know if this is relevant but Bronte also has a discoloration in one of eyes that has been diagnosed as pre-cancerous iris melanoma. My poor animals!
I have recently switched to Purina One Urinary (about 6 days now) and have been exclusively feeding it to Bronte but am still going the urinary route because I know the cat who is prone to calcium oxalate crystals (Carly) eats her food as well.
Anyway, I would love to find both a wet and dry food that is both nutritious and one that I can feed all three of them without issue.Thanks in advance for any recommendations/input.
I need a cat food recommendation. I've been reading so many things about cat nutrition, my head is going to explode.
In 2008, my cat Carly had to have an operation for a calcium oxalate crystal. The vet recommended that she be on Science Diet x/d indefinitely (the formula was changed sometime later to c/d). I have since fed it to my other cat Audrey with no problems from either cat.
Last year, my cat Audrey had scabs and was losing hair around her neck. Turns out that despite the fact that neither cat goes outdoors, she had fleas and is apparently allergic. No problem. Now all the cats are on Frontline and she hasn't experienced any further problems.
In February of this year my sister had twins and I volunteered to take her cat Bronte. Bronte is about 10 years old. Ever since we've had her, she has been losing hair. We first noticed that the back of her legs were balding but I didn't think it was a big deal. Then she started losing hair at the base of her tail, on her belly and basically anywhere she can reach. I do notice hairballs from time to time. I obviously took her to the vet who said it may be an allergy and they gave her a steroid shot. This worked for a few days and then the itching and biting came back. Recently, I noticed some scabbing under her chin and marks where she is constantly itching. She sometimes bites at her nipple to the point where they bleed and scab. She also appears to be losing weight. She feels bony to me and her tail looks very thin. The vet suspects the cause could just be anxiety and stress as she is a relatively new pet that came into a two cat household but she seems to have adapted pretty well. She is very fond of my boyfriend and I and never hides. She sometimes even lays near the other cats although they do get in slap fights and still hiss at each other from time to time. She rolls over on her belly in front of the other cats too which I have heard is a sign of comfort.
My vet also mentioned the possibility of an allergy. It can't be fleas as she is on Frontline with the other cats. I thought maybe the litter could be the problem but me and my sister use the same litter. I thought it could may be the carpet freshener we use but I have stopped using that for months. The only thing I can think of is the food, the Science Diet c/d. What's funny is my sister said she used to feed Bronte pretty much what was on sale with no problems but would try to consistently feed her Purina One. I guess cats can develop allergies?
Which brings me to my questions: I can't for the life of me find a food that is good for both that is prone to calcium oxalate crystals and a cat who could be potentially allergic to chicken or wheat or whatever else crap is in c/d. As a side note, after looking up cat nutrition, I am not exactly thrilled with the contents of c/d but I am at a loss as to a nutritious food that will also prevent calcium oxalate crystals from forming. The vet had briefly mentioned Nature's Balance Duck and Pea as a possible alternative for the allergic cat. But I can't find concrete evidence that that would also be suitable for a cat with crystals. Feeding the cats separately is near impossible as they all graze. Bronte, however, will not eat the other cats dry food as she doesn't like jumping up on the washer and dryer (where the food resides) but the other cats will graze on her food which is located in our bedroom.
I don't know if this is relevant but Bronte also has a discoloration in one of eyes that has been diagnosed as pre-cancerous iris melanoma. My poor animals!
I have recently switched to Purina One Urinary (about 6 days now) and have been exclusively feeding it to Bronte but am still going the urinary route because I know the cat who is prone to calcium oxalate crystals (Carly) eats her food as well.
Anyway, I would love to find both a wet and dry food that is both nutritious and one that I can feed all three of them without issue.Thanks in advance for any recommendations/input.
