Problem switching to wet food: regurgitation

Hi all,
My parents' cat is about 6 years old. We've fed him dry food - Science Diet - since we got him (when he was around 2). He's a healthy Ragdoll mix, large and fluffy and sweet, and certainly not overweight. He drinks plenty of water. However, I've been reading more and more that incorporating canned wet food into a cat's diet is better for their health in the long run. I've been trying to start him on the diet change (goal is to get him to 50-50 wet and dry).

Unfortunately, I'm running into an obstacle. I've only tried to give him a spoonful or two to see if he'll take to it (reducing dry food accordingly). He seems excited to eat the wet food, and will gobble it up. And then promptly regurgitate. Worse, once he's vomited, he decides that the whole food area is "contaminated," even if the sick has been thoroughly cleaned up. And then he won't touch the wet food again for the rest of the day -- and only grudgingly eat the dry.

We feed him two meals a day, 6am and 6pm. How do I get him to keep the wet food down?

It is, but throwing up certainly is not, since that is burning the throat and gums with stomach acid, which can lead to dental issues.

1) Kitty is eating too much at once; reduce serving size.
2) Raise the dish an inch or two.

That fixes the problem for 99% of cats. Welcome to the forum btw!

Welcome to the forum!

You are doing a great thing, looking out for your parents cat like this.
I agree with what Ducman said, and add one other pointer.
*Some cats will get an upset tummy if they go too long without food, so try feeding her 3 times a day instead.

Thanks for the tips Ducman and Minka! Tried elevating the bowl and reducing wet food quantity (just a single spoonful now). Kitty gobbled it up and puked as per usual. I'm thinking you might be right about needing to feed him more often. The problem is, I can do that while I'm home, but once I leave next week, it's back to my parents' schedule; they both work from 6am-6pm, so he'll always have to have that 12 hour stretch. Would adding in a 3rd feeding around 9 or 10pm, and splitting his food into three meals that way help?

Originally Posted by hs07078

Thanks for the tips Ducman and Minka! Tried elevating the bowl and reducing wet food quantity (just a single spoonful now). Kitty gobbled it up and puked as per usual. I'm thinking you might be right about needing to feed him more often. The problem is, I can do that while I'm home, but once I leave next week, it's back to my parents' schedule; they both work from 6am-6pm, so he'll always have to have that 12 hour stretch. Would adding in a 3rd feeding around 9 or 10pm, and splitting his food into three meals that way help?

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Can they not leave two meals out when they leave at 6am? It's that 12 hour stretch that's doing it I bet, so no, feeding at 9 or 10 won't help.

Originally Posted by hs07078

Thanks for the tips Ducman and Minka! Tried elevating the bowl and reducing wet food quantity (just a single spoonful now). Kitty gobbled it up and puked as per usual. I'm thinking you might be right about needing to feed him more often. The problem is, I can do that while I'm home, but once I leave next week, it's back to my parents' schedule; they both work from 6am-6pm, so he'll always have to have that 12 hour stretch. Would adding in a 3rd feeding around 9 or 10pm, and splitting his food into three meals that way help?

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Welcome to TCS, HS!

That's pretty close to how I feed my cats and it works just fine to keep their tummies from getting too acidic, so I'd say yes, it'll be helpful for your boy, too. Can you feed the canned as the third meal (10pm)?

You might also try warming the canned just a bit with a squirt or two of warm water, then put it on a flat plate and spread it out, so he has to take some time licking it up.

If you don't mind, what kibble are you currently feeding and what canned are you attempting to feed? I'm wondering if the trouble isn't ingredient related, since you're only feeding a spoonful.

AC

Some cats just can not handle wet food, no matter the amount given. My Imhotep is one of those cats. He has a fairly sensitive stomach and anytime he eats ANY wet food, he promptly throws it up. I call him my bullemic cat.

Anyway, my suggestion would be to stick with the dry food if that's what his stomach can handle, but get a drinking fountain for the kitty. Kitties with fountains tend to drink more water which will get the added moisture they need into their systems.

Minka - Unfortunately, he's a social eater, so no matter how much food we leave out during the day, he'll only eat significantly when someone's around.

Auntie Crazy - He's getting Science Diet adult kibble. We tried the Science Diet canned food, but he vomited after eating it and developed a strong aversion to it; even if I put out an unopened can of it for him to sniff, he'll do his "this belongs in my litterbox" burial dance. So we're experimenting with other brands -- Purina, Fancy Feast, Nature's Choice. He'll eat them all, but as soon as he throws up, he develops an aversion. But I'll try feeding him the wet food later in the evening as a third meal.

Kailie - Yeah, I have a feeling the wet food isn't going to pan out, though I'll keep trying for the week I'm home. Finicky kitty...He seems to be getting enough water tho, lots of pee in the box.

A spoon is not much at all.

I'd try a very bland wet food with no fish and perhaps something that says indoor formula with lots of chicken and rice, and try that recipe on for size. If still having issues, I'd ask a vet, and if it can't be resolved then I'd simply stop feeding wet as the regurgitation definitely more than cancels out the benefit.

Originally Posted by hs07078

Minka - Unfortunately, he's a social eater, so no matter how much food we leave out during the day, he'll only eat significantly when someone's around.
I understand, my cat is the same way. But even if he only eats a Tiny bit while your parents are away, that could make a Huge difference in how the wet affects him later.

Auntie Crazy - He's getting Science Diet adult kibble. We tried the Science Diet canned food, but he vomited after eating it and developed a strong aversion to it; even if I put out an unopened can of it for him to sniff, he'll do his "this belongs in my litterbox" burial dance. So we're experimenting with other brands -- Purina, Fancy Feast, Nature's Choice. He'll eat them all, but as soon as he throws up, he develops an aversion. But I'll try feeding him the wet food later in the evening as a third meal.
If nothing else, I would change the dry food you are feeding. Just look at the back of the bag and you'll see what I mean... X___X

Kailie - Yeah, I have a feeling the wet food isn't going to pan out, though I'll keep trying for the week I'm home. Finicky kitty...He seems to be getting enough water tho, lots of pee in the box.

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I definitely wouldn't call him finicky.. He eats everything you give him; it's not his fault it makes him sick.