Psyllium seed husks in commercial raw

Most likely. If the kitty is used to eating chunks and no additives, and BOTH don't have the runs, you can be pretty sure the culprit is the psyllium seed husks, IMO.

Are you sure the Rad Cat is the only thing that is different? Unless you got a batch where the amount of psyllium is off, I don't think you should see a problem maybe  not even then. A small amount is added to some raw formulas to help create formed stools. Too much would be more likely to cause constipation and tool little would do nothing.

Using psyllium is tricky.  It has to be used in the right amount to get the desired effect which is why it is only used in small amounts in cat food formulas and only with water also added to the formula.

I don't know much about that additive in particular, Melesine, but I do know that sometimes a cat that has become accustomed to eating fresh, whole meats, and is given a commercially-prepared ground product can end up with loose stools.

 

If, however, you only fed the food that one time, there's got to be something else going on, because your kitties poops should have firmed up by now.

 

I think a vet check might be in order.... at the very least, a detailed walk-through in your house to ascertain potential sources for the problem. Are you having a lot of visitors with your husband's illness, and could anyone be giving the cats cheese or other milk products? Do you have any children coming in who may be feeding the cats too many kitty treats? Has anyone brought any plants into the house that your furfaces might be nibbling on?

 

Any vaccinations, antibiotics or pesticides (flea meds, etc.) used lately?

 

AC

 

P.S. I hope your hubby recovers quickly!!!

Aw !!!!! Please keep us posted!

Is all of the Rad Cat you've fed from the same container or was bought at the same time? I find it strange that you would have a problem given how simple their formula is. I still don't think the psyllium is likely to be a problem but there could be a quality problem with any of the ingredients that might result in loose stools.

I think it's good that you're not going to feed them any more of that food, Melesine. In fact, I think you should contact the RadCat folks and tell them what's going on. In addition, I'd suggest you submit a form to the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal. I'd do both right now, actually.

 

I'm suggesting this because I just looked up the ingredients on that food and one of them - manganese gluconate - causes diarrhea when overfed, and can actually be toxic. None of the other ingredients, from the information I currently have, could cause diarrhea, but if RadCat's equipment or quality control slipped a bit and too much manganese gluconate was added, it could very well cause the issues you've encountered (and worse). If you report this and RadCat pulls the product, it might be helpful to other kitties also eating the potentially bad run.

 

What I find especially odd about this is that this is the ONLY supplement the RadCat folks add, and yet it comes mostly from grains and veggies, which would naturally mean cats have no need for it. *shakes head in puzzlement*

 

AC

That's interesting. The lamb I could see causing loose stools because it is higher in fat. But if you are having a problem with the chicken...

 

Rad Cat uses dulse and kelp. Maybe your guys are sensitive to those??? I've fed RC to mine with no problem but that doesn't mean other cats might not have a problem with it.

 

Cats don't "need" grains and veggies but they do need the nutrients provided by them.

 

How did the RadCat folks respond, Melesine?

 

Bummer it was the food, but at least you know what it was!

I'm still leaning towards it being the psyllium in there - Carolina's cats are doing great on it. So it may be the difference between sensitivity to the extra fiber. It'll be interesting to see what the company has to say.

Sorry, but IMHO..... the cat has diarrhea with the food and the FDA is contacted.....
I mean.... It is not like the cat went to the hospital, or got really sick...... or.... come on guys.... let's think about this here.... and at the very least talk to the company here.... This is one of the best Raw foods out there.... and because of one event of diarrhea, just like that we are contacting the FDA and thinking of having them pull the batch from the market because something might be wrong here - (Highly doubt it - the cat is ok - this was obviously a reaction to a food fed too fast, as again, the cat is ok..............) - so the FDA is being contacted over the dislike of an ingredient? Or the remote possibility of the equipment not be properly adjusted ?

Hope threw up with S&C Freeze Dry Treats
Hope Threw Up with Bravo Raw
had diarrhea with fegnion Raw - She also Threw up on it
Bugsy had diarrhea with S&C Freeze Dry Treats
Hope Threw up with Nature's variety..... Bison and Beef Raw - violently.

Please...... let's think about this before going this far....
It is the first time this cat ate this food - there could be a reason for the diarrhea - including, being the first time feeding the food - 100%, with no transition/slow introduction to it - Lauren had this issue, I had this issue, Laurie had this issue.
Yep, I had this issue with the same protein just switching brands - when they were already eating rabbit from Nature's variety, and I gave them Fegnion Rabbit - it was a mess of vomit and diarrhea. Did I call the FDA? God no!

Psyllium is not a laxative - it is a fiber, and one that sucks up moisture in the gut, rather.... it increases the volume of poop, but makes it dryer - doesn't give diarrhea, and it is often prescribed for IBD for that very reason. IMHO is not the culprit.... to me, what happened here, was simply a new food fed too fast.... have been seeing this over and over..... including with me.

Not cool IMHO.
This company has been in the market for many years.... never had a shadow of a problem.... a lot of people rely on them as one of the few who don't have a load of junk in it..... It has a good track record....
You have all the right to feed the food you want..... really..... But please.... please do be careful to not damage the companies we do rely on.... Do some research before doing something like this.....

Note from RAD CAT: Guys, let's not forget these are Commercial diets - they do have different ingredients, meat ratios and supplements - they NEED introduction.
A reaction such vomit or diarrhea when the diet has been fed 100% straight right off the bat DOES NOT mean there is anything wrong with the food.....
Commercial raw diets are still commercial diets

Edited by Carolina - 1/28/12 at 1:29am

I won't belabor the point, but it's actually a fairly uncommon occurrence for cats being transitioned to raw to develop loose stools. That, combined with my rock solid certainly that raw food is never anything but a GOOD choice, led me to check the ingredients on this particular product.

 

That supplement is plant-based, toxic at not all that high a dose and causes diarrhea when approaching toxic levels.

 

Put all that together, and a raw food containing this product and getting the response Melesine's cats have exhibited is a cause for concern.

 

-----------------------------------

 

Raw food is what cats should be eating, and the changes seen in a newly raw-fed cat that's been eating canned / kibble all it's life are often extraordinarily dramatic. This is precisely the reason many raw advocates are so off-the-charts passionate about the diet - they've seen that incredibly dramatic change overcome their own cats, and the reality of the difference in their beloved feline's vitality and health just grabs them by throat and demands a response. The feeling is very visceral and hard to manage.

 

I totally get that. But we can't let passion rule our thoughts to the exclusion of all else. Commercial products are just that - commercially sourced, manufactured, packaged, shipped and sold, and there are plenty of opportunities along the way for slips in protocol. That the food happens to be of a healthier raw nature doesn't protect the product from potential quality control issues. Make sense?

 

In any case, the cat's are fine, yay!!, and the report's been made so the company can at least do some checking / testing if they've a mind to. All's well that ends well.

 

AC

A note about Manganese Gluconate:
First of... the fact that the nutrient is available in plants, does not mean it is plant-based, nor that the food contain plants - IMHO that statement would be similar to say that a food that has vitamin C has Orange Juice in it. Well.... Not so.
Cats and Dogs also deal with Manganese much differently than humans, and it is an essential nutrient for them, and very common in commercial food - nothing new.
Ever heard of Cosequin? Cosequin DS uses Manganese Gluconate....
To the OP: I am glad your kitties are OK . I remember the dates on my package to be the same as yours, and I do not have problems - but I do introduce the foods very slowly. I have 2 batches though - one I remember 05/12, and the other 12/12.... don't know which is which..... I feed all proteins, and I am not home to check which is which..... But I did check this before for a member here at TCS and remember it well
Anytime I introduced any commercial (raw) food fast, even if they were already eating that same protein, they had problems - either with vomit or diarrhea...... So, all I can say, is to keep that in mind.....
I am about to introduce another brand now, when I get home - Nature's Menu. They are already seasoned in both proteins..... but I will intro them slowly as they had never eaten raw before..... Hopefully all will be fine, but you never know. I believe in rotating brands and proteins..... The kids love Rad Cat, and so do I..... they love all the meat, and the juices, and I love that it doesn't have all the veggies..... But I do need other brands too.... Unfortunately finding other brands that are all meat like them is not an easy task, as you must know by now
I am sorry Rad Cat didn't work for you - IMHO it is the best - not on the wallet though
Edited by Carolina - 1/29/12 at 12:32am