Cats with food allergies

I have one cat that has an allergy to corn.   I also am suspecting I have at least 3 cats that are allergic to Salmon.  I have them on a Local pet food store's store brand. It's called Perfectly natural and has no corn in it.  They've been on it over a year, and at least two cats have had a brown waxy build up in their ears (one cat it caused a bacteria infection).  The vet has seen the two with waxy ear build up and it's not mites. It's definitely from allergies.  I have my oldest cat who is 16 has recently within the last year they've been on the food been scratching her head and I find scabs on her chin from time to time.  The one ingredient that is most prominently in the food is Salmon.  Salmon is like the 4th ingredient and like the 7th ingredient is salmon oil.  They were previously on Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul.  They were on that for approximately a year and I switched to the Mounds because it was a few dollars cheaper with what seemed like better ingredients.  But looking back on the Pet lover's brand it too has Salmon in it, and it's like the 5th ingredient.  I'm hesitant to go back on it because it has Salmon in it.

Does anyone know of a dry food that doesn't have salmon in it, or corn? Hopefully one that isn't more than like $35 for a 20lb bag?  I found one food which I'd LOVE to put all my cats on but the price is astronomical.  It's $57.99 and it doesn't say for what size bag. I'm betting it's a 10 or 12lb bag. I'd need two (basically 1 1/2 a month) a month.  I have 5 cats and would put them all on it to make it easier.

Just trying to find a solution withing my budget $60 a month( and that includes cat litter in there as well).  I'm getting frustrated and coming up empty handed. Anyone have some solutions?  I've looked into making it myself but it gets too complicated trying to keep most of the cats out of the cat food dish while letting others eat whatever they want.  Really looking for something I could put them all on and that fits in the budget.  Maybe that just doesn't exist.

I know I've been told that good quality wet is what they should be eating anyways, however, even friskies I can't afford for them to all be on. 

Just hoping someone might have some solutions.

Thanks!

I don't know if it works for your budget but I think Blue Buffalo Freedom is corn and salmon free.

I'll have to look into that one and see what the price. I do notice that most of those higher quality foods only have 15lbs in the bag as opposed to 20. I may have to try it and see if I can work with the 15lbs as apposed to the 20lbs.  And if it's not more than $35. If it's more, It's out of my budget.

Are you sure its allergies? While allergies can present themselves as gross ears (sloshy and wet, not waxy), that's usually alongside overgrooming.

You could always switch to raw as well. :nod:

Minka said:

Are you sure its allergies? While allergies can present themselves as gross ears (sloshy and wet, not waxy), that's usually alongside overgrooming.
You could always switch to raw as well. :nod:

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I was thinking thing about the allergies. In particularly since the older cat's issues have developed within the last year and it sounds like a slow progress. Budget is a consideration here but if it can be found, I'd probably look for something that had duck in it without any salmon and is grain free. If that's too pricey, I'd try as limited ingredient of chicken as possible within the budget. Just my :2cts: I can't offer any advice on the cost of raw feeding as I'm not familiar with it.

Homemade raw feeding costs very little compared to canned and about the same as middle range dry.
LDG made a chart and knows specifically though.

The vet said that any waxy build up in the ears is an allergy most likely food. If it's seasonal it will come and go. If it's all the time, it's food allergy.  I've had them on the food for the last year and a half probably and it's been a problem for the last 6 months. He is constantly scratching at his ears and face too.  I looked into feeding raw and making my own cat food.  However, it still looks like it's way out of my budget.  I don't have a meat grinder, and can't afford one.  Even looking at getting Chicken as a protein source I'd have to get it for $0.50 a lb to be able to afford it. 

I checked into the blue buffalo, but the biggest bag they make is 11lbs and I'd need two a month.  That's my whole cat expense budget.  The food doesn't have to be grain free, just corn free and very little salmon in it.   I can find food without salmon, but it has corn in it and vice versa.  I thought about feeding them all seperate, but I still have the problem with one cat has to be able to eat whenever she feels like it, and I'm out of rooms to seperate cats.  I had looked into making a special feeding area for her with a pet door that reads microchips, but the door itself I can't afford.

I'll have to keep searching foods. Hopefully I can find something.

The vet has cultured the gunk in her ear to rule out any type of infection (bacterial or yeast)? Our Flowerbelle had gunky ears. The vet did a culture, identified what it was, we used a specific type of ear drops for it, and it cleared up. I understand that mites have been ruled out, but if a culture hasn't been done, there's no way to know whether it's something that can be medically treated or not.

mizmelzy said:

The vet said that any waxy build up in the ears is an allergy most likely food. If it's seasonal it will come and go. If it's all the time, it's food allergy.

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Mmmm, that seems like a stretch..
Allergies can be for any reason: food, pollen, house hold cleaners, perfume, dust.. anything.
There are plenty of things that can cause allergies that are always around.

I I've had them on the food for the last year and a half probably and it's been a problem for the last 6 months. He is constantly scratching at his ears and face too.  I looked into feeding raw and making my own cat food.  However, it still looks like it's way out of my budget.  I don't have a meat grinder, and can't afford one.  Even looking at getting Chicken as a protein source I'd have to get it for $0.50 a lb to be able to afford it. 

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How are you calculating the raw? Remember that each cat will only need 4 or 5oz per day. If you buy in bulk and buy on sale, it comes out very cheap, definitely cheaper than the expensive foods it sounds like you are buying. You can even sometimes get meat for almost nothing from hunters that don't want it. :nod:
Oh, and you don't need to grind the meat ^^

I'd check in this forum if I were you just to get a feel for the raw diet http://www.thecatsite.com/f/65/raw-feeding-for-cats I'm sort of thinking you might find a solution in there that might be within your budget considerations. Just a thought for you. Trying to help and not force anything on you. If this is indeed a food allergy a limited ingredient diet is probably going to be the most beneficial for the cat.

My cat has food allergies and ison the Royal Canin prescription limited ingredient diet. It's pricey.

Here are some others you can look into:

California Natural:

http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products

Natural Balance limited ingredient:

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/categories.aspx?ProductCategoryID=1&category=Cat

Evo

http://www.evopet.com/

Wellness:


http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/index.aspx


I'm sure there are others also.