WARNING! POSSIBLE TAINTED CAT FOOD!

  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #21

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
 
Is there anything else that your cats could have gotten into?  I swear this sounds like a poisoned mouse like LDG mentioned.  This reeks of warfarin.

You mentioned that this cat chews.  Could she have licked something off of your shoes?  Like weed killer, fertilizer, etc?

What diagnostics did the vet do?  I'm glad she's home, by the way.  Hope she feels better.
No,absolutely nothing (she could have gotten into) other than the cat food.

I put out two different dry foods (which I will now be eschewing) during the day and one small can/tub of wet food in the evenings. Thursday night, I put out their dinner. One of the dry foods they have been eating for weeks and the bag was nearly empty (IAMS Digestive Care, which they actually like), and a newly opened bag of Meow Mix "tender centers" dry. That evening included the cup of Meow Mix "Souffles" Salmon, Egg & Garden Vegetables. Only Knuckles eats the wet food, so one cup is more than enough.

All the next day, Knuckles was not herself, hiding behind the dinner table, and once I coaxed her out, only for her to hide under my desk. She later moved from there only to hide in my bedroom closet (all dark quiet places.) I never saw her eat again that day, and when I called them for "Treats!" before bedtime, Knuckles actually ran OUT of the room rather than to me (and if you knew how much they love their treats, that would really concern you.)

While Knuckles has a "chewing" problem (probably from being separated from her mother too early and not fully weaned)... thin wires and the rare rubberband... I've long since covered every wire in my home with plastic tubing and hide my rubberbands. I have found no chewed wires or missing rubberbands, and her symptoms are those of infection, not gastric upset.

She has never "licked my shoes" and I have not been anywhere where I might have stepped in anything that might have poisoned her. I live in an apartment and work from home, so it is not uncommon for me to not leave the house for more than 24 hours (which was the case that day.)

Based on the doctor's report, I'm seeing no tests for toxins or anything environmental. And as mentioned previously, she had all the symptoms (sans diarrhea) of Salmonella poisoning (and the CDC says many cats won't get diarrhea from Salmonella). I have NO doubt that is what she has/had.

While I first suspected the new DRY food, both cats ate it but only one got sick. But only one ate the WET food and that's the one that got sick, and that wet food contains "eggs", so it's not a stretch to imagine some undercooked egg made it's way into the recipe (when you cook egg in bulk, it can be difficult to ensure all of it was cooked through & through.)

I intend to have both the wet & dry foods tested for toxins and/or contamination.

PS: I once purchased a high quality Organic dry cat food and when I opened the (perfectly sealed) bag, there were cobwebs inside and a moth flew out. "Contamination" isn't avoidable in processed factory food.
 

ldg

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
41,310
Purraise
842
Location
Fighting for ferals in NW NJ!
He gets his vitamins and minerals from sweet potatoes and pumpkin and kefir? Those are not the supplements that LDG is referring to. He needs a source of calcium plus minerals and vitamins commonly found in organ meats. Non animal matter will not provide her with the nutrients that she needs as an obligate carnivore. Please read the link that LDG provided you.

He gets his vitamins and minerals still :) i give him sweet potatoes, pumpkin and other things for his nutrients. He drinks kefir too. :D
@Kittenpowerpow I wanted to make sure you saw this. A vitamin supplement (unless it is specifically made to balance just cooked meat), sweet potatoes and pumpkin will not provide what he needs. This is what happens without the proper amount of calcium: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/259623/2-months-old-eating-only-meat#post_3362873

His body will rob his bones for the needed calcium.

Please, please read through this thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/264153/home-cooked-cat-food-resources
 

goholistic

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Feb 27, 2013
Messages
3,306
Purraise
370
Location
Northeast USA
@TomInHouston, it seems like you've really considered all possible causes, so I can see why you're leaning towards the food. I hope you get some answers soon.
 

peaches08

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
4,884
Purraise
290
Location
GA
The apartment, have they sprayed for anything recently?  I'm sorry, I'm just trying to help rule out possibilities. 

It's a shame that there's no definitive diagnosis from the vet.  What diagnostics/treatments were performed?  What was their thoughts on her bleeding from her eyes and salmonella poisoning?  What's her kidney function after all this?

Most importantly, how is she today?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #25

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
 
The apartment, have they sprayed for anything recently?  I'm sorry, I'm just trying to help rule out possibilities. 

It's a shame that there's no definitive diagnosis from the vet.  What diagnostics/treatments were performed?  What was their thoughts on her bleeding from her eyes and salmonella poisoning?  What's her kidney function after all this?

Most importantly, how is she today?
Hi Peaches.

No one has sprayed my apartment (I always tell them No, mostly because of the cats but also because it's not needed. No bugs or mice.) And as mentioned, only one kitty became this seriously ill (though my other cat did throw up once two days later after finding eating some of the leftover food (which is when I began to suspect the food).

Knuckles seems happy to be home but is still a little lethargic due to her low blood count. She ate about a dozen treats (Catnip-flavored Temptations), drank lots of water when she came home (almost to the point of concern because she wouldn't leave the dish for a long while) and ate a small amount of wet food.

Her sister never threw up again except for that one time.

My biggest problem with the other (healthy) cat (Mugsy) is that her sister is now a stranger to her after being gone for four days, and she hisses at just the sight of her and avoids even entering the same room.

Knuckles used to do the exact same thing if I took her brother outside for even 15 minutes. I always brought home "a stranger" that she'd hiss at for two days afterward. It was very sad when he was sick and I had to keep taking him to the vet, only to come home and be hissed at by his favorite sister. :(
 

jodiethierry64

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Nov 29, 2013
Messages
418
Purraise
51
Location
Colorado
Hi Peaches.

No one has sprayed my apartment (I always tell them No, mostly because of the cats but also because it's not needed. No bugs or mice.) And as mentioned, only one kitty became this seriously ill (though my other cat did throw up once two days later after finding eating some of the leftover food (which is when I began to suspect the food).

Knuckles seems happy to be home but is still a little lethargic due to her low blood count. She ate about a dozen treats (Catnip-flavored Temptations), drank lots of water when she came home (almost to the point of concern because she wouldn't leave the dish for a long while) and ate a small amount of wet food.

Her sister never threw up again except for that one time.

My biggest problem with the other (healthy) cat (Mugsy) is that her sister is now a stranger to her after being gone for four days, and she hisses at just the sight of her and avoids even entering the same room.

Knuckles used to do the exact same thing if I took her brother outside for even 15 minutes. I always brought home "a stranger" that she'd hiss at for two days afterward. It was very sad when he was sick and I had to keep taking him to the vet, only to come home and be hissed at by his favorite sister. :(
It's the smell of the hospital that freaks them out. Others have wrote before about getting the smell off of them and how. I just don't remember.
 

4theloveofcats

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
128
Purraise
117
 
Hi everyone, I has started this thread on Monday when one of my two cats, Knuckles, suddenly started throwing up for no reason. By the time I got her to the vet Monday afternoon, she was bleeding internally and from the eyes. The doctors so far have been stumped.

Last night, her sister, Mugsy, also threw up (she is perfectly fine now). I had put out some wet food the night before Knuckles got sick. Knuckles eats wet food but her sister does not until it dries out, so it is very possible Mugsy didn't get sick until she finally tried eating some of the wet food.

I know that in the recent past, pet food from China that used Melamine as a thickener was linked to a string of pet deaths in the U.S.. I do NOT know if the food I gave them is indeed bad, but preferring to err on the side of caution, you should know this was a per-packaged cup of "Meow Mix Souffles with Salmon, egg and Garden Vegetables".Made in Thailand.

I dug the empty cup out of the trash and will try to have the vet analyze it as much as they can. Unfortunately, I washed the remaining food down the drain before it occurred to me to have it tested.

(I'll post a follow-up when I know more.)
I had the exact same thing happen with a cat and the souffles. Poor kitty died in August 2014 after much mystery and money spent investigating. I wish Google had indexed this soooner.  
 

4theloveofcats

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
128
Purraise
117
 
Hi Peaches.

No one has sprayed my apartment (I always tell them No, mostly because of the cats but also because it's not needed. No bugs or mice.) And as mentioned, only one kitty became this seriously ill (though my other cat did throw up once two days later after finding eating some of the leftover food (which is when I began to suspect the food).

Knuckles seems happy to be home but is still a little lethargic due to her low blood count. She ate about a dozen treats (Catnip-flavored Temptations), drank lots of water when she came home (almost to the point of concern because she wouldn't leave the dish for a long while) and ate a small amount of wet food.

Her sister never threw up again except for that one time.

My biggest problem with the other (healthy) cat (Mugsy) is that her sister is now a stranger to her after being gone for four days, and she hisses at just the sight of her and avoids even entering the same room.

Knuckles used to do the exact same thing if I took her brother outside for even 15 minutes. I always brought home "a stranger" that she'd hiss at for two days afterward. It was very sad when he was sick and I had to keep taking him to the vet, only to come home and be hissed at by his favorite sister. :(
Catnip Temptations are also bad for kitties according to several accounts online. YMMV
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #29

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
So sorry to hear about your own kitty's passing.

Very interesting regarding your similar experience with the "Meow Mix Souflee's". I always suspected (but was never able to confirm) the MM cup was tainted. Even a lab test came up "negative" (though I'm not sure I trust the testers.)

Knuckles ended up making a full recovery. The vet was clueless and proposed testing her for CANCER (stupid vets), so I simply Googled her symptoms, found the most likely culprit was "Salmonella", called the vet back and told her to start treating Knuckles for "Salmonella".

She immediately improved and was back home just days later, eventually making a full recovery (I only buy premium wet food in metal cans now. More expensive, but nothing compared to a $2500 vet bill.)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #31

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
I know I created this thread two years ago, but my kitty just came down with the exact same illness almost exactly two years later, nearly dying from internal hemorrhaging. She came back home yesterday, but I must give her numerous medications daily for the next month. :(

I had stopped giving her wet food sold in plastic cups and switched only to premium food in vacuum sealed cans, yet it happened again. I'd hate to give my two cats only dry food, but the one who rarely eats wet food has never been sick a day in her life while the other has nearly died twice.

I don't know what to think.
 

pushylady

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 26, 2005
Messages
16,398
Purraise
451
Location
Canada
That's awful, and it's frustrating that you don't know why exactly. Did you actually get a positive test for salmonella? You just told the vet to treat her for it. Have you considered going to a different vet at all? It doesn't sound like you have much confidence in your current one (not that I blame you).
 

MoochNNoodles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
36,646
Purraise
23,468
Location
Where my cats are
Oh my goodness!  I think seeking out a second opinion might be worth it if they didn't truly determine a cause the last time.  I'm not sure what else could be causing her to be so sick in the same way on a totally different food type. 

I hope you get some answers and I hope your baby feels better soon.  

I have one with liver issues that has actually been doing better since going to a primarily dry diet.  I spent a lot of time at the vet with her and we eventually just came to the agreement that eating a lower quality dry was better than not eating enough and wasting away as she was.  She is still offered a half can of food in the morning and the other half at night; but it's not grain free either. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #34

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
That's awful, and it's frustrating that you don't know why exactly. Did you actually get a positive test for salmonella? You just told the vet to treat her for it. Have you considered going to a different vet at all? It doesn't sound like you have much confidence in your current one (not that I blame you).
Hi.

  No, I never did get confirmation on Salmonella, nether from the vet nor from testing the cup the food came in (I didn't have any of the food left to test.)

This time around, she did not get sick immediately, progressing slowly over about two days. If the same thing happened two years ago, I may have tested the wrong food.

I have taken her to multiple vets. What saved her this time (the doctors were stumped) was trying the treatment used the last time this happened (after spending half a day trying to get the former ER to fax her records to the new one.) Once again, she started to bounce back within a day.

The vet that helped save her last time is the only vet I trusted this time, but I used a different ER. I think I've finally found some people I can trust.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #35

tominhouston

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Apr 27, 2014
Messages
43
Purraise
4
Location
Houston
 
Oh my goodness!  I think seeking out a second opinion might be worth it if they didn't truly determine a cause the last time.  I'm not sure what else could be causing her to be so sick in the same way on a totally different food type. 

I hope you get some answers and I hope your baby feels better soon.  

I have one with liver issues that has actually been doing better since going to a primarily dry diet.  I spent a lot of time at the vet with her and we eventually just came to the agreement that eating a lower quality dry was better than not eating enough and wasting away as she was.  She is still offered a half can of food in the morning and the other half at night; but it's not grain free either. 
Agreed, "cheapo dry" is better than quality food that never gets eaten.

My cats don't like the expensive stuff, but they don't like the really-cheap stuff either. I rotate the food I buy so they don't get tired of eating the same thing every day. I keep a list of their likes & dislikes so I don't waste money on food they won't eat. :)

BTW: Did I mention I got in a car accident on my way home from the Vet ER? Just one more unneeded expense. :/
 

MoochNNoodles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
36,646
Purraise
23,468
Location
Where my cats are
 
Agreed, "cheapo dry" is better than quality food that never gets eaten.

My cats don't like the expensive stuff, but they don't like the really-cheap stuff either. I rotate the food I buy so they don't get tired of eating the same thing every day. I keep a list of their likes & dislikes so I don't waste money on food they won't eat. :)

BTW: Did I mention I got in a car accident on my way home from the Vet ER? Just one more unneeded expense. :/
That sounds about like my 2. 
  At one point I had a spreadsheet going to track who was eating what flavor with what results. 
  I had to look at their situations and find what worked for them instead of trying to get them to accept what I thought was best.  

It's very frustrating to see them get so sick with no concrete answers.   But if you have a good relationship with this new vet; well thats invaluable. 
  They aren't perfect; but a good vet who will communicate well with you, research, etc is really so helpful.  
 

catmommie5

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
Messages
4
Purraise
1
Hi everyone, I has started this thread on Monday when one of my two cats, Knuckles, suddenly started throwing up for no reason. By the time I got her to the vet Monday afternoon, she was bleeding internally and from the eyes. The doctors so far have been stumped.

Last night, her sister, Mugsy, also threw up (she is perfectly fine now). I had put out some wet food the night before Knuckles got sick. Knuckles eats wet food but her sister does not until it dries out, so it is very possible Mugsy didn't get sick until she finally tried eating some of the wet food.

I know that in the recent past, pet food from China that used Melamine as a thickener was linked to a string of pet deaths in the U.S.. I do NOT know if the food I gave them is indeed bad, but preferring to err on the side of caution, you should know this was a per-packaged cup of "Meow Mix Souffles with Salmon, egg and Garden Vegetables".Made in Thailand.

I dug the empty cup out of the trash and will try to have the vet analyze it as much as they can. Unfortunately, I washed the remaining food down the drain before it occurred to me to have it tested.

(I'll post a follow-up when I know more.)
This post is from 2014 and it is now 2017. I bought a box of Meow Mix Souffles Real Tuna (and other fish) egg and garden vegetables. One on my cats has been throwing up food and clear liquid and refuses to eat for three days now. The other one isn't throwing up that I know of but is also rejecting his food. Did you ever find out what caused your cat's illness? Was it Samonella? I have a vet appointment tomorrow and anything that you learned would be helpful information for me to share. This little cat loves to eat and loves her treats. Now she puts the treat in her mouth and drops it on the floor. She runs to her food bowl and then walks away.
 
Top