Dumb question: Isn't duck poultry?

The vet told me to lay off poultry for a while and not to feed one of my cats chicken--which she only gets in treats anyway--and turkey. She did tell me however to keep feeding her the dry, limited ingredient DUCK food, as well as the canned, sliced salmon that I have beeb feeding her. I thought that any bird was considered poultry. I questioned her on this, but didn't really get a straight answer--just that duck is a novel protein.

I think cause its an aquatic bird means its not poultry - I could be mistaken.   It certainly has higher fat content.   The main point is to have a different protein than any fed previously.

Duck is a novel protein for some, but is still considered poultry because it is domesticated fowl.  It's a novel protein because it's just different enough of a bird to possibly not cause allergic reactions in cats that are allergic to chicken and turkey. 

What are your cat's symptoms/diagnosis, by the way?

She has a history of chronic vomiting and has been diagnosed with IBD. I have the full story over on the Cat Health forum. She has improved with prednisone, but I guess the vet wants to switch her over to only duck, since her main protein has been turkey. I think she is just grasping at straws. It's not really an elimination diet because she said that I could feed her the canned salmon as well. She is a VERY picker eater and will only eat certain types of food. She alternates between not wanting to eat dry and only wanting canned, then vice versa.

OK, I'll go check it out.

An elimination diet might prove very helpful, or not.  I tried doing that with my own with no success since most commercially canned and dry diets aren't really limited in ingredients.  I feel for ya!