One of my cat's diarrhea issues

Its been about 2 years since I came here.   I didn't know I was a member at this forum. Anyway, one of my cats (7 yr old male) Tiger has intermittent diarrhea for awhile.  After noticing his stool was loose for a week I called a vet.  Since I don't drive, I found a mobile animal van that goes to your place and they have a well equipped big van for animals.  I collected a stool sample.  I went into the van to see how they examined Tiger, took his weight at 10 lbs complete.  The vet says it was a good weight.  I wanted blood results along with fecal test, the tech drew 4 vials of blood from him. Two days later the vet called me and says "good news"  the fecal test was negative and blood test were normal..  Although she prescribed canned food for him. Its called Royal Canin gastroinstinal canned food.  They will ship from their facility next week.

Has anyone tried this brand of cat food?. Well I looked online for the Petco site and see what Royal Canin has in their food.  After reading the ingredients and was perplexed.  I have read many labels of cat food and this label don't make sense. I  looked under Analysis: Crude Protein (min.) 6.0%, Crude Fat (min.) 1.5%, Crude Fiber (max.) 2.0%, Moisture (max.) 84.5 . whats the deal with the low percentage of Protein, fat and fiber but has moisture at 84.5. why is this food need a prescription.  I thought that it will more protein, fiber.  But the water in the food is astonishing. Am I missing something? 

Craftygal

Hi Craftygal, No your not alone.  I had to feed my cats the dry and the prescription Royal Canin Urinary SO - I never understood the ingredients in these foods.

My cats had the Crystal issues, but yours has gastrointestinal so less protein may be better for his system.  

I'm honestly not sure, why and I'm hoping others will chime in with better advice to give you.

Welcome back to TCS, you'll find a lot of answers within the threads.

Keep us posted.  I'm curious as to how your wee one is doing.

Intermittent diarrhea "for awhile" could definitely be a sign that his food needs to be changed, but doesn't necessarily mean he needs to be on a prescription food.  There is nothing wrong with you asking the Vet WHY he thinks Tigger needs to be on this food.  You could ask if he thinks he needs lower protein for some reason, or if they suspect food allergies or what.  It could even be IBD that they suspect, but you should know what they think it is.

These prescription foods DO have their place.  It's not necessarily the protein, fiber, etc....it's the proprietary formula that makes them prescription.  And many of them actually work great.

Thank you for your reply.  Its very interesting about the protein in canned food. i didn't realize that the less the protein, the better it is for intestinal issues.  Is protein bad for stomach and therefore causes diarrhea??

I went to the Petco site and they have 2 kinds.  One is regular gastroinstinal wet food, which is cheaper, but they are 3 oz.  The high energy gastrointinal food is alor more but they sell in in 5.8 oz.  Holy cow, they sell it 45.99 for 24 cans.  Oh god I never paid half of the price . Of course I was getting commercial food. I got sample for 12 cans from my vet. It is the gastrointestinal food and they have chunks in gravy.  I gave half of one can and he licked the gravy and maybe 2 bites of food. Do you know how long till he gets use to the new food?

craftygal

Thanks for your post.  I did ask my vet why did he even got the diarrhea in the first place.  She said, at sometimes cats wlll get sensitive stomach and need another food.  That's why she prescribed it.  I looked under Petco, there are no other food that has gastroinstinal food besides the prescription food.  It is very expensive. Also the Petco agent asked me if I need a probiotic like Flortiflora.  I told him since my vet didn't' recommend that, i am cautious about buying it without her saying to get it.

craftygal