Cat food and smelly poops

I need to change the food I'm feeding my 3 year old cat, Gracie. She is currently eating Chef's Blend. Two reasons - 1. she needs to loose weight 2. very smelly poops. The smelly poops is the main one. I normally free feed but I can stop that to help her loose weight. I do have a diabetic cat that I have to leave kitten food out for and I have caught Gracie eating that lately so that might be the culprit also. Anyway, what are some good, reasonable priced, cat foods that helps cut down the poops? I'm telling you, when Gracie poops, the whole house knows it!!! It will wake me from a dead sleep.

Thanks,
Cathy

I would stop free feeding and change to a Premium cat food (Science Diet, Royal Canin, IAMS, ProPlan, Eukanuba, etc.) weight loss formula. Or a formula for older, less active cats. Some people balk at IAMS and Eukanuba (made by the same company) because of some over exagerations by PETA and organizations like them that were spread around. But I believe they are good foods and companies that can't be discounted. I've learned that the rumors going around about them was something that happened at limited plants and as soon as they found out about it, they pulled business from them and corrected the problem. My cats happen to do best on IAMS and in fact get sick on Royal Canin. But every cat is different!

For your diabetic cat can't you just feed her/him 4 times a day (or so) and feed her in an isolated area? I've never had a diabetic cat and don't know your kitty but I'm diabetic. It's not so much that I have to always eat as I need to eat something every 4 hours or so. So I eat 4 smaller meals a day and a snack.

One of my kitteis (Hallie) has PKD and trouble keeping on weight so I have the oppsosite problem! I have to feed her several smaller meals a day and in an isolated spot where no one else bothers her or eats her food. I've found a spot where the other cats won't/don't go and she's happy as a clam! It was pretty easy for me to find that spot though, because she is a very small cat and can fit in tight places. The others are quite a bit bigger.

Good luck! I hope you find something that works well for your kitty and you!

I had thought of IAMS or Eukanuba as they fit more into my budget. With Premium food she should not have to eat as much right? So therefore won't have to "expell" as much?

As for my diabetic kitty, I work 8-4 so I'm not home to feed her like that. Gracie used to NEVER touch anything but her own dry food but in the past several months she now will eat Cloey's kitten food and left over of Cloey's can food.(Cloey gets a can am and pm before her shot) Why would this be happening? In the three years I have had Gracie she has never eaten anything but HER dry food out of HER bowl. As far as the isolated spot???? It's either on my kitchen counter, which I got tired of the cat hair or now I have my 5 yr old daughters little table and chairs in the middle of my kitchen (kinda like where a butcher's block would be) so that is where I feed Cloey. Nicole doesn't use that table much anymore and when she needs it I just clean it and move to whereever. Works for me!

I will go out to Pet Supplies Plus in the next day or two and see what they have. Can I switch her all at once or should I mix to start out with?

Cathy

Sorry but no way I consider IAMS or ProPlan etc 'premium' food.
If they sell it in the grocery store, its not premium food.
If it contains by-products, it is not premium food.

I'm feeding mine Innova dry and Nutro canned. Their poops still smell. Face it, poop just plain smells no matter how you look at it lol.

Other premium brands I'd say are Wellness, Pinnacle, Chicken Soup for the cat lovers soul, Wysong, California Natural, Evolve.. etc.

Originally posted by Sicycat
Sorry but no way I consider IAMS or ProPlan etc 'premium' food.
If they sell it in the grocery store, its not premium food.
If it contains by-products, it is not premium food.

I'm feeding mine Innova dry and Nutro canned. Their poops still smell. Face it, poop just plain smells no matter how you look at it lol.

Other premium brands I'd say are Wellness, Pinnacle, Chicken Soup for the cat lovers soul, Wysong, California Natural, Evolve.. etc.

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A lot of people distinguish between "premium foods", like Iams, Hill's, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba, and "ultra-premium foods" like the ones Sicy listed. I don't know if there's that much of a difference (our cat eats both, but usually 1/3 "premium" to 2/3 "ultra premium" dry food, and only "ultra-premium" canned - basically, he gets what he prefers, as long as the main ingredient is meat and there's no soy or beet pulp, which don't agree with him). I do believe that you'll see a difference in the amount and smell of the turds if you stop feeding supermarket brands. Our neighbor was feeding her cat Whiskas and Friskies (about all that's available in our town), and when I was looking after her cat, the smell just about knocked me over, although I was cleaning the litterbox twice daily. I started ordering food for her cat when I ordered for JC on the Internet, and the difference is incredible. The quantities fed are much smaller, so the difference in price is minimal. If you switch from a supermarket brand to a higher quality one, you should do it gradually, for two reasons: 1) to avoid stomach upset, and 2) to enable the cats to adjust gradually to the smaller quantities.

jcat,

What do you feed yours and what did you switch your neighbors to? I know all poops smell but her's is just, you can smell it all through the dag gum house! eeeewwww (as daughter puts it)

Cathy

Just a reminder, before you arbitrarily change your cat's diet to get her to lose weight or correct a problem, a call to your vet is a good idea. Smelly poop does not always mean the wrong food is being fed, there could be an underlying health issue. if the cat has been recently to the vet, then call your vet tell him or her your intentions and pick their brain on how best to proceed.

Whatever food you change your kitty too, make sure you mix it and gradually switch over. Any sudden change can upset her system. And check with your vet too.

All poop is not created equal! When I first got Peaches, her poop stunk to high heaven! Like you described... it would wake me out of a dead sleep! It still stinks now, of course, but not nearly like it did. And if your cat hasn't had a regular check up lately, I'd definately have that done too!

I know what you mean about some foods being more in your budget. It is sometimes difficult to work things in. Hopefully you'll find something that works well for the cat and fits in your budget as well! Keep trying, I'm sure you will!

Originally posted by 3kittys
I had thought of IAMS or Eukanuba as they fit more into my budget. With Premium food she should not have to eat as much right? So therefore won't have to "expell" as much?

As for my diabetic kitty, I work 8-4 so I'm not home to feed her like that. Gracie used to NEVER touch anything but her own dry food but in the past several months she now will eat Cloey's kitten food and left over of Cloey's can food.(Cloey gets a can am and pm before her shot) Why would this be happening? In the three years I have had Gracie she has never eaten anything but HER dry food out of HER bowl. As far as the isolated spot???? It's either on my kitchen counter, which I got tired of the cat hair or now I have my 5 yr old daughters little table and chairs in the middle of my kitchen (kinda like where a butcher's block would be) so that is where I feed Cloey. Nicole doesn't use that table much anymore and when she needs it I just clean it and move to whereever. Works for me!

I will go out to Pet Supplies Plus in the next day or two and see what they have. Can I switch her all at once or should I mix to start out with?

Cathy

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I would say Gracie's last vet visit has been at least 6months or better. I have never had any problems with her so she only goes once a year for her rabies shot. I just can not afford to take her to the vet right now unless I just HAVE to and right now I really don't see any physical signs except her weight and smelly poops. I will try the food change first and give that some time, unless I see something else. Don't get me wrong, I will take to vet if needed, just with 3 cats (one diabetic), one dog, 2 kids and 1 hubby, I need all the mone I can get....hehe

Thanks for all info and suggestions!
Cat

Originally posted by 3kittys
jcat,

What do you feed yours and what did you switch your neighbors to? I know all poops smell but her's is just, you can smell it all through the dag gum house! eeeewwww (as daughter puts it)

Cathy

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M.A.'s advice should be heeded. I'd really check to see if there is an underlying health problem. JC is a bit problematic, because he insists on variety, so he gets three different brands of dry food and 2 or 3 brands of canned in one week (he doesn't have any stomach or digestive problems), and I usually have to "temporarily retire" a brand after 2 or 3 months. He also will only eat out of 3 ounce cans. The dry food I buy is: Felidae, Solid Gold, Innova, Nutro, Pinnacle, Almo (Italian brand), Eukanuba, Science Diet, and occasionally Iams. I'd like him to eat California Natural or Eagle Pack, but he doesn't like them. Health Wise became available this week, so I'll try that. Chicken Soup and some of the other brands aren't sold here. The canned food, other than Innova, is primarily European: Almo, Miamor Feine Filets (German brand), Green Fish (Italian), with Iams thrown in, because it is available in small cans. Other than the Innova or Iams lamb or beef, he'll only eat canned food consisting roughly of 74% meat or fish, 1% rice, and 24% spring water.
Putzi, the neighbor's cat, was extremely fat, and she ate Hill's Science Diet Light (she preferred the tuna flavor) for a little over 3 years, until she dropped 11 lbs.. Believe it or not, that wasn't half her body weight! She will only eat dry food, and won't touch the "senior" stuff (she's 19+), so my neighbor usually alternates 20 lb. bags of Hill's, Felidae, and Royal Canin (any flavor/type).
Cathy, you can use the list as a general guideline for what suits my cat, but he's not a typical cat. He's allergic to beet pulp and soy beans, doesn't like poultry, refuses to stick to one or two foods (we give in, because the neighbors three doors down can hear his complaints), has had to be persuaded to eat canned food, won't eat the latter unless he can observe me opening the can (the little-cans- only tick isn't too common, but somebody on another forum, who works for a major pet food company, told me that the food in small cans is tastier, because the food is "sterilized" by heating it after canning, and the smaller the can, the shorter it is heated), and we live in Europe, so many good North American brands simply aren't available here at all, are only imported in large cans, or have very short "Best By" dates because the shipments get tied up at customs for months.

I do find some high end foods keep the poop not quite so smelly. I like this one I get at Trader joes now, I can't recall the brand but it's a premium in a jug that is reasonably priced. I checked out their web site and the ingredients page and its got it all, veggies, vitamins, taurine. Plus he loves it. He likes it better than the Dick Van Patten, although I mix the two.

LOL.....JC sounds like a trip!!! They just love to keep us on our toes don't they???? My diabetic cat is like that, she only eats certain Fancy Feast cans....she doesn't like seafood (can you believe a cat that doesn't like seafood) but loves Tuna (only gets that on occassion). I have a pekingese that eat's just Innova dry or mixed with fresh veggies (his fav's are cooked carrots and green beans) but he has some skin problems. I do see the difference in an animal eating premium food to an animal eating just any store brand. Gracie can be a little strange at times also, I don't think she is all there sometimes, if you know what I mean. We got her from the pound when she was 2 mths old.

Thanks again!
Cat

I feed Sash Natural Balance and Nutro both canned and dry. I rarely have any problem with odors after he goes to the bathroom. I also live in an apartment and my bathroom (where litterbox is) and bedroom are right next to each other and Sash's poo poo time is always during the overnight hours. I think feeding premium/ultra premium foods does help with odor control. Nutro even states on there bag less stool odor. Lisa & Sash


http://pages.ivillage.com/lisalee992 (Sash's website)

Sierra ate Science Diet until she was 4, and when we switched to Innova, I observed a HUGE difference in the smell of her poop! She now eats primarily Innova Lite canned and dry along with some Amore raw and occassional Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul and Nutro. Her box is in my bedroom, and I rarely if ever detect any odor at all!

There has been so much talk about food on here. But I have to say, of all that I have tried so far and I have tried many, my cats love Eukanuba the best. Just because a food may be sold in a grocery store doesn't mean it is not a premium food. It is just a matter of what store wants to sell it. I have never found Eukanuba in my local grocery stores. Some of these so called "premium foods" have things in them, that I would not feed my cats. Some have apples, carrots, garlic, potatos and so on in them. California natural is one of them. I have tried that food more than once and every time I did, my Pixie Bobs got horrible gas and diarrhea. I have also read that garlic and other herbs like alfalfa are bad for cats. My bobcat will not even go near those foods that have all those vegies in them. However, she likes Eukanuba so much, that I now have a hard time getting her to eat the raw meat diet she should be on. I am sure there are foods that are better and some that are worse. Just read the ingredients. Try to feed a food that has the most meat in them.

I just have to say that Amber is beautiful!!!!!

I had to go to the grocery store last night so I picked up a bag of IAMS. I mixed with Gracie's food and she would not touch it!!!! Oh well, I have one cat, that pretty much stays outside that will eat anything. He is like the Tom Cat on my street but we take care of him and feed him but he likes to know what everybody is doing and visits everyone, checks out all new vehicles and "sprays" them. I can feed him that. I guess I will still have to go to pet store, maybe they will like trial bags I can get first.

Cathy

Originally posted by AmberThe Bobcat
There has been so much talk about food on here. But I have to say, of all that I have tried so far and I have tried many, my cats love Eukanuba the best. Just because a food may be sold in a grocery store doesn't mean it is not a premium food. It is just a matter of what store wants to sell it. I have never found Eukanuba in my local grocery stores. Some of these so called "premium foods" have things in them, that I would not feed my cats. Some have apples, carrots, garlic, potatos and so on in them. California natural is one of them. I have tried that food more than once and every time I did, my Pixie Bobs got horrible gas and diarrhea. I have also read that garlic and other herbs like alfalfa are bad for cats. My bobcat will not even go near those foods that have all those vegies in them. However, she likes Eukanuba so much, that I now have a hard time getting her to eat the raw meat diet she should be on. I am sure there are foods that are better and some that are worse. Just read the ingredients. Try to feed a food that has the most meat in them.

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That has been my experience, too. Every cat or dog we've had has loved Eukanuba. Jamie Cat doesn't like poultry, but he practically inhales Eukanuba lamb and liver for at least three months (a record for him). The new salmon and rice isn't available here yet, but I'm sure he'll love it. I also question some of the "ultra-premium" foods. I have no problem with foods that contain carrots or potatoes, because I've never had a pet that refused to eat them, but I try to avoid any food containing garlic, onions or avocadoes (plus soybeans and beet pulp - see above). Evolve is new on the German market, and much cheaper than Felidae or Solid Gold, but I haven't tried it because of the garlic. JC won't eat California Natural. I don't think much of the supermarket brands (too many by-products), but I don't really distinguish between "medium-quality" brands like Iams, Hill's, Eukanuba, Nutro, and Royal Canin, and "high-quality" brands like Solid Gold, Felidae,Innova, etc., etc.. Does Amber really have to eat raw meat? I've tried BARF with various pets, and all of them have found it unacceptable/disgusting. JC will eat garter snakes' "tails" raw, but seems to want me to cook anything else he catches.

Originally posted by jcat
That has been my experience, too. Every cat or dog we've had has loved Eukanuba. Jamie Cat doesn't like poultry, but he practically inhales Eukanuba lamb and liver for at least three months (a record for him). The new salmon and rice isn't available here yet, but I'm sure he'll love it. I also question some of the "ultra-premium" foods. I have no problem with foods that contain carrots or potatoes, because I've never had a pet that refused to eat them, but I try to avoid any food containing garlic, onions or avocadoes (plus soybeans and beet pulp - see above). Evolve is new on the German market, and much cheaper than Felidae or Solid Gold, but I haven't tried it because of the garlic. JC won't eat California Natural. I don't think much of the supermarket brands (too many by-products), but I don't really distinguish between "medium-quality" brands like Iams, Hill's, Eukanuba, Nutro, and Royal Canin, and "high-quality" brands like Solid Gold, Felidae,Innova, etc., etc.. Does Amber really have to eat raw meat? I've tried BARF with various pets, and all of them have found it unacceptable/disgusting. JC will eat garter snakes' "tails" raw, but seems to want me to cook anything else he catches.

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The main problem with commercial pet food - particularly those from the big multinational pet food companies - is that they lack nutritional value from the use of unsavoury ingredients. This is well-documented in Ann N. Martin's book "Food Pets Die For". And once pets eat some brand of commercial pet food, they're hooked. That's because a lot of these foods have additives like flavor enhancers to entice pets to eat.

But that doesn't mean it's impossible to get them slowly unhooked. Our two cats have started on raw food with prepared packages from companies like Amore. Initially, we mixed in some Wellness canned food (aka "super" or "ultra"-premium commercial pet food) that they were used to eating. But now, we only need to mix in a tiny bit of canned food.

And what an improvement. Their fur is softer, skin problems are gone, less stool in their litterbox, and almost odourless too.

- Donna and George

I feed mine purina one hairball control and their poop isn't that bad. Alot of time they poop in the yard but when they do go in the box it isnt' unbearable !

To be totally honest my cats have had the least smelliest poop on Eukanuba.

I've fed them Chicken Soup, Purina ONE, Nutro Natural Choice, Sensible Choice, and Natural Balance. I was quite surprised that they hardly ever went poop while on the Euk and when they did it did not smell nearly as bad. I was surprised because I've always heard so many bad things about the Eukanuba.

The poops on Natural Balance are okay too, as well as Sensible Choice. To be honest they were the worst on Chicken Soup. But I still feed it in the rotation because I know it's good for them.