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I have two cats, one of which is Arya, 6 year old Russian Blue who was a stray at a young age and has IBD and I'm concerned about her urine output after switching foods. She has been on wet food since we got her. She has always eaten small meals *many* times a day (maybe 6 or 7 between my husband and I); any more and she either leaves it, or throws it up. They have two water bowls and a fountain. The fountain has reverse osmosis water and the bowls have tap water and are changed regularly. Arya has always been desperate to go outside and chew grass (which she gets to do occasionally) or chase bits of dry food (which we've stopped because it makes her throw up.)
We had her on Wellness Chicken (no fish) until recently when we switched them both to Stella & Chewies freeze dried raw chicken/rabbit because of the other cat's allergies. (Arya won't eat freeze-dried or homemade raw, and the other cat, Sweetie, eats her leftovers. ) We are adding as much warm (reverse osmosis, which may not be ideal) water as the food will possibly absorb, and recently I've started adding a probiotic I've had in the fridge, it might be too old,but she loves the taste and it seems to make her more satisfied, otherwise no change. She hasn't been throwing up since I've cut out the last few dry treats, except when she eats grass.
I'm concerned that Arya's urine balls have gotten much smaller, and the edges are usually very uneven, when they used to be fat round balls. (The other cat's pee balls are about the same size, maybe less frequent.) She is also peeing at the edges of the box again, which I interpret as unhappiness with the litter box. Both cat's poops are light and well-hydrated. I'm concerned about a pH change and kidney or urinary issues, but we don't see any other changes in her health, in fact she seems a little bit more cuddly and content overall, although she claims is starving by early morning. Her coat and weight are great.
Maybe she doesn't need as much water because of the lack of thickeners in the food? Should I stop worrying, try feed her larger portions, try to clump meals so she has time without eating, or go back to the Wellness?
Thanks for your thoughts!
We had her on Wellness Chicken (no fish) until recently when we switched them both to Stella & Chewies freeze dried raw chicken/rabbit because of the other cat's allergies. (Arya won't eat freeze-dried or homemade raw, and the other cat, Sweetie, eats her leftovers. ) We are adding as much warm (reverse osmosis, which may not be ideal) water as the food will possibly absorb, and recently I've started adding a probiotic I've had in the fridge, it might be too old,but she loves the taste and it seems to make her more satisfied, otherwise no change. She hasn't been throwing up since I've cut out the last few dry treats, except when she eats grass.
I'm concerned that Arya's urine balls have gotten much smaller, and the edges are usually very uneven, when they used to be fat round balls. (The other cat's pee balls are about the same size, maybe less frequent.) She is also peeing at the edges of the box again, which I interpret as unhappiness with the litter box. Both cat's poops are light and well-hydrated. I'm concerned about a pH change and kidney or urinary issues, but we don't see any other changes in her health, in fact she seems a little bit more cuddly and content overall, although she claims is starving by early morning. Her coat and weight are great.
Maybe she doesn't need as much water because of the lack of thickeners in the food? Should I stop worrying, try feed her larger portions, try to clump meals so she has time without eating, or go back to the Wellness?
Thanks for your thoughts!