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Sounds like our cats have a similar past. My diagnosed kitty was a street cat as well, but in our case more like 10 years ago. Back then she was STARVING and would gobble anything in sight. These days shes a grazer, but since long before diagnosis. She also sleeps more soundly now. for the longest time, even if someone walked past her while she was asleep, she would perk right up and become alert. we could tell it was because she was used to having to be defensive on the street. Wish we could have told her we wouldnt hurt her... but luckily in time that faded.
Jumbo is my former street cat and he used to be a gobbler of food, dry or wet, it didn't matter. Food is originally how I got him to trust me when he showed up 4 (almost 5) years ago. Before when I'd feed him wet food, I'd put half a 5.5 oz can in his bowl and he'd eat it quickly. Now if I do that, he'll take a few licks then stop and go sit in his bed or meow at me to pet on him. I guess when his renal disease progressed in the last year or so he became a grazer. So now I give him a quarter of the can watered down and that seems to work better for him. I try to only add a spoonful or 2 of any regular food. I think he has become a tuna addict... that is probably not a good thing. He is mostly kept separate from the other 2 because they fight, while that's a problem on it's own, at least it's easier to monitor his food/water intake. I too currently have 2 cans and a food pouch in the fridge.
I also notice from the food charts that Science Diet has a lot of low phosphorous regular foods. I just wished he liked Science Diet. I had moved all 3 cats to SD senior dry kibble about a year ago. That's about when he stopped eating. A cup of dry would sit in his bowl for several days with him barely touching it. The other 2 didn't mind it at all, they still eat it as their main dry food. He also didn't like the SD Rx wet food from the vet, so I doubt he would like their regular wet food. I think he likes the Iams renal wet more than the Hi-Tor Neo, but I could only get Iams in 12 can case and Hi-Tor comes in a 24 can case.
When he was first diagnosed last month and wouldn't eat the prescription food, I called the vet's office to ask what to do and the receptionist said, "Well if he's hungry enough he'll eat it. He won't starve to death." That angered me, and still does. That's a common train of thought though. But it's just ignorant and inconsiderate. My cat was already starving himself because he didn't like his regular food (before I put him back on his old food) plus the disease causes appetite loss. Whatever cat food you can get your cat to eat and keep down is the best thing for the cat. Jumbo throws up a lot. He kinda of always did even before the diagnosis. There have been several treats and vitamin chews that I can give my other 2, but Jumbo will throw them up a few minutes later.
I thought of science diet since the vet food she REALLY liked was science diet (before any numbers, their emergency wet food, i think its called critical care?). that one was higher phosphorous a bit (1% dry), but she loved it. next time im in i might ask if i can give her one on occasion... but then, id hate to turn her off of what shes currently eating. i have a can of chicken baby food too... debating between if i should use it, will she expect *all* food to be that good. lol. the baby food is alot more basic, ingredient wise. higher protien though :/
i hate the idea of they wont starve themselves... because, mine basically did. not to death, but she went a good 24 hours not eating or drinking at all. thought she was having 1 off day, but when she still had no interest in even treats the next day, we knew it was time to call. who knows how long before then she had been eating less but still acting okay, as she shared bowls with my other cat. she was very dehyrated before her IV vet stay over (3 days, missed her like crazy!!). so, i like to think that although maybe not to death, they do starve themselves/go off their food. especially if theyre not crazy about that food to begin with. in a way i get that thought, but in another way, i totally dont. even human kids would rather go hungry than eat their broccoli in most cases. does that mean you shouldnt offer anything else? I dont think so... dont offer cake instead, but something else healthy. I think of the same way for animals. thats why i like to rotate flavours even if the basic diet is similar (like, sticking with science diet for example). just to keep them interested in their food
i guess im lucky that she seems to like the science diet varieties... along with her royal canin renal diet.