Well I thought I would give everyone an update on Napolean's allergy issues. I also thought I could offer some food advice for anyone coming on here with the same frustration that I have!
Firstly, here's some background on my cat:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64351
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68462
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70781
So I think I found out part of my cat's problem. He's allergic to the dogs. Not specifically the dogs, but I was thinking about this the other day. The dogs eat their food, and a number of treats and other things. What do they do? They go off and play with the cat, chewing on his face and licking him and giving him flea bites. Napolean grooms himself, therefore getting dog saliva that has the dog food, etc in it. He ingests the saliva, poof allergic reaction.
He's been on Evanger's Game Meats for about 2 weeks. I started him on Pheasant, as of late I've been mixing it up and he's been eating buffalo and rabbit. His ears have cleared up fully [first time neither of his ears were gunked/scratched up] he still itches his face, but not to the extent the hair isn't growing or he's getting scabs.
Being on an all meat diet he poops ALOT less than he used to, and it's solid. Whereas on the z/d it was diarrhea and it smelt HORRIBLE! I do supplement him with Taurine and then an all purpose supplement [felo-form] one crushed pill twice a day. I have also since two days ago started giving him lysine as an immune system booster which can be helpful for cats with allergies.
If he starts having an issue with this diet we will definitley be going RAW. That's the last step, and the most costly. I think however, given the fact there's such a variety, I should be able to rotate the food and he should be fine. I also have my name on a waiting list for a holistic vet to take a peek at him. I don't know that there is anything specific they can offer me, but I think it might be worth a shot. They'll probably get a good laugh when I tell them, of all things my cat is even allergic to peas.
Although he still itches, which is what he did on the z/d I feel better knowing that I like this diet's ingredients compared to the z/d. I feel more confident he is getting more nutrition than he would being on the z/d. He's actually getting a REAL protein source, not some rice or anything like that, no nasty preservatives, and he really likes it. So, so far we're doing good!
Firstly, here's some background on my cat:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64351
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68462
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70781
So I think I found out part of my cat's problem. He's allergic to the dogs. Not specifically the dogs, but I was thinking about this the other day. The dogs eat their food, and a number of treats and other things. What do they do? They go off and play with the cat, chewing on his face and licking him and giving him flea bites. Napolean grooms himself, therefore getting dog saliva that has the dog food, etc in it. He ingests the saliva, poof allergic reaction.
He's been on Evanger's Game Meats for about 2 weeks. I started him on Pheasant, as of late I've been mixing it up and he's been eating buffalo and rabbit. His ears have cleared up fully [first time neither of his ears were gunked/scratched up] he still itches his face, but not to the extent the hair isn't growing or he's getting scabs.
Being on an all meat diet he poops ALOT less than he used to, and it's solid. Whereas on the z/d it was diarrhea and it smelt HORRIBLE! I do supplement him with Taurine and then an all purpose supplement [felo-form] one crushed pill twice a day. I have also since two days ago started giving him lysine as an immune system booster which can be helpful for cats with allergies.
If he starts having an issue with this diet we will definitley be going RAW. That's the last step, and the most costly. I think however, given the fact there's such a variety, I should be able to rotate the food and he should be fine. I also have my name on a waiting list for a holistic vet to take a peek at him. I don't know that there is anything specific they can offer me, but I think it might be worth a shot. They'll probably get a good laugh when I tell them, of all things my cat is even allergic to peas.
Although he still itches, which is what he did on the z/d I feel better knowing that I like this diet's ingredients compared to the z/d. I feel more confident he is getting more nutrition than he would being on the z/d. He's actually getting a REAL protein source, not some rice or anything like that, no nasty preservatives, and he really likes it. So, so far we're doing good!