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I have three cats (siblings). They have been eating wet food only for 8 or more years now. They were kittens when their mom dropped them off at my back porch after weaning. They are now 12 years old. Feeding has changed as they have become seniors. One day, the female decided that the shredded chicken she used to love was not good (walked away and hid in another room until I offered something that smelled better), and she is now preferring foods that are pate or softer.
Just so you know, we are planning on taking her to the vet, as I don't know if her change in tastes/textures is due to age and her sense of smell decreasing, the fact that one of the other foods I was feeding to her when she walked away from the shredded chicken was causing her loose stools (and she might have associated her discomfort with the shreds instead because the other was pate, and she LOVED it, so she blamed the other food), or even something like a dental issue. But for sure, if I offer her food that smells better and is the right texture, she will lap it up. She cries for food (even follows me to the bathroom at feeding time to keep crying) so she has an appetite, just not for foods with less aroma or shredded texture. Has anyone had an older cat suddenly get pickier without an underlying health issue?
The problem I am facing is that, all added gums except for agar agar, have given my cats diarrhea, and as the years have gone by, more and more foods have added gums. Also, too much oil (sunflower or even tuna oil) also causes diarrhea. They used to tolerate the Tiki Cat After Dark Shreds. I spent 30 minutes cutting up the shreds for her one night (she was begging for it). I gave her a bite next to her regular food. After increasing the amount, she got diarrhea. Anyway, this issue has resulted in her loving many Weruva flavors but having puddles of poo in the box the next day and feeling lethargic from the cramping or loving Merrick Back Country pouches, only to be crampy with liquid poo the next day - after me adding only 1/4 teaspoonful to the Just Juicy Venison I am cutting till it is nearly smooth in texture (has agar and apparently not enough sunflower seed oil for true diarrhea but her stools will sometimes be mixed solid and smelly goo).
She has recently decided that the Just Juicy Venison does not smell strong enough, and I have been trying toppers. The soft Blue Wilderness treats work. I crumble/mix with water and add as little as possible, but I do not like the idea of adding treats at every meal three times a day - and what if the Venison has a supply issue!!! I tried topping with crumbles (less than 1/4 teaspon) of Ziwi Peak Rabbit and Lamb. She loved it, but (assume due to the high bone content), she gets constipated if I do it every meal (and I added some Weruva to get her to go after adding the Ziwi for 2 days. I think Rawz food constipated them in the past - I have a few cans of Rabbit, Chicken, Duck flavors - of course, those are not the ones lowest in phosphorus.
In addition, as I said, one of my boys has constipation issues but adding gums leads to soft stools once any hard stool clears. Without the gums, I am thinking that maybe they just are not getting enough fiber. I have considered trying a few Greenies Hairball Treats (have some here), since it has cellulose and beet pulp fiber. I thought of trying some psyllium husk, but would that work for constipation AND diarrhea? After years of no kibble, I have actually considered giving them kibble as treats to add in a bit of fiber. Funny, though, crunchy Blue Wilderness treats (grain free with peas) gave them all soft stool after I gave them one at two different times in one day.
Sorry for the long post. I welcome ideas or things that have worked for others who have a kitty who loves certain foods and textures, but it seems they don't like her digestively. Has anyone used kibble as treats when feeding all wet food to help stool consistency? The other thing I considered was adding a probiotic to something the female loves. When I put Fortiflora on the Venison when she started losing interest, she ate the food but got constipated (with just a pinch sprinkled on), so I wondered if adding that in larger quantity to Paw Lickin Chicken that I chopped and mashed into a pudding would counteract the xanthan gum. I even thought about adding the Ziwi crumbles to the Weruva in hopes that the xanthan gum and whatever is causing the Ziwi to constipate when added to the Just Juicy Venison would create the perfect mix.
Everyone here has such great ideas and advice! I lurk a lot!!
Just so you know, we are planning on taking her to the vet, as I don't know if her change in tastes/textures is due to age and her sense of smell decreasing, the fact that one of the other foods I was feeding to her when she walked away from the shredded chicken was causing her loose stools (and she might have associated her discomfort with the shreds instead because the other was pate, and she LOVED it, so she blamed the other food), or even something like a dental issue. But for sure, if I offer her food that smells better and is the right texture, she will lap it up. She cries for food (even follows me to the bathroom at feeding time to keep crying) so she has an appetite, just not for foods with less aroma or shredded texture. Has anyone had an older cat suddenly get pickier without an underlying health issue?
The problem I am facing is that, all added gums except for agar agar, have given my cats diarrhea, and as the years have gone by, more and more foods have added gums. Also, too much oil (sunflower or even tuna oil) also causes diarrhea. They used to tolerate the Tiki Cat After Dark Shreds. I spent 30 minutes cutting up the shreds for her one night (she was begging for it). I gave her a bite next to her regular food. After increasing the amount, she got diarrhea. Anyway, this issue has resulted in her loving many Weruva flavors but having puddles of poo in the box the next day and feeling lethargic from the cramping or loving Merrick Back Country pouches, only to be crampy with liquid poo the next day - after me adding only 1/4 teaspoonful to the Just Juicy Venison I am cutting till it is nearly smooth in texture (has agar and apparently not enough sunflower seed oil for true diarrhea but her stools will sometimes be mixed solid and smelly goo).
She has recently decided that the Just Juicy Venison does not smell strong enough, and I have been trying toppers. The soft Blue Wilderness treats work. I crumble/mix with water and add as little as possible, but I do not like the idea of adding treats at every meal three times a day - and what if the Venison has a supply issue!!! I tried topping with crumbles (less than 1/4 teaspon) of Ziwi Peak Rabbit and Lamb. She loved it, but (assume due to the high bone content), she gets constipated if I do it every meal (and I added some Weruva to get her to go after adding the Ziwi for 2 days. I think Rawz food constipated them in the past - I have a few cans of Rabbit, Chicken, Duck flavors - of course, those are not the ones lowest in phosphorus.
In addition, as I said, one of my boys has constipation issues but adding gums leads to soft stools once any hard stool clears. Without the gums, I am thinking that maybe they just are not getting enough fiber. I have considered trying a few Greenies Hairball Treats (have some here), since it has cellulose and beet pulp fiber. I thought of trying some psyllium husk, but would that work for constipation AND diarrhea? After years of no kibble, I have actually considered giving them kibble as treats to add in a bit of fiber. Funny, though, crunchy Blue Wilderness treats (grain free with peas) gave them all soft stool after I gave them one at two different times in one day.
Sorry for the long post. I welcome ideas or things that have worked for others who have a kitty who loves certain foods and textures, but it seems they don't like her digestively. Has anyone used kibble as treats when feeding all wet food to help stool consistency? The other thing I considered was adding a probiotic to something the female loves. When I put Fortiflora on the Venison when she started losing interest, she ate the food but got constipated (with just a pinch sprinkled on), so I wondered if adding that in larger quantity to Paw Lickin Chicken that I chopped and mashed into a pudding would counteract the xanthan gum. I even thought about adding the Ziwi crumbles to the Weruva in hopes that the xanthan gum and whatever is causing the Ziwi to constipate when added to the Just Juicy Venison would create the perfect mix.
Everyone here has such great ideas and advice! I lurk a lot!!