- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #21
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2022
- Messages
- 14
- Purraise
- 32
Okay, one more update post -and hopefully, mystery of my surviving kitten‘s illness has been solved! Going to break this up into 3 updates.
Update #1: My surviving kitten went to Ohio State University eight days ago. Everything looked good. They said not a chicken allergy as another vet hypothesized, as he’d been tolerating some chicken based wet food all along - so given the all clear to transition off the Royal Canin select protein diet. He’s perfectly healthy now and hasn’t had diarrhea or other symptoms since I updated here last, except for one overeating related incident.
Update #2: Last Friday, one female bengal (mother of this litter) began vomiting, loss of appetite, somewhat lethargic. Seemed resolved by Saturday so thought perhaps just coincidence - cats puking is really common and it only happened twice within two hours and she seemed fine within 8 hours. THEN, Sunday going in to Monday BOTH females started vomiting, on and off throughout the night. Vet appointment was made for Tuesday.
Update #3 - answers! : Short version— it was the food.
Apparently, the kitten food that I had the females on has high amounts of fatty acids which will go rancid in heat and humidity, no warning written on the packaging so I had no way of knowing! This would explain their symptoms, and also why my other cats (spayed female and the male) are in great health - they don’t eat the kitten food. Also, this occurred as I was nearing the end of the bag, so the food had more heat/humidity exposure. Same as right before this kitten got sick - was beginning to try adding softened dry food to his wet food, and that’s when the loss of appetite and diarrhea started.
I bought them new food immediately, storing it in a cool, dry place. No more vomiting or other symptoms - they’re all back to their normal selves. I really think this was the issue. Not with kitten Java - that remains mostly a mystery - but at least I have answers with my surviving cats. I’m equal parts relieved and upset, that it was something so simple and preventable all along.
note - currently doing a PCR fecal test on the mother of this litter, just as a precaution before allowing further pregnancies. Will be back with results next week!
Update #1: My surviving kitten went to Ohio State University eight days ago. Everything looked good. They said not a chicken allergy as another vet hypothesized, as he’d been tolerating some chicken based wet food all along - so given the all clear to transition off the Royal Canin select protein diet. He’s perfectly healthy now and hasn’t had diarrhea or other symptoms since I updated here last, except for one overeating related incident.
Update #2: Last Friday, one female bengal (mother of this litter) began vomiting, loss of appetite, somewhat lethargic. Seemed resolved by Saturday so thought perhaps just coincidence - cats puking is really common and it only happened twice within two hours and she seemed fine within 8 hours. THEN, Sunday going in to Monday BOTH females started vomiting, on and off throughout the night. Vet appointment was made for Tuesday.
Update #3 - answers! : Short version— it was the food.
Apparently, the kitten food that I had the females on has high amounts of fatty acids which will go rancid in heat and humidity, no warning written on the packaging so I had no way of knowing! This would explain their symptoms, and also why my other cats (spayed female and the male) are in great health - they don’t eat the kitten food. Also, this occurred as I was nearing the end of the bag, so the food had more heat/humidity exposure. Same as right before this kitten got sick - was beginning to try adding softened dry food to his wet food, and that’s when the loss of appetite and diarrhea started.
I bought them new food immediately, storing it in a cool, dry place. No more vomiting or other symptoms - they’re all back to their normal selves. I really think this was the issue. Not with kitten Java - that remains mostly a mystery - but at least I have answers with my surviving cats. I’m equal parts relieved and upset, that it was something so simple and preventable all along.
note - currently doing a PCR fecal test on the mother of this litter, just as a precaution before allowing further pregnancies. Will be back with results next week!