I've had cats all my life and have fostered various cats and dogs as well. Currently we have our 2 cats, a foster dog, and 2 cats we took in for a few months that belong to an unhoused woman who's working on getting her life back together. We can't afford much, but my minimum standard for cat and dog food is no animal by-products and no corn.
That may need to change for these 2 foster cats.
The cats came to us with food she had that was different colors and had corn as the first ingredient. They've also been getting a spoonful of donated Friskies canned food once a day. That's almost finished. After they finished the dry food that came with them, I started them on 4Health dry food.
Cat 1 is a large, overweight male about 9 years old. He gained a lot of weight in the past few months, probably from stress because of an unstable living situation in a tent plus the winter cold until we took these cats in. I want to start rationing his food after he gets more comfortable here but not before -- I don't want to add unnecessary stress.
His owner told me the other day that she fed them urinary tract health dry cat food when she could get it because she'd seen male cats with urinary tract problems and didn't want him to go through that. I wouldn't want him to get a urinary tract problem while in my care because of feeding him a diet that wasn't specifically to prevent that. But all the urinary tract health dry foods I've found are either super expensive or have corn as a main ingredient.
How useful is it to feed male cats food designed to prevent urinary tract infections? Should I give him one of these foods since he isn't my cat, or are there better ways to prevent this problem? He drinks plenty of water. If I feed him one of these foods, which one would you suggest? I need to keep the price to not much over $2/pound.
Cat 2 is a female about 11 years old. She isn't overweight, and she likes to be active. (My cats are indoor cats, but these cats are used to the outdoors, and this one craves being outside for part of the day. And as I said, they aren't my cats.) Her problem is itchy bumps all over, and she's got a bald spot near her tail from chewing. I haven't seen any evidence of fleas although they're a possibility -- she's a long-haired cat, so it would be hard to find them. For now, food allergies are the top suspect. I was hoping that by cutting out by-products, corn, wheat, and soy, she'd find relief. We'll be able to test that theory once they finish the Friskies canned food.
However, if Cat 1 goes on a budget-friendly food for urinary tract health, Cat 2 will also have access to that food unless I'm very careful not to let them share food (which they currently do).
In your experience, what are the best foods to avoid when trying to identify and avoid allergens?
Any other suggestions for these cats? I'd love to give them back to this woman in improved health when she has a home again, but I'm limited in what I can afford.
Thanks for your help.
That may need to change for these 2 foster cats.
The cats came to us with food she had that was different colors and had corn as the first ingredient. They've also been getting a spoonful of donated Friskies canned food once a day. That's almost finished. After they finished the dry food that came with them, I started them on 4Health dry food.
Cat 1 is a large, overweight male about 9 years old. He gained a lot of weight in the past few months, probably from stress because of an unstable living situation in a tent plus the winter cold until we took these cats in. I want to start rationing his food after he gets more comfortable here but not before -- I don't want to add unnecessary stress.
His owner told me the other day that she fed them urinary tract health dry cat food when she could get it because she'd seen male cats with urinary tract problems and didn't want him to go through that. I wouldn't want him to get a urinary tract problem while in my care because of feeding him a diet that wasn't specifically to prevent that. But all the urinary tract health dry foods I've found are either super expensive or have corn as a main ingredient.
How useful is it to feed male cats food designed to prevent urinary tract infections? Should I give him one of these foods since he isn't my cat, or are there better ways to prevent this problem? He drinks plenty of water. If I feed him one of these foods, which one would you suggest? I need to keep the price to not much over $2/pound.
Cat 2 is a female about 11 years old. She isn't overweight, and she likes to be active. (My cats are indoor cats, but these cats are used to the outdoors, and this one craves being outside for part of the day. And as I said, they aren't my cats.) Her problem is itchy bumps all over, and she's got a bald spot near her tail from chewing. I haven't seen any evidence of fleas although they're a possibility -- she's a long-haired cat, so it would be hard to find them. For now, food allergies are the top suspect. I was hoping that by cutting out by-products, corn, wheat, and soy, she'd find relief. We'll be able to test that theory once they finish the Friskies canned food.
However, if Cat 1 goes on a budget-friendly food for urinary tract health, Cat 2 will also have access to that food unless I'm very careful not to let them share food (which they currently do).
In your experience, what are the best foods to avoid when trying to identify and avoid allergens?
Any other suggestions for these cats? I'd love to give them back to this woman in improved health when she has a home again, but I'm limited in what I can afford.
Thanks for your help.
I apologize.
