Poorly 6 month old Boycat- very anxious.

[Threetoedsloth]

Our 6 month old Norwegian Forest cat has been having bowel problems for the last three weeks. We took him to the vet last Wednesday and he was given an anti emetic by injection, because he'd also vomited for a couple of days) The injection worked. The vet gave us metronidazole 1/4 tab twice a day for 4 days. Sat and Sun he was pooing normal stools and so Sunday we didn't give him the tabs (he'd had the 4 days by then) However today he's had dreadful runs. He's cheerful in himself and eating fine. He's been (on the breeder's fierce recommendation) on raw food (Nutriment) and Hi Life and we wanted him to have high protein grain free dry so we got the only dry food the breeder would countenance- Orijen Cats and Kitten. The vet recommended Hill Science Intestinal diet (wet pouches) and we've just put that out for him instead of the High Life. He hasn't has the raw since Wednesday.
In January we lost our dear previous boy at 12 to kidney disease and IBD- so we've had a cat with awful bowel problems before, hence being very worried about the kitten. He seems so very young to be in such a state and we're going places we really don't want to go. Can anyone offer some support/advice? We have been in touch with the breeder and we're waiting for her reply .

[Fluffycloudland77]

My Bengal had similar at 6 months, I put him on cooked chicken breast for months then reintroduced sachets of grain free food.

If there's a Norwegian forest cat forum you might get other owners with similar problems and solutions.

[Threetoedsloth]

Thanks Fluffy- I am consoled that we're not alone in experiencing this. He's not had any grain food at all since he was born- I think we may well try him on cooked by us chicken/fish. It's a good idea to join a NFC forum. I'll beetle around and see what I can find.
Our breeder is very keen that we keep raw feeding him, and also had some helpful observations about enteric coated small pill meds and such (getting the metronidazole down him has been a stressy, foamy at the mouth, nightmare frankly, and he's the most extraordinarily happy, co-operative little soul) I think we'll walk a line between cooking him chicken/fish then go onto high meat content, no grain food and try him on raw again once he's more settled.
Off to the vet again shortly. They do worry us so , don't they?

[Fluffycloudland77]

Oh yes. I had little input from our vet I largely figured it out on my own using Bengal cat forum.

Their raw feeders frighten me though.

[RubbishMantra]

You can get pastes/pockets to put the pill into. Never used them myself, but some people on the board have. Then again, if he's got a delicate tummy, they may be counter-productive.

[Threetoedsloth]

Change of antibs to the easier Amoxiclav (allegedly chewable- ha!) Vet acknowledged that though metronidazole is their first port of call it's bitter and causes foaming etc, so it's not unreasonable to want him on something he's more able to tolerate. Fecal sample (oh joy) has been provided and will be sent for testing.
Whilst we have always felt well cared for by our vets, I think food intolerances/sensitive guts and the like aren't necessarily their milieu. I'm not about to chuck the boy dead chicks (yack) but we did find our previous boy was infinitely better of gut when he caught mice, so the benefits of raw feeding isn't alien to us, and the grain issue and mycotoxins seem viable criticisms of some of the food out there. We have always fed Hill's believing it to be the best. Now we're not at all sure, having had kidney problems in our last two pussums, and IBD as well in the last boy.
The raw products we've tried were actually very easy to use , but we're going to try another version which our breeder recommended last night, because it comes in nice neat pouches, very like "ordinary" food. The other was in tubs and our two couldn't get through it fast enough.It's something of a minefield .
I have heard of pockets and paste RubbishM, but as you rightly say we seem to have a boy with some degree of sensitivity, so maybe we'll carry on bribing with a bit of ham and Philly.

[Threetoedsloth]

It's "something" of a minefield. Not sure how that got garbled.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Metronidazole is the work of the devil so I'm not suprised he wasn't happy on it! DH is under strict instructions, in the event I can't speak for myself, it is not given to me unless I will die without it!

I've heard good things about Natures Menu raw food and although my boy won't eat it he does like the pouches which are grain free and have a high meat content.

[cozietoesie]

I'll listen, respectfully, to what a breeder says - they should know their bloodlines after all - but in the final analysis, a cat who comes to live with me is my responsibility. Breeders can have idiosyncrasies like the rest of us and I wouldn't follow any advice that I wasn't happy with.

[cozietoesie]

Seniorboy has transitioned very happily to the Country Hunter pouches, Pink. I've noticed that he drinks more water since he moved to it and has firmer, darker poos (sorry if TMI) but that seems to be the way of things with the food. It's a new pattern.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

It's the same with Harry cozie. He seems to like most of the Natures Menu pouches but Country Hunter seem to be his favourites. When I put raw down for him he wasn't keen and I wasn't too bothered as it made me feel a bit queasy!

[Threetoedsloth]

He's tolerating the Amoxiclav very well, and LOVES cooked chicken. I like the look of the Nature's menu food, thanks for that Cozie. It might be the best of both worlds. No poo so far today, but he might be all pooed out! He's very cheerful indeed. Such a happy little chap.

[Threetoedsloth]

Thanks Pink- sorry, I see you mentioned the Nature's menu, and Cozie their Country Hunter pouches. We're certainly glad to see the back of that metronidazole, vile stuff, poor little boy.