PicklePig is getting older, and very windy. Normal?

[Germgirl]

The cat is nearly 12, not elderly I know but not in the first flush of youth anymore. Anyway, for the last month or so he's had terrible wind! Not hugely frequent, maybe three or four farts a day, but the smell! It's evil! He never used to fart at all as far as I know.
He seems very well, eats his Iams dry food and posh little tims of wet food quite happily, has Dreamies and those 'cat salami' things. He's just become a bit of a farter!
Is this normal In older cats? Do I just need to resign myself to having another farty old man in the house?
He's going to the vet tomorrow for his vaccinations etc so I will mention it, will they laugh me out of the surgery?
Gratuitous pic of the handsome devil

[lljkk]

no idea, but let us know what vet said. None of mine have ever been farty, but we have one who is a chronic belcher.

[cozietoesie]

I've never had a cat or dog with excess wind. Or a humper. I feel I've missed out on some of life's most significant experiences.

[Wolfiefan]

Iams seems to make my kitties farty!

[cozietoesie]

He is tremendously handsome, Germgirl.

[Archfarchnad]

PicklePig has to be one of my favourite Litter Trayers, he always looks so tremendously composed and sophisticated.

Have you thought about taking all grain out of his food? That solved the problem for us totally (albeit with a much younger cat).

[Germgirl]

Thank you cozie and Arch :) I can assure you he's neither composed not sophisticated, he's as thick as mince, but we love him.
I'm lying in bed at the moment & until 5 minutes ago he was lying on my head. Until the inevitable cat-guff happened & I banished him to the bottom of the bed.
I'll talk to the vet about his diet today, we've had him for 4 years, he was a Battersea cat, so I don't know anything about his earlier life, but we've had him on Iams since we've had him & he's not had a problem until the last few weeks.
This is him in a more usual pose, not being sophisticated, looking all wonky with his feet on the wrong way round. :)

[cozietoesie]

He doesn't look in the least wonky! He looks composed and at peace with the world.

[Germgirl]

He's a plonker. But we love him.
Just back from the vet, he's fine, vet says his farting is almost certainly just his age but to try a cereal free food if I want. I think I might as I know it's better for him anyway. Vet recommended Orijen. It's about twice the price of Iams but I think I'll get some & see if he likes it.
Any other recommendations? What do you use Arch ?
PicklePig has had some Dreamies to get over the shocking trauma of the vets & has retired back to bed.

[cozietoesie]

Glad there was nothing to make the vet anxious.

Grain-free might be good to try.

[lljkk]

Mine have Bozita wet & Applaws dry which are grain free. Delivered in bulk from Zooplus.

Butchers cans are relatively low cereals.

[BigGaggingBird]

Is he an indoor cat? Mine had farting issues when he had worms, he is also an indoor cat and picked them up via fleas after an overnight stay at the vets.

[Archfarchnad]

Oh blimey, we couldn't afford Orijen, it's really expensive. We get a large bag of Applaws dry which lasts months, and then alternate with assorted grain-free wet food (Animonda vom Feinsten, Bozita, a German brand called Grau, and a few others) and raw food mixed with taurine powder. Archcat also does a fine line in self-service feeding with the local mouse and bird population. And Dreamies, of course. Archcat sympathises with PicklePig's horrible experience and the consequent need to consume Dreamies and sleep. He finds that solves most problems.

[Germgirl]

He's a fussy git with wet food. Will only eat either Sheba 'sauce' or Gourmet tims. But not the 50p ones, the 80p ones! I will admit he's a tiny bit spoilt :)
Weirdly he's not fussy with dry food though so I may go to PAH & get a selection of small bags. If I mix some with his Iams I shouldn't have any problems.
He's not an indoor cat although his forays outside consist of a quick hope over the back fence twice a day & then straight back to one of his many beds. He's not an energetic soul. Vet also wormed him today so if that is a problem it should be sorted.
Thanks everyone. And Big. I love the name change! ;)

[Germgirl]

I have emailed the makers of Orijen for a free sample :)