Kittens with the runs

[froggies]

I have three young cats, they are now 5 months old. They were all castrated yesterday and the vet told me they were rather small and a bit skinny. We had a discussion about there feeding (they have a complete dry cat food available all of the time, usually either a tesco one or pet's at home). They have all had the runs on and off since I got them, and have all been wormed (fortnightly up until 3 months, the packet said every 3 months after that, but the vet said to do them again next week).
They have given me a free sample of dried cat food specifically for neutered male cats (dread to think how much it costs) and this morning all of them had normal poo.
I have 3 kids and even though we keep food to the kitchen I struggle to keep them entirely out of scraps, particularly breakfast bowls. I know that milk is not good for them, and upsets tummies, so I had put the runs down to them managing to get at milk based scraps, but now I am wondering if it is the cat food I have been giving them (my last cats both of whom died just after Christmas never had this problem and ate the same food, but rarely scavenged for scraps).
Just wondered if anyone else has had anything similar?

It could well be the food it's clearly not agreeing with them if they are failing to thrive. If this vet sample one fits them then get it as kittens have such sensitive tummies and it's like baby milk- some brands suit sone dont it's trial and error. It's worth a try!

Forgot to add that although it seems alot of money buying all these fancy vet diet foods but they are completely nutritionally balanced and if you follow the weight/age tables and give the correct amounts spread over the 3 or so meals a day then it often actually works out cheaper per day to feed them compared to other foods where you just fill bowls up and be done with it :) I would also feed kittens separately so each kitten eats their food

My cat gets terrible runny tummies and vomiting if he gets hold of food with maize in it, tinned food and biscuits usually have maize in them so he has pouchs which suit him better.

You can get the food off the internet cheaper than the vets sometimes.

Thanks. They have been the same on3 different types of dried cat food, whisks kitten food, tesco and pets at home complete. I will try the measuring portions with the one I have been given and see how it goes. Only one sneaked in at the breakfast bowls this morning,so I can see if the milk has had an effect.

If this food works, I will see what I can find on line and compare prices.

My kitten seemed to have the runs permanently, he was known as squitty kitty. The special vet food did calm it down, but the very slightest thing would set it off again. Other than that he seemed happy and healthy.
He's a year old now and an outdoor cat so I wouldn't know if he had the runs.
I am always careful never to give him scraps or to change his diet.