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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

What Cat Food do you buy for your older fur ball prone cat?

34 replies

PavlovtheCat · 28/02/2013 14:46

We are using IAMS or Purina mature, and the cats are not happy on it, they keep throwing it up. We found they did this with normal IAMs etc so moved on to mature, worked for a while but they keep throwing it up.

Also, do you buy bulk? and if so where from? Happy to shop on the internet for it.

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cozietoesie · 04/03/2013 14:33

Ta. I'll have a look out for them.

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thecatneuterer · 04/03/2013 14:13

Yes, JamesWellbeloved sachets. I think I had the turkey flavour

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cozietoesie · 04/03/2013 13:34

The sachets, thecatneuterer? (I can't use dried because Seniorboy has nearly no teeth left and won't eat biscuit.)

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thecatneuterer · 04/03/2013 13:01

Can'tbelieve: last time I bought the JWB dried food it came with a free box of sachets. Even two of my cats who have previously refused to eat anything but dried food and tuna/roast chicken have decided that this is the Best Food in the World, so I can definitely say that it's popular with cats.

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Cantbelieveitsnotbutter · 04/03/2013 09:18

Mine had this problem swapping to James wellbeloved. It massively improved. Then his wet food started bouncing (this time not fur balls) so all last week I gave him rice and fresh fish which again massively improved. So this week I'm going to get some James wellbeloved wet food to see how that goes.

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cozietoesie · 04/03/2013 09:14

My current Seniorboy is 18 and still going sort of strong so I'd have to agree - but the fact remains that your lad is now middle aged. (20 years ago he'd likely have been regarded as an old cat.)

All might be fine - but the vet appointment is a good idea, I think. Just to get him checked out in light of the drinking.

Best of luck mid-week.

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PavlovtheCat · 04/03/2013 08:56

thanks all.

I am going to feed him little and often. problem with feeding him is that he is s gulper and the other cat is a nibbler. She loves food down all day to graze but he won't leave it! He is not overweight though, he is a big cat, heavy, but also long and tall and has a LOT of fur. He was at the vets before christmas (oct or so) and the vet said at that time his weight was fine, so although he has put on a little bit perhaps, he is by no means huge. The vet was not concerned by his health when we saw him, but the fact that he did mention kidney issues makes me wonder if he thought it might happen in the future. He said 'I wont do a blood test as he is healthy and his weight is good but keep an eye out for excessive drinking and/or weight loss as it is something to watch out for as cats grow older' (he went in to visit vet as he was sneezing continuously for days! had a bad cold!).

I am going to buy the James Wellbeloved as they seem ok on that, and that water fountain! And vets appt for mid-week.

9 just doesn't seem very old for a cat and he has never been ill other than this cold last year. My little cat when I grew up lived until she was 19!

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toomuch2young · 03/03/2013 21:49

thenebulus it is true that chronic renal failure in cats is more about maintaining the quality of life for as long as possible and managing the condition rather than being able to cure it, but it is getting more treatable and with multi drug treatments, intravenous fluid therapy, and dietary control with prescription or home made kidney diets, these cats are surving a lot longer and with better quality life. Even the ones whose blood results are very high, these can often be reduced and managed well for quite a time with appropriate treatments.
Don't despair things are improving all the time.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 03/03/2013 21:39

Mine had an overactive thyroid and lost a lot of weight. Diabetes can be treatable, usually through diet, depending on how severe it is.
Kidney problems are very bad news.
Vet and blood tests will save the guesswork.

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toomuch2young · 03/03/2013 21:38

Diabetes is the most common in overweight cats that are drinking excessively. It is treatable with both diet and insulin and in many cases cats can become so well maintained they are managed on diet alone.

Kidney disease usually come with weight loss, as does hyperthyroidism. Though not always. A simple pin prick blood test can test for diabetes, and a full bloods to check kidney parameters and t4 bloods which will check for hyperthyroidism.

All conditions can be managed to different extents and the earlier the diagnosis the better the prognosis. Good luck tomorrow for your furry guy.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/03/2013 21:33

I just spoke to Dh about Boy Cats 's drinking (we do talk, he's been working for several days). He always thinks I over react and I expected his reaction to be'pj don't be silly he's fine' but he said 'hmm, yes I've noticed that, he mostly seems to be in the kitchen hassling for water'. And agreed vet trip is needed. I hope it is something treatable. Diabetes is treatable in cats isn't it? How about kidney problems? Does thyroid probs cause thirst? He is very heavy, I just picked him up, so not lost weight. Gained if anything.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/03/2013 21:12

I love those! Ok, buying one! Not sure where it's gonna go but he will so love that!

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toomuch2young · 03/03/2013 21:11

Once you have got your cat checked for other problems and have adjusted your feeding routine, if you are still getting hair balls, try katalax, available over the counter from vets and it contains soft parafin and cod liver oil and other ingredients to prevent the problem. It's probably available online as well.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 03/03/2013 21:07

I have a cat mate water fountain, she drinks a lot more from it and the filter keeps it fresh.
www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_bowls_feeders/cat_fountains?gclid=CIrfvc654bUCFaHHtAodnSsAVw

But yes, excessive thirst can be kidney problems or diabetes, so worth getting checked out.

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cozietoesie · 03/03/2013 17:16

I'd have them (but particularly him) to the vet if I were you. Sudden and persistent thirst in an older cat is worth checking out.

Best of luck.

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PavlovtheCat · 03/03/2013 17:11

cozie I am presuming its both the cats drinking, I am making assumptions it's the boy cat as he is the most vocal one about his water, but always has been! He has only just started drinking so much. Maybe I will take them both for a check up.

Yes we give them wet food once a week.

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cozietoesie · 03/03/2013 17:04

I know he's on dry food but a whole bowl of water in half a day - and still thirsty - would have me making an appointment with the vet given his age. Have you ever tried them on wet food?

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PavlovtheCat · 03/03/2013 16:43

thenebulus my boy cat up to recently refused to drink out of the bowl. I never ever saw him drink from it! He always wants the water from the tap! I have actually noticed him drinking more, he is even drinking from the bowl and the other day caught him drinking from toilet as his bowl was dry, but only filled that morning...could that because he'is being sick so much? He weight is fine, the vet said weight and water consumption is something to keep an eye on as they grow older, due to potential kidney probs...only noticed in last couple of days.

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TheNebulousBoojum · 01/03/2013 14:51

I do smaller portions more frequently, lots of fresh water, daily grooming even though she's short-haired and a little bit of oily fish a couple of times a week.
Seems to have sorted the hairballs and the vomiting.

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PavlovtheCat · 01/03/2013 14:44

great idea, I have heard about the toolbar for that, just never got around to it, should though, as I do shop in some the place mentioned from time to time.

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thecatneuterer · 01/03/2013 14:23

Good idea Pavlov. And if you end up buying from PetSupermarket can I suggest you do it through EasyFundraising which I've just mentioned on another thread.

It's a way of raising money for charities when you shop online. If you download the toolbar then everytime you go onto a site that is taking part (including Amazon,Asos, Appliances Online, La Redoute, M&S, PetSupermarket and PetsatHome) the toolbar will flash. Then you just click the toolbar and shop as normal, and the site will give a percentage of what you spend to your chosen chairty. I've only been using it for a few months and I've already raised over £20 that way and with no effort or cost to me. Here's the link taking you straight to the Celia Hammond page, but of course you can choose any charity you like (I just hope it's a cat one:))
//www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/celiahammond

Sorry for the shameless plug but charities need funds and it seems a shame not to take advantage of what is basically free money!

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PavlovtheCat · 01/03/2013 14:11

thank you for the tip. I have bought a bag of james wellbeloved from the local petshop to try, see how they get on and if they are ok with it, I will go and buy the 10kg one as it's a bargain! no point buying that much without trying though, or else I will have 10kg of cat food spare!

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cozietoesie · 28/02/2013 22:24

Good luck then. Don't try to do their bellies - just keep it at the flanks, back and shoulders.

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PavlovtheCat · 28/02/2013 22:03

cozietoes tried that, the female pegs it as soon as she sees the brush! I will have to hide it carefully so she can't see it and just do a little. We used to groom them when they were younger but they never got into it, despite us making it all lovely for them (pre children they were our 'babies' so we would sit stroking for hours, the brush came out, gone!)

I will get the kids to help too as the cats seem to tolerate a lot more rough and tumble with the kids (6 and 3) so maybe will let them do it if we can't.

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cozietoesie · 28/02/2013 21:14

It's not an overnight fix getting them used to grooming, Pavlov. You have to get them to associate it with love and cuddles - so best to only do it when they're already on a lap or eg with you in bed and make it part of their TLC routine. Just a few strokes a night and leave it at that at first, gradually building up over a month or two.