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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Please help me with my Siamese's diet?

26 replies

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 21:21

He's 7 and has always had some issues with doing tiny, hard, dry poos. We got him a year and a half ago as a rescue and he's very happy but his pooing hasn't been great as I say.

He was on dry food supplemented with some chicken breast/tuna/mackrel every other day or so. I'd cook the chicken and cut it up finely for him.

Recently he wasn't well....he had a stomach upset and the vet thought he had a virus. Luckily he got better fast but was off his food.

When he was getting better we tempted him with tinned tuna and it was all he'd eat. He's now spent four days refusing all food but tinned tuna in brine and as if by magic, he's done the most healthy looking poo I've ever seen!

It was proper poo colour, not dry and of a decent size.

Bt I can't keep him on that alone! He won't be well will he? What good quality dry food or otherwise shall I get?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:26

You're right - stop that tuna in brine directly. It's really not good for them.

Good wet food and ask the vet whether he could do with some lactulose mixed in with it.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 21:27

But what is good wet food? Isn't is better for me to just cook him chicken and fish? Without the additives?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:30

Home cooked chicken and fish are not nutritionally balanced so they shouldn't form a significant part of the long term diet. They also have the effect of 'raising the bar' so that they get used to eating those and you have nowhere else to go. (And you have, potentially, a lot of years with him.)

Does he have a strict feeding routine?

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:33

PS - a high protein 'complete' branded wet food - Seniorboy is on Gourmet food but he's old and fussy. Other posters may be able to recommend other brands for you.

(It's important to get a 'complete' food. Some of them are labelled as 'complementary' - which effectively means they're taste treats (and not nutritionally balanced.))

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 21:33

What is nutritionally balanced about processed foods though? As humans we're told to avoid that...cats aren't different surely?

I don't mind feeding him fresh meat...and fish...I know it's not the cheapest or anything but that doesn't matter to me. His habits re food are quite strict...he likes three small meals a day. He drinks plenty of water too.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:45

But he's not outside getting his food 'on the hoof' is he? Really, you're giving him processed food - it's just that you're the processor.

Their food balance needs to include the right nutrients, vitamins, minerals etc. You may find \link{https://www.vetmed.vt.edu/vth/sa/clin/cp_handouts/Nutrition_Adult_Cat.pdf\this} of interest for a quick read. (It's American so disregard any country specific references.)

lljkk · 03/07/2014 21:47

Cooked people meat won't be right because it's deficient in taurine, right?

Have you looked at raw feeding, OP? It's not for me, but I wonder if it would be a good way to get more wet food into him.

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:47

PS - yes, in my experience, Siamese like a pretty strict feeding regime. If he's already got one, you've won half the battle.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 21:48

I would be happy to give him raw food...I'll have a look into how that works. I suppose there'd be some transition period...I just love him so much and he's 7 which isn't old but it's not young either is it?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:51

It is in my books, these days. (Seniorboy is 19+ - good genes.)

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 21:54

Lol! I've had a look at the raw thing and it looks fine to me...very sensible if a bit gross. I'll be giving it a go...apparently you mix in a bit of raw meat with their normal food. I don't think my little dude will have any issues though...he loves meat and I bet he'd kill a turkey neck! (boak)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 21:58

I'd just accustom him to a good commercial food, myself. It's significantly easier.

tiredandsadmum · 03/07/2014 22:02

My beautiful boy (also a rescue) and now nearly 5 doesn't like raw meat at all. Whereas the 2 Siamese I had growing up did like raw but had had it since they were kittens.

I am feeding Biggles James Wellbeloved as a dry complete food. I top this up with pouch food or cooked meat. It seems to work for him. He is definitely hungrier some days. He likes water from outside or in my ironing jug!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/07/2014 22:14

I really wouldn't raw feed, processing of any kind eg mincing, chopping etc destroys taurine.

Without adequate taurine they get irreversible heart problems & die/pts.

It's really not as easy as adding raw meat to his food.

When cats eat raw meat "in the wild" it's freshly killed and whole, the taurine levels are high. Cat food manufactures add taurine to their foods.

Try him on amionda carny, it's high quality food and high in protein.

There was an american study on raw feeding, they fed whole rabbits minced up but it was ended prematurely when the cats developed heart problems, a fair percentage died. The mincing was enough processing to destroy the taurine.

We're not raining on your parade here it's just not adviseable unless you start breeding mice and letting him catch them.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 22:18

fluffY the site I looked at suggests not mincing. I won't. I must at first or he won't eat it and also I will need to mix it in with his usual food.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/07/2014 22:20

Sorry, I've just looked up the study, it was one sudden death from cardiac dilation & 70% of the cats used were affected.

cozietoesie · 03/07/2014 22:25

MrsW

But if he'll eat the animonda, then you won't have to worry. It's all balanced.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 03/07/2014 23:22

What is in Animonda please? Is it meat/fish alone with added vitamins etc?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/07/2014 00:12

\link{http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/canned_cat_food_pouches/rafine/carny/284557?gclid=CKD4y5yhqr8CFQIYwwodM78AQg\Here's} a link to it on Zooplus. You can read the reviews and also see its constituents in comparison with the standard supermarket brands.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 04/07/2014 00:22

that looks good cozie thanks! He's such a pita but I love him....

OP posts:

Admiraltea · 04/07/2014 00:38

Rabbit really poor choice...will kill humans also if fed as only food
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation
Surprised that given widespread knowledge of problems of eating copious amounts of rabbit they chose to inflict that on cats.
My much loved and missed siamese ate Hills, my beloved burmese (rescue age 5 now 14) the same. Teeth amazing, all bodily functions regular and not dry.
Have you tried different ways of upping fluid levels? I know one fussy boy who drinks much more if from a slow dripping tap, can get fab cat water fountains on Amazon.

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 04/07/2014 00:42

He won't go near sinks or baths....he likes his water topped up to the very top or he won't put his nose into it but he drinks more lately I've noticed so hopefully once I get him a good quality wet food he'll be happy.

I'm a bit unhappy abuot the postage charged for a lot of the food online...can I buy it in the shops anywhere?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/07/2014 00:57

Some you can, some not. There are many considerations though. On Zooplus, for instance, you get free delivery on orders over £29 so if you've found something that suits you can buy several at once and avoid shipping charges.

(Even if not, remember that you're avoiding wear and tear on yourself and petrol to attend a shop - sometimes not an inconsiderable saving these days.)

Original poster

MrsWinnibago · 04/07/2014 09:03

I don't have a car which doesn't help...can't drive! I have to do everything on public transport. I've got arms like a navvy.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 04/07/2014 10:20

Neither do I. I gave it up when I moved to the city and despite taxis and hire cars etc (for which I make a notional mental allowance) we're still way ahead on £££ which was part of the giving up calculation.

It means that I have much delivered which is fine for us because I work from home and I'm keen to arrange things to achieve reduced cost shipping where possible. You just have to factor additional costs into what would have been the bills if you'd had a car - and trust me, they'd have been substantially more.

(And Seniorboy goes to the vet in a taxi but he doesn't complain!)

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