Our Sphyx cat may be allergic to cat food, what do you think?

Question

We've had our new Sphynx cat, Maggie, for a couple months now. She's a retired breeder who couldn't breed well enough to be a successful breeder. She didn't have enough kittens, and it was difficult for her to get pregnant. Because it would be unfair to have her struggle as a breeder, she was spayed and given to us as a pet. She's very lovely, super sweet, and a total cuddle kitty. However, about a week after we got her she started to have chronic diarrhea.

After determining it was more serious than just stress from moving, we brought a sample into the vet. They found excess bacteria and giardia (no one knows how she got it- our cat is a healthy, indoor cat, and the breeder's cats were indoors too).

So, she went on 0.3cc's METRONIDAZOLE twice a day for a week. That didn't work. After that, we tried FENBENDAZOLE, which she got once a day for five days. Unfortunately, that didn't work either.

Now she's getting Purina FortiFlora once a day with her food to make sure the natural bacteria in her intestine are healthy. After eight days on this, there has been no improvement.

After talking to the vet today, we determined that it might be a food allergy, since we switched her from Royal Canin Kitten food (what she was getting at the breeder) to Nutro Indoor weight management. We switched her from the kitten food to the indoor food because she's 2 1/2 years old (so she doesn't need kitten food), and we share our house with our 4 year old cat that would get very chubby if he ate the kitten food, and even though they are fed separately, they always end up picking at the each others food. Our other cat doesn't have the diarrhea. She started eating the new food about a week before the diarrhea starts.

So now we're going to switch back to the Royal Canin kitten food. Do you think this could be the reason for the diarrhea? It's been very bad and has been going on for more than a month. What do you think is going on with her? Does it sound like more than a food allergy, and if it's not a food allergy what could it be? The vet said if it's not that it's either IBS or we'll have to test her blood, urine, and fecal matter.

She also has herpes in her eyes but we treat it with eye drops.

Anyways, PLEASE HELP!!

Answer 1

For the moment, do switch her back.  Hopefully that will help to stabilize her.

I'm surprised your vet hasn't offered any better solutions - or perhaps he has and you just haven't mentioned it?  Because diarrhea is very very serious due to its dehydrating effects.  If he's not doing anything to help, time to find a new vet.

Also, watch out for Nutro.  There have been reports of diarrhea in cats and dogs.  Just throw it away.

Once you get her stabilized, it's time to do some more thinking.

First - RC isn't good food either.  You need to find her something better.  It's common for queens to be given kitten food but it's no longer appropriate for her.  What she needs is a quality grainless canned food.  But also know that you should make dietary changes very slowly.  Sudden changes can cause digestive upsets.

Probiotics are a very good thing to add, but they do take time to work.  I would suggest reintroducing them but start slowly - only give a pinch rather than the suggested dose.  Gradually increase that amount over time if no adverse reactions occur.

If it's IBS, don't despair.  It wouldn't surprise me considering her diet but it seems to me a bit early for that to occur.  IBS cats can do very well eating a proper diet, which means either raw meat or grainless canned foods.

You can learn about another supplement called slippery elm.  It can be of use for both diarrhea and constipation.

I'm also including some general info on proper nutrition and digestive upsets.

Answer 2

I think you should read this asap from consumer affairs about nutro and diarrhea.

Answer 3

Yes, a lot of cats are sensitive to certain brands of food.  My cat gets oily if she eats cheap food.  Try switching foods and gradually try to reintroduce new foods in her diet after the symptoms disappear.  You might want to stick with the same brand but use a different variety.  If her symptoms continue after the switch back to the original food, it is probably not allergies.

Answer 4

Switching back and forth, from one food to another, is very hard on the digestive tract.  I feed my cats "Purina Adult Salmon and Tuna" dry food.  They always have plenty of fresh water, too.

Ask your vet if giving Maggie about 1/4 tsp of non-flavored YOGURT, a couple times a day, might help.  The enzymes in the yogurt may be beneficial to her digestive tract, without causing the diahhrea to get worse.

Also, adding about 1 tsp Metamucil in her food for a couple of days, until her stools firm up, may help.

Good luck..........Hope you find the right solution for her soon.....

Answer 5

My, lots of serious stuff. She could be allergic but if she was doing OK on the Royal Canin I would slowly switch back. I presume since they were trying to breed her that is why the kitten food. Do try, as another person said, the adult form. If that doesn't work you may have to switch to another food that is made from duck or lamb or something a little less common this is what they have to do for serious allergies. Whatever you do, do it gradually. On a more serious note I know a cat who became "allergic" to protein and really nothing could be done for her. Get some more help from your vet. Good luck.