I've a feeling it will take some time for Doris too.

please don't delete your posts..im interested in hearing about the bran you are adding..

 

I think a lot of it depends on your cat.i know ideally the best food for mine s high meat content pâté food and I'm sure that would be great if they'd eat it but they've decided that they aren't fans of pâté at all and it's just a waste if they only eat 1/3 of it

 

No don't do that. When my Boo first had a bad tum I got him onto a dry food his stomach could tolerate as he much prefers eating dry to wet. Over time he is now more on wet but its taken us ages to get to that stage

How are you being challenged Angela?

If you're referring to any of my comments then I simply asked why you took your kitty off wet food and put her on the dry stuff.

The facts re dry are those already stated.

Kath

 

Thank you ladies, I did wonder if I was being a little over sensitive, but maybe not.

Kath - I have very much the same opinion as you regarding various types of food, but if it is all the cat will eat, then there is not a lot of choice. Doris slowly went off the wet food and was not taking enough in to promote good health, that is why I introduced the Porta 21 dry - she is obviously good with their brand and she eats it. She has had Lilys Kitchen, Heermans, Bozita, Darlings...etc etc, she will either not eat it, or it makes her ill. My vet didn't recommend the food so has no financial gain at all, I found the food and asked her advice.

Nicola - my vet had recommended to use natural bran in my dogs diet for extra fibre to help with anal gland problems. In my 'nothing to lose' frame of mind, I didn't want Doris to become totally reliant on the digestor for pre/pro biotics and fibre, although you can use it indefinitely, I was afraid that if I did and she regressed, I'd have nothing to fall back on. So I started using just a pinch of bran in her food to give her fibre. She had normal stools with it. Yes this may be regarded as cereal, yes it may be wrong - but it suits my cat and that's all I can hope for. If I see a hint of any change in her stools, then the digestor will be introduced immediately.

My view now is that Doris shouldn't really be here, that morning I came down to find poos all over the conservatory, the furniture, all over her, blood and slime in it after weeks of trying different homeopathic nosodes and diets, she had no dignity left; I phoned the vet, went straight down with her and said put her to sleep, I can't cope with this, I had already seen my mums cat waste away with a similar condition. I had been made redundant, was extremely worried about my financial situation and losing my house (there's only me) and saw no light at the end of the tunnel with her health. Then I changed my mind and asked the vet if she would give it one last go, she kept her in for a week, but nothing worked, I couldn't give up and glad now that I found Digestor and Porta 21. I will try to get her on Natural Instinct raw meat, that is my preference, but if it's not her preference or it makes her ill, then she will go right back on Porta21 despite what I'd like.

 

Thank you ladies, I did wonder if I was being a little over sensitive, but maybe not.

Kath - I have very much the same opinion as you regarding various types of food, but if it is all the cat will eat, then there is not a lot of choice. Doris slowly went off the wet food and was not taking enough in to promote good health, that is why I introduced the Porta 21 dry - she is obviously good with their brand and she eats it. She has had Lilys Kitchen, Heermans, Bozita, Darlings...etc etc, she will either not eat it, or it makes her ill. My vet didn't recommend the food so has no financial gain at all, I found the food and asked her advice.

Nicola - my vet had recommended to use natural bran in my dogs diet for extra fibre to help with anal gland problems. In my 'nothing to lose' frame of mind, I didn't want Doris to become totally reliant on the digestor for pre/pro biotics and fibre, although you can use it indefinitely, I was afraid that if I did and she regressed, I'd have nothing to fall back on. So I started using just a pinch of bran in her food to give her fibre. She had normal stools with it. Yes this may be regarded as cereal, yes it may be wrong - but it suits my cat and that's all I can hope for. If I see a hint of any change in her stools, then the digestor will be introduced immediately.

My view now is that Doris shouldn't really be here, that morning I came down to find poos all over the conservatory, the furniture, all over her, blood and slime in it after weeks of trying different homeopathic nosodes and diets, she had no dignity left; I phoned the vet, went straight down with her and said put her to sleep, I can't cope with this, I had already seen my mums cat waste away with a similar condition. I had been made redundant, was extremely worried about my financial situation and losing my house (there's only me) and saw no light at the end of the tunnel with her health. Then I changed my mind and asked the vet if she would give it one last go, she kept her in for a week, but nothing worked, I couldn't give up and glad now that I found Digestor and Porta 21. I will try to get her on Natural Instinct raw meat, that is my preference, but if it's not her preference or it makes her ill, then she will go right back on Porta21 despite what I'd like.

so you just use normal bran. I've been looking at sites that talk about how cats are not getting enough fibre in their diets, it was a link pp gave on another thread, I will link here later..since adding pumpkin to rileys food, his stool has improved. But any alternatives I am welcome to try as he does not really enjoy the pumpkin that much!!

Riley is back on the metrondiazole again for now to hopefully sort the enzyme that was raised in his liver. I've also decided that im not going to worry about adding new food right now..maybe once he is back to 5kg.

 

Anyway, hope I'm not stoking things up here but thought it was as good a time to out myself: I have been feeding Mittens ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING in order to get her to eat. We were at rock bottom and it was either crappy supermarket cat food or starvation. She has one meal of chicken a day and I try and get a helping of decent quality grain free cat food in her but apart from that, it's any old muck she will eat. Sadly though these last few weeks she has started to lose weight again and I can't think what to try her with now. Nightmare.:nonod:

 

Poor Riley, he's been through it hasn't he, you too!

Yes it's just organic natural bran from the health shop that I give the dogs. I'll probably find out it's really bad to give it to her, but it's working and at least her digestive system isn't relying on the Digestor. She literally just has a pinch though and to be honest, I might drop that now that she's eating the biscuits as there should be sufficient fibre in those - hopefully!

 

oh should have said, tried pumpkin too - she wouldn't eat it, nor would she eat anything with psyllium husk in it, she's got a nose like a radar, you hear her sniffing her food like a dog, then she just walks off. Not sure if it's a Pixie Bob trait, but none of my other cats do it.

 

AngelaWB-I believe it's such a pity you've deleted your post outlining Doris's story. I only had time for a quick glimpse last night, returned for a more in depth read today only to find it had disappeared! It's vital for readers to hear success stories like this with potentially tricky conditions like IBD where undoubtedly a 'one size fits all' treatment regime doesn't apply and owners (and their vets!) can often struggle to find the optimum one.

I think you should be highly commended for bringing Doris back from the brink like this and regardless of the 'merits' or otherwise of certain foods (which is totally irrelevant really) nobody can dispute the fact they work for Doris and frankly that's all that matters! So you go girl!




PS I couldn't find anything on Digestor having not heard of it before. Would you mind telling me a bit more about it, please?

 

Kath, if you don't want to post on here then don't, its your choice. As for the whole it can be cured thing, maybe we should all give you our cats to be fixed.

I'm really upset that this thread which was started to share experiences experience and SUPPORT each other in our journeys has turned into this. If anyone was attacking it was you. As said im all for information but just because some one does some thing different we can ask why and give our point of view, but you was over the top and was not done in the right way, even if your intentions were in the right place.

I really want this to stop now as I don't want this thread to be locked away.

SO I suggest we draw a line under it all and get back what we are here for our cats and just remember to give each other the respect we all deserve.

 

Kath, if you don't want to post on here then don't, its your choice. As for the whole it can be cured thing, maybe we should all give you our cats to be fixed.

I'm really upset that this thread which was started to share experiences experience and SUPPORT each other in our journeys has turned into this. If anyone was attacking it was you. As said im all for information but just because some one does some thing different we can ask why and give our point of view, but you was over the top and was not done in the right way, even if your intentions were in the right place.

I really want this to stop now as I don't want this thread to be locked away.

SO I suggest we draw a line under it all and get back what we are here for our cats and just remember to give each other the respect we all deserve.

I don't know what the h"ll I'm supposed to have done nicolaa. Who have I attacked .. and when
But yes I am convinced that bowel inflammation is curable. You need to remember tho that my Sally also has Hodgkins lymphoma which it is suspected may affect her digestion.

 

..any hoo from pp's suggestion I started to look at paleo diets, I came across this site, now I have not been through it all as for me I was mainly looking at the adding of extra fibre to diets.

Not sure if will help our vomiting cats? But I can see why it would help our diarrhoea cats..

Paleopet | Home of the original Paleolithic diet for pets

See what you think..

 

This is the link to Digestor, they also make a 'gut rite' product but I haven't used that.

Osmonds Digestor 250g - Best Sellers

My sisters dog had a digestion problem, she was hiccuping and being sick etc, she'd been to the vet several times and they didn't find anything. She used digestor and it resulted in her passing a huge stool after which she has been fine.

My use of it on Doris has been hugely beneficial. Again, very soon after using it, huge stool passed and then the slow road to recovery has taken place.

The pet can remain on it indefinitely, but I didn't want Doris to become reliant on it, but I have a large tub in the cupboard just in case she needs it when I try to change her back to a raw diet.

Current diet: Porta 21 Chicken and Rice Sensitive wet food and Porta 21 Sensible Grain Free

 

This Paleopet Diet website makes interesting reading, just been watching his videos too. Just trying to find out if you can buy the hard copy book in uk, you can get the kindle edition on amazon, but I like to read in the old fashioned way

 

This is the link to Digestor, they also make a 'gut rite' product but I haven't used that.

Osmonds Digestor 250g - Best Sellers

My sisters dog had a digestion problem, she was hiccuping and being sick etc, she'd been to the vet several times and they didn't find anything. She used digestor and it resulted in her passing a huge stool after which she has been fine.

My use of it on Doris has been hugely beneficial. Again, very soon after using it, huge stool passed and then the slow road to recovery has taken place.

The pet can remain on it indefinitely, but I didn't want Doris to become reliant on it, but I have a large tub in the cupboard just in case she needs it when I try to change her back to a raw diet.

Current diet: Porta 21 Chicken and Rice Sensitive wet food and Porta 21 Sensible Grain Free

Thanks, will have a look later at that. Really pleased to hear that you have found something that has worked for Doris..how much weight gain did she have?

 

This Paleopet Diet website makes interesting reading, just been watching his videos too. Just trying to find out if you can buy the hard copy book in uk, you can get the kindle edition on amazon, but I like to read in the old fashioned way

It is interesting to read, tho not sure some of our cats would be happy to find a bowl full of veggies!! from my understanding, it seems to be like the "caveman"diet. I wish Riley would even try raw, but he just does not see it as food:thumbdown:

I will watch with interest if you decide to change Doris's food..I'm bit nervous to do that with Riley, I will wait until he (fingers crossed) regains some weight, but the last change sent him into a flare up..

 

This is the link to Digestor, they also make a 'gut rite' product but I haven't used that.

Osmonds Digestor 250g - Best Sellers

Thanks Angela! Ah! now I can see why I'm unfamiliar with it since it's mainly used for dogs!

Best of luck to your and Doris!

 

I'll weigh her again Nicola, but last weigh in was about 0.9 kg gain, so I'm happy with that. I tend to weigh my very slight cat to ensure he doesn't lose any weight at all, but with the bigger cats I weigh them when I notice a difference when picking them up.

I'm very dubious that Doris will eat the raw, but if she does and there's any indication at all of her stools starting to change, then she goes back to Porta and stays on it indefinitely. I have to try it quite soon as if she gets really bad again, she needs to be out in the cat pen, so need to do it before the weather cools down.

Both my dogs eat raw diet, but the cats know what they like and thats it lol!

I will look a the paleo diet for the dogs

Ianthi, yes bought Digester originally for the dogs, but when I asked about buying Gut Rite for Doris, they advised me to try the digestor first, and I'm glad I did!

 

I'll weigh her again Nicola, but last weigh in was about 0.9 kg gain, so I'm happy with that. I tend to weigh my very slight cat to ensure he doesn't lose any weight at all, but with the bigger cats I weigh them when I notice a difference when picking them up.

I'm very dubious that Doris will eat the raw, but if she does and there's any indication at all of her stools starting to change, then she goes back to Porta and stays on it indefinitely. I have to try it quite soon as if she gets really bad again, she needs to be out in the cat pen, so need to do it before the weather cools down.

Both my dogs eat raw diet, but the cats know what they like and thats it lol!

I will look a the paleo diet for the dogs

Ianthi, yes bought Digester originally for the dogs, but when I asked about buying Gut Rite for Doris, they advised me to try the digestor first, and I'm glad I did!

That's a really good gain, hopefully I will be able to report a gain for Riley next time! I know the dry is not an "ideal" diet, but you have tried a lot of other foods. To be honest I can't see any reason to change it, it works and she is gaining and importantly her poo is better. Some times that's just the way it is

As for Riley, he is still doing well, I've been letting him out again as the complaining was driving me loopy the condition is, he has a poo in his tray then he gets to go out for a couple of hours in the evening. No poo no out!! Had a little set back as I tried reducing the pumpkin in his food, and that had explosive results but we are back to normal again now, so will put that down to me messing around with the pumpkin levels!!

 

That's a really good gain, hopefully I will be able to report a gain for Riley next time! I know the dry is not an "ideal" diet, but you have tried a lot of other foods. To be honest I can't see any reason to change it, it works and she is gaining and importantly her poo is better. Some times that's just the way it is

As for Riley, he is still doing well, I've been letting him out again as the complaining was driving me loopy the condition is, he has a poo in his tray then he gets to go out for a couple of hours in the evening. No poo no out!! Had a little set back as I tried reducing the pumpkin in his food, and that had explosive results but we are back to normal again now, so will put that down to me messing around with the pumpkin levels!!

I thought it was a really good gain too, I'm really pleased.

Poor Riley, bless him, the pumpkin obviously suits him well. I can imagine the conversation between you both

 

I thought it was a really good gain too, I'm really pleased.

Poor Riley, bless him, the pumpkin obviously suits him well. I can imagine the conversation between you both

The conversation goes..

Me: have a poo
Him: miow
Me:have a poo
Him: miooooowww
Me: have a poo please
Him: miooooooowwwwww miooooowwwww
Me: just have a poo and you can got out
Him: miooooowww miooooooooww mioooowwwwww

Fast forward a period of time..

I'm hoovering over the tray..
Me: please just have a poo, you need a poo, do a poo.
Him: (translated) just waiting..

Fast forward to my dinner time taking the 4 th mouthful.

Him: ha ha now I'm having a poo! Come on clean my tray slave :yikes:
Me: grrrrrrr :laugh: :laugh:

 

The conversation goes..

Me: have a poo
Him: miow
Me:have a poo
Him: miooooowww
Me: have a poo please
Him: miooooooowwwwww miooooowwwww
Me: just have a poo and you can got out
Him: miooooowww miooooooooww mioooowwwwww

Fast forward a period of time..

I'm hoovering over the tray..
Me: please just have a poo, you need a poo, do a poo.
Him: (translated) just waiting..

Fast forward to my dinner time taking the 4 th mouthful.

Him: ha ha now I'm having a poo! Come on clean my tray slave :yikes:
Me: grrrrrrr :laugh: :laugh:

You have finally cracked :yikes: Nicola you are officially crazy :crazy:

 

You have finally cracked :yikes: Nicola you are officially crazy :crazy:

Yup! Can't beat them join em

 

ha ha, love it Nicola....my lot can all be out in the cat pens, but they wait until they come in during the evening, just when I've sat down for the first time all day, they head for the litter tray, arghhhhhh.

Doris has been having a spoon full of Natural Instinct raw meat mixed with her Porta 21 wet food for the past 3 days -she's eating it and she's still solid, yeay!!

 

Kath - I have very much the same opinion as you regarding various types of food, but if it is all the cat will eat, then there is not a lot of choice. Doris slowly went off the wet food and was not taking enough in to promote good health, that is why I introduced the Porta 21 dry - she is obviously good with their brand and she eats it.

My reason for this late response is simply to clear up what may have been a misunderstanding about what happened with your Doris and what may have lead to her huge improvement. Its something I'd been thinking about quite a bit. You Never Know ... it may help someone .... somewhere .....
:devil: :Yawn: :devil:

Anyway, if you look at the ingredients list of Feline Porta 21 Chicken with Rice Sensitive, you will see it contains
"Chicken meat (37%), rice (8%), chicken broth (55%)"
NB 55% Chicken Broth!!

Feline Porta 21 - 6 x 156g: Free P&P on orders £25+ at zooplus!

If you then compare this with guidelines for "Treating IBD - Using an Introductory Diet - Homemade Meat and Fish Stocks" written by Lyn Thomas BVSc at Feline Nutrition Org ......

"Meat and fish stocks provide building blocks for the rapidly growing cells of the gut lining and they have a soothing effect on any areas of inflammation in the gut. Bone broth is rich in minerals including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulphate, fluoride, all delivered in an easily absorbable form. The minerals will improve immune function and support healthy digestion. Bone broth is also rich in collagen. Collagen is a protein containing two important amino acids, proline and glycine, and it will help heal the lining of the gut to relieve intestinal inflammation. Broths also contain glycosaminoglycans, also called GAGs, important building blocks for tissue repair.

"This is why broths aid digestion and have been known for centuries as healing folk remedies for the digestive tract.¹ "
1. F Guarner, F Casellas, N Borruel, M Antolín, S Videla, J Vilaseca and JR Malagelada, "Role of Microecology in Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Diseases," European Journal of Clinical Nutrition no. 56, Supplement 4, Dec 2002, S34-8.

.... you will see this adds to the justification for using bone broth for IBD :001_tt2::001_tt2:

Given this experience it does make me wonder what, if any, part the Digestor or other fibre actually played in saving Doris's little life.

I do like clarity and control in my life .. and think this may explain a few things.

Also hope she continues to do well ... as Sally too is at the mo .... thankfully.

Kath