Conference misery::feline_v1

    I find my crew really go for the new Alpo canned and dry that just came
    out a while back.  The dry also does not contain ethoxyquin.
    
    cin
    

    Ditto!  Mine went nuts over it too!  Especially the dry.
    
    
    
    L- & the gang

    I forgot to ask it you had tried Sheba.  Mine go even nuttier for
    this brand.  I noticed that there was no barfing afterwards, and
    the plates are licked clean.
    
    
    
    L-

    Does the Alpo come in the Economy size??

    No, I wish it did!  My kids like it also - 
    
    Maybe your (pardon the term) puker might like Old Mother Hubbard.
    My guys do very well on it and I too, have a puker.
    
    E.

    How about Truimph??  I buy that both in cans and dry and my babies like
    it.  They hated the Science Diet.  I haven't tried Mother Hubbard but
    that would be my second choice.
    
    Sandi, with 1 Cystitus Kitty and 3 other *normal* kittys
    
    

    This looks like a good place to put this in.  I recently had to
    take a litter of three kittens off of Science Diet Growth, canned
    and dry due to some problems.  The kittens weren't gaining weight
    like they should have been, so being the worried mom that I am,
    I took some fecal samples into the vet to have them checked for
    worms.  Well, they came out clean for all parasites, but the vet
    informed me that they weren't digesting their food.  She asked what
    they were eating, I told her, and she had me switch them to Iams
    and Kal Kan canned food.  We had to do it gradually, so as not to
    give them diarrhea.  They have now been on the Iams and Kal Kan
    for about a week.  So far, we have noticed a small improvement in
    their weight.  We will be checking fecals again in two weeks to
    see if they are digesting the Iams.
    
    Jo

    Hmm.  Funny, after I put Lil on Science Diet Growth, she GAINED
    weight and kept it on.  She won't even touch the Iams now.
    Ah, they sure can keep ya guessing.
    
    My crew on touch Triumph.  I have no idea why and they will eat
    anything and everything.  To see them turn their noses up at
    food is really amazing!  
    
    

    Sheba is another brand on the `puker list' (cute ET) as well as OMH.
    
    Maybe I'll try Alpo, if it doesn't have a lot of junk in it or triumph
    if I can find it.
    
    The note that mentioned a link between impaction and barfing has made
    me nervous, but her vet just gave her a clean bill of health - and
    her felv test came back neg.  So she will be seeing the vet again, 
    maybe he'll have an idea as to what's going on......last year at this
    time she went thought this and had some sorta virus (boy does time
    fly!).
    
    Do you folks find you have to switch around for variety, or do they 
    eat the same thing day in and day out.....?  

    HMMM... MY kids got the Alpo for  a valentines day present last week
    from friend of mine.. they each got a red bag with hearts on it
    it had the ALPO canned in it,, and the " purse size" dry.. and of
    course toys.. sigh.. they seem to like it.. they also each got
    their own "big box.. of the dry.. YIKES..Even Pookie liked it,
    not at first though.. she sniffed and walked away.. Precious
    and Happy liked it though.. Cin, my friend said to Pookie..
    hey Pookie even Garfield approves.. she just gave him this baleful
    look, and Harumphed out of the room.. typical Pookie behaviour...
    she did try it thought later.. but she still likes her
    science diet.. Hey E.T. bet you  know who the "friend " is..
    Kate

    I had to take a vacation day just yesterday because my boy was doing
    his thing after wolfing down breakfast.  He does this sometimes
    so I wasn't worried too much but then he did it again and then for
    the third time, it was white foamy stuff.  I took him to the vet
    right away and she advised nothing for 6 hrs, baby food for 24 hrs
    and then back on normal food (but gave me pills if the vomiting
    did not stop).  He is a totally indoor cat so we couldn't figure
    out what might have happened except a virus.
    
    He L O V E D !!!!!! the baby food.  I have been to several cat shows
    and notices many of the owners giving baby food to their cats. 
    Whiskey is going back for a checkup on Monday.  I am going to ask
    about a steady diet of baby food.  The problem with this is that
    it is expensive and smells worse than canned cat food.  (I made
    my own baby food when my daughter was little so I never saw or smelled
    the stuff).
    
    

    Might not be too good an idea for a steady diet of baby food.
    Cats need some of the things in regular cat food, like taurine,etc.
    
    At shows, we only use baby food as a treat, and so when the show
    kid eats, their bellies don't pop out and look like there is a
    basketball in there!  Now, with Exotics, it really doesn't matter
    too much cause they look like balls any way!
    
    Maybe a rice and lamb diet or something bland may help.  
    
    E.

    I have been having problems with Misha again - when I first got
    him, I would have to stand by the pan and let him feed for about
    2 minutes, then remove him from the food.  He eats so fast and
    woofs down such a large quantity, that it just does a return trip
    almost immediately.  ugh, it's gross!  If I take him away after
    a reasonable amount of time, he almost forgets that he still
    wants food, when he really doesn't cause he is full and he keeps
    what he eats down.  I usually have to do this routine for 2 or 3
    weeks consistently - but, it works !!

    Elaine's right, a diet of plain baby food doesn't have enough nutrients
    in it to sustain a cat.  As an occassional treat it is okay.
    
    More on the kittens.  The vet found undigested muscle matter in
    their stools.  So, the switch to Iams.  At 12 weeks old, these babies
    are just 2.5 pounds a piece.  The other litter, 4 days older, are
    all over 4 pounds.  Also, vet mentioned that Science Diet was purchased
    by the Colgate Palmolive company, and some changes in formulation
    had occured.  Anyway, after another couple of weeks on Iams, we
    will do more stool samples to see if they are digesting this.  If
    not, then we will do testing to see if the problem is with the kitten's
    and not the food.
    
    Jo

    Jo, when did the change take place?  How long ago?  Good Lord,
    why don't they leave well enough alone.  grrrr

    I don't know when Colgate Palmolive bought Science Diet.  I assumed
    that it was recently, but the vet didn't really say.  
    
    I have always raised my kittens on Science Diet, and have never
    before had a problem with them not digesting the food, or not gaining
    weight.  It never occured to me that the food might be the problem.
    We ran two fecals on each kitten before Doc Rue decided to check
    to see what *was* in the fecals.  We checked them for everything
    from tapeworm to giardia first.  We even treated them for roundworm
    even though the test was negative.  When you are talking about a
    kitten that is only 2.5 pounds, not gaining is major cause for alarm.
    
    Jo

    Perhaps C/D, available from your vet.
    

    Is the suggestion of C/D for my kittens or for the other noter?
    I cannot put my kittens on C/D, they are too young.  They need the
    higher calcium and mineral levels found in kitten foods.
    
    Jo

    re Colgate Palmolive - I think that was a while ago because I
    remember Dr. Zaslow telling me that Hills had been bought out
    and I haven't seen him since I took Dundee & Tymothee in for
    their shots in June.  
      Nancy DC

    Re .9 - When you take your kitty in to the vet, ask the vet to check
    the digestive track for impaction.  It took the vet less than three
    seconds to feel Rusty's impaction.  He was barfing because the food
    couldn't go the normal way because of the INTENSE impaction/blockage
    he had.  (I saw the x-rays - YUK! You could see the back-up!)  

                                       
    L- & the gang

    
    Well it looks like we can add Bil-jac to the barf list.....This is
    frustrating!!!!!!!  since we have had all the snow and cold weather
    I can really watch her box habits, and she is using it....so her
    plumbing must be in working order.  The rep at the home show didn't
    impress me either.....besides they didn't have any canned.....
    
    I can't find ALpo anywhere....anyone know where to buy it in the
    Westboro area?
    
    I had also bought the 8 pac of single servings Friskies, and after
    devouring that (It has ethoxyquin in it - I don't want to make it a
    main dish type thing) she seemed more interested in her kitty
    krunchies.......

    Alpo should be available in any grocery store.  It's not a pet store
    item!  
    
    Alpo does have dyes in it, but hopefully she'll be able to tolerate it,
    and it does come in canned!!!
    
    

    Pookie liked the ALPO,, and she also tolerated it quite well, she also
    is known to sometimes have a "sensitive tummy"..  not to mention
    hving" what we refer to as"discrimanting tastebuds", read "finicky"..
    we have expanded our horizens a bit though, we will now eat
    Science diet both canned and dry, but we will check to make
    sure there is no C/D available 1st.. that is our 1st choice,,
    and she did keep the ALPO down, I was quite surprised..I used
    to suspect that she used to put her paw down her throat... I am still
    not convinced that she does not do that.. hmmm..
    Kate, and Co.. 
     Ps.. Happy and Precious love to experiement with different food types,
    it funny to watch, tPrecious watch Happy taste the ALPO, and  watch
    Pookie taste it, then she ate hers!!!!! I giggled and giggled,,,

    I have checked the grocery stores for the Alpo....I figuered Super stop
    & shop would have carried it, but I guess we arn't as up on the times
    as some of you folks closer to the 128 area.
    
    Maybe Pookie gave Nippa lessons......I swear she sticks her paw down
    her throat to spite me (no ma, I want Lobster!!!!!!!!  Filet
    Mignon!!!!!  and Peas!!!!!....)

    Nippa, did you say Peas ??????  Great, you and I can push them around
    together - oh, do you have a face and a nose?  maybe you can help me
    push - all I can do is snort the silly peas !!!
    
                       Tiger Lily

    Michele, Julios Star, next to the Caldor's plaza, carries both Alpo
    canned and dry.  The dry is $1.29 for a box, the 6 oz cans are 3
    for $1, and the 3 oz cans are 3 for .89 or something like that.
    
    My cats *love* Alpo.  They will attack the dry and ignore the canned
    if offered a choice.
    
    Maybe this food will agree with Nippa.  T.K. has allergies, and
    seems unaffected by it.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    well 'Lil, I have a tough time pushing them around (I hate smuched
    peas on my nose), so I developed a new way to eat them.....I pierce
    each pea with my claw ('cept when mum clips them) and pop it in my 
    mouth......I'll show you sometime......
    
    			Nippa
    
    p.s.
    
    have you tried spinach salad w/ hidden valley ranch dressing yet?  Well
    it's a close second to peas - but you *have* to have hidden valley
    ranch dressing.....the rest just don't quite cut it!
    
    

    Roberta, would you believe I looked there the other day, I must be
    blind!   Thanks for the tip!
    
    M&N

    .24
     .. That would not surprise me, the lessons I mean.. it is my
    understanding that she  does have a "consulting  service"
    available, (to supplement her weekly allowance(which is in
    her words a "mere pittance".., and  of course with the
    stock market the waty it is theses days.. one never knows..
    giggle.. giggle..Anyway the rumor on Pookie's Service/
    school etc is that the cirriculum " is very broadbased" tee-hee..
    .. hey E.T., I suspect in Lils case Happy might have been
    consulting on  the day that" table equitette was discussed..
    heh-heh..
    Kate.. 

    .29
    
    well that would explain the *small* `withdrawals'........   ;^)

    .30.. I know, I thought I heard a "thud" and a disparing word or
    2 in Persian last Thursday nite... when the bank statement came
    in... and she was dividing up the monies with Happy and Precious..
    I have a feeling it is 70,15,15 split.. tee-hee
    Kate
    

    
    Re:  .29 & .30
    
    It's true, The Mccurdy Cats Consulting service is even used by Panther,
    (who hates to spend her money, she is a bit of a miser) has spent small
    sums on consulting, how to handle difficult house mates, and the
    Financial Management seminar were her favorites.   HeeHee hee tee
    hee...
    
    Feline Silly,
    Sue & Panther & Spot
    

    Hmm... I also suspect that HRH will  charter someone to design a logo
    for  her business, and I suspect she will take the cost out of Happys
     allowance..She is a charactor, she is enjoying "her new baby".. I
    mean er..ummm Happys baby..
    Financial Management is definitely her strong suite, she has her paw
    out every thursday nite.. bills only.. No Pennies,  (no pockets)...
    she is definitley attracted to the "green stuff"..and the finer things
    in life...
    Kate

    
    Just when I thought I had found an acceptable food......Barf-city
    again.  
    
    We tried Alpo, I even got the turkey flavor, hoping it would be 
    easier on her than the seafood.....the first meal went down quick 
    and easy (and managed to stay down), but this morning, it was
    just the opposite.  So I guess Perform is the last canned to
    try, and if that doesn't work, I'll just have to feed her dry.
    
    As far as dry goes, She thinks that Friskies are okay (I bought the 
    variety pack to see what she might like best) but I picked up a 
    box of meow mix and she gobbled it up but quick.
    
    In the grocery store I read the label for friskies and meow mix
    and both have changed their labels.  There is no ethoxyquin on the 
    new labels and it says something like fat preserved w/ BHA.  Anyone have 
    the numbers handy to call and verify this?  Also these boxes have a 
    blurb in bright, eye catching colors, saying they have a new healthier
    formula.......hhhmmmm maybe the public is getting thru to these people.
    
    Can anyone verify this?
    

    Hi Michele.  I don't know about Friskies and Meow Mix, but did you
    try the dry Alpo on Nippa?  All of my cats are crazy about it, and
    it hasn't affected T.K.'s allergy.  Try a box and see if you might
    have better luck.
    
    
    --Roberta
    

    Well I knew that she liked meow mix (I used to feed her that before
    the ethoxyquin thing) so I bought it yesterday.  I am mixing � MM
    and � blue seal, and she loves it......I'll probably pick up 
    some alpo when she gets sick of this combo.   
    
    Brian, her vet, was concerned about her not eating, but after throughly
    checking her out, he said everything seems normal.  She's probably
    being extra finicky.....which makes it tough for mommy because
    I can only feed from a limited food selection anyway (because of
    her sensitive tummy).

    Michele - Turkey is not easy to digest.  Chicken is, but not 
    turkey.  My vet told me this.
    
    Let me know when you want some Perform to try out.
      Nancy DC

    My vet told me the same thing, however since she can't eat beef or
    fish, and there were no chicken varieties....Turkey was the next best 
    thing......deosn't matter anyway.....too much junk in the food....