Dietary advice for an ageing cat with health problems

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Roitelet. Raw... that's interesting.

TS, she's a total cheese fiend. A Tonkinese we took in as a rescue cat. Here she is as she was a few years back (she looks pretty much the same now, though her coat has darkened a bit more since the photo was taken):

[Thelma Sanders]

Aww, Snoop - she's so pretty

[Nicos]

Wow!...she's stunning!
And what a fantastic photo too

[Jungle Jane]

Do you think cheese could be causing a problem,lactose intolerant difficult to digest.

[Nicos]

Hibou nearly died 4years back following a massive head trauma.
She came through with a rescue paste (sorry...can't recall the name) followed on by raw chicken and turkey.
Our vets have always said they can tell a cat which eats it's natural diet from its thick, glossy coat.
Yup...she now eats about 12 mice per day (plus a bit of jelly and dried food)
I think I'd go for raw meat too in your situation...

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks for all the advice, guys. Raw food would make it easier for me. Did any of you freeze it first to kill off any bugs or not bother?

JJ, she is a terror for cheese, but hasn't had any since I don't know when.

And yes, Nicos, she's a lovely looking cat. And she's very responsive to people, so very gratifying! But every cat is well loved here. Still miss some that died years back and remember the ones my parents had when I was a tiny. Can't see us ever having a Tonkinese again. Too expensive. Amazing that she got dumped by previous owners. She was such a pretty kitten.

[Nicos]

I freeze most of my meat as the shops are so far away. Didn't really think about killing off bugs but that's a good idea!

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, guys. I'll let you know how it goes.

[roitelet]

I just minced it and gave it to her. I did freeze some because the turkey breasts were large and would have gone off by the time she had come to the end of it not for any other reason.

[MelanieSW]

A bit late to this thread, but for homemade/raw I would suggest a meat completer, no veggies or rice needed.
Something like Felini Complete (available e.g.from Zooplus), you just add it to plain meat with a bit of water. Easy and ensures that the nutritional requirements are all met.
(Got a cat with sensitive digestion and kidney issues, that seems to have turned me into a bit of a cat food nerd over the last couple of years)

[Snoop Puss]

Thanks, Melanie.

Somewhat against all our expectations, she's still going strong. In the end, it turns out she can't eat fish or any cereals. And she got properly fed up of just meat with the supplement she was on. So, as an experiment, I tried a cereal-free brand of cat biscuits (Applaws) and she loves them. So she's on these and boiled chicken to mix her medication in with. Occasionally loose guts but no diarrhoea, which is a win all round... Her coat is back to being absolutely gorgeous and the other cats are very happy with the arrangement too. She's still purring, still cuddles up with her buddy the tom cat, is very sociable with us, curls up under the quilt with me still at night when she's feeling a bit chilly after the fire has gone out, and loves nothing more than a fuss and a comb. Sadly, I've found another lump, this time close to her spine below her ribs. Still doesn't seem to be suffering. Hard to believe when you look at her that she's not far off the final vet's visit. Only real difference that's visible is that she doesn't go out as much and stays close to the house. Not that long ago that she'd come on walks with me and the dogs and the other cats.

[Nicos]

That's fantastic news !
(But not about the lump)

[Mamzie]

So glad to hear your cat is still doing well. That's a fab age.

I handear and foster for Cats Protection so am a bit of a cat addict here. We have 5 cats but one of mine, our CHer wobbly cat has been suffering with her bowels the last few months. I may try Apllaws with her before any tests as be could find nothing obvious at her Christmas Check up x

[MelanieSW]

Definitely sounds like she's still enjoying life, hope you'll have her a bit longer

[Snoop Puss]

Unfortunately, Applaws isn't cheap. Not sure where you'd get it in the UK. I buy it through Amazon.