Cat Allergy-food Options

Should I switch my cat to a raw diet?

  • Yes

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  • No

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Bel

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Hi everyone!

I was only here a couple weeks ago but here goes.
My cats didn't do well on the z/d diet from the vet. I can't say I am all that surprised by it, honestly. The Hills combination Hydrolyzed Protein + SO has never worked when we tried it so I suspected it wouldn't work in just hydrolyzed chicken form. But it was worth a go!

At this point, my cats have expended every vet food diet they could have been on the only ones that have worked are duck and sweatpea (D/D) and venison & rice (V/R). Up until two years ago my cats were on a rotation diet of D/D and V/R (one cat didn't really like the duck and preferred venison) but both worked for a year and I'd have them on one for three months and then the other diet for three months as our rotation. Then he started throwing up so I just had them on the v/r and that worked for about 3 years. But I always knew it wasn't great. That diet has SO much rice that both cats were constipated all the time.

Anyway, about 3 weeks ago they started throwing up. I started shifting them to z/d but my cat started projectile vomiting when I had him on it exclusively (this was after 13 days of making the switch), I had to over 2 days get him back on v/r and feed very, very slowly. He hasn't been sick again, but his coat texture isn't good and I know that he's sensitive to his food and he needs something else.

I asked the vet and he suggested a small company. I won't name names but in Canada this is food is over $98 per case of 24. My cats would be on roughly a case and a half of that per week. Which would end up costing me easily $430 plus a month.

I love my guys up to now I've $300 a week on food and I struggled to do it but I still did it because I knew it's what they needed health wise.

But spending over $400 on a food that's second ingredient is sweet potato and third ingredient is potato starch doesn't seem right to me. I keep paying for these diets that are supposed to help my cats and the vet recommends them but there's so much extra stuff that my cats straight up don't need and I don't know what I am paying for.

On my last post I had responses of trying to go raw. Which I'm not totally opposed to I just don't know much about it.

When I went to the pets store today the employee seemed to think that raw foods may be a better bet for my cat.

I've done some research online and I've seen evidence that support both sides. But I'm just really scared about if something goes wrong in my cats.

The food I ended up getting is just rabbit, rabbit bone (10%), and rabbit organs. They've got other options too but my cats are less familiar with rabbit. It comes in patties and is frozen. If I did go with that food would cooking it be an option? And are there other supplements I would need to add to the diet?

There's another food coming in that I may also be interested in but I am just feeling so overwhelmed right now that I thought to ask those who have more experience with this.

I'll probably go to my vet for his take too.
 
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LTS3

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On my last post I had responses of trying to go raw. Which I'm not totally opposed to I just don't know much about it.
Commercial raw cat food would be the easiest way to start. Are you in Canada? Here are threads with brands available in Canada:

Commercial Raw Ontario Canada
Frozen Diets available for delivery! Ontario residents
New to TCS, wondering about Canadian options for raw meat
Canadian Raw Food Suppliers
New to making raw cat food. HELP!
starting raw for my kiddies
Raw Food Brands In Canada?

The food I ended up getting is just rabbit, rabbit bone (10%), and rabbit organs. They've got other options too but my cats are less familiar with rabbit. It comes in patties and is frozen. If I did go with that food would cooking it be an option? And are there other supplements I would need to add to the diet?.
No, frozen raw is meant to be fed as is (well, thawed first). You do not cook it. if the food is a complete balanced diet (should say on the package), then you do not add any extra supplements. If you want to be sure, just post here on TCS with the brand and product web site, if possible, and members will be able to figure it out for you:agree:

If you want to cook meat, then the best way to do that is to use a pre-mix such as TC Feline or U Stew. Add plain cooked meat of your choice, some water, mix it up, and you have a complete diet for your cat :) You can get more help on raw and cooked diets on the Raw and Home Cooked forum here on TCS.

Lots of vets are against raw and home cooked diets so don't expect much support or help from your vet.
 
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