Raw Chicken, Ibd Cat

jen · Apr 1, 2018

The background: Kinks is 15 years old and has some IBD/lymphoma going on, we didn't narrow it down completely at her age, just treating the symptoms. She has horrific diarrhea and after a variety of food trials, I found raw steak is the best for her but after a couple days she refused it. Lately cooked chicken has kept things tolerable. The Prednisolone keeps her appetite up. I give her just enough that she is hungry but not enough that she is tearing through the kitchen and garbage in search of food. Metronidazole helps the diarrhea SLIGHTLY, moreso when paired with the proper food. And Cerenia when she starts vomitting.

My thoughts: I bought raw chicken breast with the rib bones intact. Should I cook it and remove the bones or can I just give it to her raw? Bones or no bones? Is there a risk with raw and her already compromised intestinal tract? Lastly, I am not overly concerned about suppliments at the moment due to her age. There likely won't be long term damage because I don't think she will be around long term. Is that the wrong way to look at it? It is so hard to get her to eat so I am not really focused on adding things to it.

Just looking for some thoughts from anyone who might have any. And opinions on the raw chicken with rib bones. Thanks.

Ƀåstet · Apr 1, 2018

I wouldn’t feed rib bones, especially not to a cat that isn’t used to eating bones and has IBD. They tend to be small and sharp and could be potential choking hazards. Bones are also hard to digest.

There are several nutrients, such as taurine, that cats need regularly. If they don’t receive it their health can deteriorate quite fast. It’s easy to add the supplements once you have them. But I wouldn’t feed only raw chicken without the proper balance of supplemental nutrients.

There are commercial raw foods that don’t contain bone and are easier to digest such as Rad Cat. You might try these if you don’t want to spend time researching and adding supplements.

jen · Apr 1, 2018

I know about all the raw foods available but she just gets picky so fast. Although I think I will pick up a container of RadCat to try in the mean time. If I gave her a can of crappy canned food she would gobble it down in a second flat but the would also have diarrhea all over the house. I am having this dilemma of her eating crap and being full and her stomach being a wreck, or giving her the raw or cooked homemade food and she picks and nibbles and isn't really enjoying it but has firmer stool. She is acting happy and with her normal personality but she is a bag of bones, her eyes are sunken in, she doesn't groom herself anymore... but get that laser point out and she will go crazy. Some days I feel like I am just trying to keep her alive and the next she scarfs up her food like I haven't fed her in days. Siiiigh. I will just cook up this chicken for now and remove the bones and hope she eats it.

Ƀåstet · Apr 1, 2018

It’s good that she at least does well on the home-cooked and raw food. Another option might be to get some EZ complete. You just add it to some boneless chicken thighs (I think) and it’s a complete meal. I also think you can use it with cooked or raw meat.

LTS3 · Apr 2, 2018

EZComplete is for boneless meat. Other brands of premixes are similar. You can offer raw bones separately to gnaw on but some cats won't touch them.

Either raw or cooked meat would be fine. It depends what your cat prefers.

jen · Apr 2, 2018

I figured the small chicken rib bones would be ok. I cooked the breast and removed the meat from the bones for her yesterday and she scarfed it up. I have to change things often bc she loses interest. As mentioned before she is on just enough pred to keep her appetite up. thanks!

1 bruce 1 · Apr 2, 2018

jen said:
The background: Kinks is 15 years old and has some IBD/lymphoma going on, we didn't narrow it down completely at her age, just treating the symptoms. She has horrific diarrhea and after a variety of food trials, I found raw steak is the best for her but after a couple days she refused it. Lately cooked chicken has kept things tolerable. The Prednisolone keeps her appetite up. I give her just enough that she is hungry but not enough that she is tearing through the kitchen and garbage in search of food. Metronidazole helps the diarrhea SLIGHTLY, moreso when paired with the proper food. And Cerenia when she starts vomitting.

My thoughts: I bought raw chicken breast with the rib bones intact. Should I cook it and remove the bones or can I just give it to her raw? Bones or no bones? Is there a risk with raw and her already compromised intestinal tract? Lastly, I am not overly concerned about suppliments at the moment due to her age. There likely won't be long term damage because I don't think she will be around long term. Is that the wrong way to look at it? It is so hard to get her to eat so I am not really focused on adding things to it.

Just looking for some thoughts from anyone who might have any. And opinions on the raw chicken with rib bones. Thanks.

OK, I love raw feeding and have been doing it for decades and have read accounts that cats with IBD do EXCELLENT on a raw diet but with her age, health, and the issue of her compromised GI tract (aside from not really being 100% what's going on in there), I would vote going boneless for now and see how she does. Bone MIGHT help the diarrhea, but it won't "fix" what's wrong but I wouldn't do too much right now. Her system is sensitive. Even if she isn't around long term, I think it's worth making her as comfortable as possible.
I don't like the scare tactic BS against raw feeding but a lot of grocery store type meats DO have a higher bacterial load, and healthy cats can handle it just fine...but older cats with compromised immune systems and GI problems occasionally can not.
Our IBD cat can not handle raw and this isn't for lack of trying on our part (he has a really bad case that can be difficult to control!)
If you think there might be a point that she would somehow turn onto raw meat and bone keep it in your mental rolodex of ideas for her in case she goes off food, though!

1 bruce 1 · Apr 2, 2018

jen said:
I know about all the raw foods available but she just gets picky so fast. Although I think I will pick up a container of RadCat to try in the mean time. If I gave her a can of crappy canned food she would gobble it down in a second flat but the would also have diarrhea all over the house. I am having this dilemma of her eating crap and being full and her stomach being a wreck, or giving her the raw or cooked homemade food and she picks and nibbles and isn't really enjoying it but has firmer stool. She is acting happy and with her normal personality but she is a bag of bones, her eyes are sunken in, she doesn't groom herself anymore... but get that laser point out and she will go crazy. Some days I feel like I am just trying to keep her alive and the next she scarfs up her food like I haven't fed her in days. Siiiigh. I will just cook up this chicken for now and remove the bones and hope she eats it.

Keep a mental note on what she likes, or likes for awhile, and write it down and do a rotational plan if you have to. Sometimes they get really picky as they get older and keeping a rotation going can keep things "interesting". =)
I've heard really good things about Rad Cat.
Would she tolerate a powdered probiotic in her canned food? It won't magically "fix" her problems but sometimes it can really help a cat that has intestinal problems and keep the diarrhea at bay.

jen · Apr 2, 2018

You make a lot of excellent points! I think she would be ok with a powdered probiotic if it tasted decent. With the Pred she has an appetite. Can you recommend a brand or type?

Raw Chicken, Ibd Cat

jen

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Ƀåstet

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