Hi all. I wanted to share this, in case someone is shopping for new cat food or is wondering what is up with their possibly mysteriously-ill kitty. A few months ago I posted about my cat Percy being very sick and I think the cause was the Merrick food.
Here is the full story:
Percy has been raw-fed since he was a kitten (he is now 2 years), but when I am travelling I buy the best quality canned food I can find and transition him over in the week before I leave. I made a 2-week trip in August 2018, which was a bit long but Percy doesn't seem to mind travelling and loves to explore campgrounds so long as there are no cars/loud things around. I bought an entire case of Purrfect Bistro Chicken Pate from my local pet store because he can eat 6-12 oz per day, depending on his activity. He was eating only the canned food for 2 weeks no problem. On the very last day, mid-morning, he became VIOLENTLY ill. Constant diarrhea and vomiting. We were only 3 hours from home, and made it with lots of stopping (and a two hour break) so he could try and "go", which was at this point just clear fluid/mucous. When we got home he was lethargic and isolating himself hunched up in a corner, still vomiting/diarrhea. I took him to the emergency vet: he had a fever and was mildly dehydrated. We did a bunch of tests and they kept him overnight on IV because he wouldn't eat anything.
The vet suggested an allergy to his food, which I didn't think made sense since he had been eating it for nearly 2 weeks and was fine, though he did have a runny poop the day before. I thought he had gotten into something poisonous while we were stopped at a rest-stop. To be safe, I stopped giving him the food, found a grocery store brand that was also good, and fed him that until I could switch him back to raw (after he was through all the antibiotics etc.) He was great for months (good appetite/good poops).
Two days ago, I was looking at the 1/3 of a case of canned Merrick I had left, and thought - maybe I can see if he will eat this again, so it doesn't go to waste. I trialed him with 1/2 a can (~3oz). Within 1.5 hours he had pure liquid diarrhea. He seemed fine otherwise, and has been fine since. I give him canned food as a treat occasionally, different brands but always grain/filler free and good quality, and he has never had a problem with any of them.
Now, I'm not a vet, but I am a scientist, and that kind of cause-effect seems pretty clear. I will NEVER feed my cat Merrick again. It's not worth the risk.
Here is the full story:
Percy has been raw-fed since he was a kitten (he is now 2 years), but when I am travelling I buy the best quality canned food I can find and transition him over in the week before I leave. I made a 2-week trip in August 2018, which was a bit long but Percy doesn't seem to mind travelling and loves to explore campgrounds so long as there are no cars/loud things around. I bought an entire case of Purrfect Bistro Chicken Pate from my local pet store because he can eat 6-12 oz per day, depending on his activity. He was eating only the canned food for 2 weeks no problem. On the very last day, mid-morning, he became VIOLENTLY ill. Constant diarrhea and vomiting. We were only 3 hours from home, and made it with lots of stopping (and a two hour break) so he could try and "go", which was at this point just clear fluid/mucous. When we got home he was lethargic and isolating himself hunched up in a corner, still vomiting/diarrhea. I took him to the emergency vet: he had a fever and was mildly dehydrated. We did a bunch of tests and they kept him overnight on IV because he wouldn't eat anything.
The vet suggested an allergy to his food, which I didn't think made sense since he had been eating it for nearly 2 weeks and was fine, though he did have a runny poop the day before. I thought he had gotten into something poisonous while we were stopped at a rest-stop. To be safe, I stopped giving him the food, found a grocery store brand that was also good, and fed him that until I could switch him back to raw (after he was through all the antibiotics etc.) He was great for months (good appetite/good poops).
Two days ago, I was looking at the 1/3 of a case of canned Merrick I had left, and thought - maybe I can see if he will eat this again, so it doesn't go to waste. I trialed him with 1/2 a can (~3oz). Within 1.5 hours he had pure liquid diarrhea. He seemed fine otherwise, and has been fine since. I give him canned food as a treat occasionally, different brands but always grain/filler free and good quality, and he has never had a problem with any of them.
Now, I'm not a vet, but I am a scientist, and that kind of cause-effect seems pretty clear. I will NEVER feed my cat Merrick again. It's not worth the risk.
