Gluten-free cats?

[elegantlion]

I have an odd cat. He's old, he has bowel issues. He's been wormed for everything under the sun and checked for other parasites, but he still has issues. I can't use senior food, or anything with increased fiber, because that just makes it worse. He's an indoor cat. Are there gf foods for pets? Is there something I can make to see if he tolerates the diet before I pay for an expensive bagged food?

[~Amanda~]

I would try raw/homemade before paying for more $$ bagged foods. cats really aren't designed to ingest the stuff that's in the bags...

[itsheresomewhere]

Try Natural Balance food. Not too expensive and good quality. My patrick said the dog would be to much and he was right has celalic disease and eats this. No wheat, gluten and chicken in the limited diet.

[Acorn]

My cat has developed probable allergy to corn. Once we switched to a better quality cat food, she has been great. I just looked at her food (Blue Buffalo) and it isn't gluten-free since it has barley, but it doesn't have wheat. I don't know how you would determine gluten vs wheat intolerance in a cat.

[medawyn]

Another possibility is an allergy to poultry. I've had two cats develop this allergy later in life. Lots of rugs to clean before the vet suggested it as a potential. :glare:

 

There are a few brands of bagged food without poultry, but I can't remember which off the top of my head. My favorite had an orange bag, but that probably doesn't narrow it much!

[KS_]

I would try raw/homemade before paying for more $$ bagged foods. cats really aren't designed to ingest the stuff that's in the bags...

 

I agree, or if you can't do that, switch to a completely grain-free cat food and see if that helps.

[regentrude]

Just... meat?

A cat would not naturally consume grain products.

[Laurie]

Just... meat?

A cat would not naturally consume grain products.

 

:iagree:

 

Cats are natural meat eaters...I learned this the hard way when one of my cats developed diabetes. She can't eat any dry food now, but there are quite a few grain-free choices in canned food. We were given a list of low-carb canned foods when she was first diagnosed almost a year ago, and we switched the other two cats to an all-wet diet as well.

 

I go to Pets Mart every other month and stock up on Fancy Feast "Classics" and Friskies "Classic Pate". I don't buy anything that doesn't have this on the label...other choices that say "gravy" are too high in carbs.

 

I would try an all canned, grain-free diet for awhile and see if it helps your kitty with his problem.

[elegantlion]

Thank you. I found a brand of bag to dry. Before I can get it, I'll switch him off the kibble and onto some real food. I don't think he'd like to do a fast, right now he's trying to get into a jar of honey roasted peanuts, which he never gets to eat. He also eats paper. :glare: