Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 12:26 AM         

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I've heard mixed 'reviews' about which is better.
I have a kitten, and was told to feed her wet food for quite awhile, but to leave out dry food when left alone for a long period of time.

On the weekends, my bf and I work 13 hr shifts. So I leave her wet food and then some dry in case she runs out (or her food gets icky).

Those 2-3 days, she had diareah .. is it the dry food? I mean, I mixed it. She ate it! And it's the same brand of food she's had her whole life.
Now I am not sure what to do this weekend when we are gone .. do we leave both foods?

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Member

Posts: 1392
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 07:18 AM         

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We have always fed only dry food. I was told that if you ever give wet food, sometimes it is hard to get them to eat the dry.

If you have been feeding her only wet and then left her the dry, perhaps it was the change even though you did mix it. Or maybe it was the stress of you leaving for so long? Did the problem go away when you switched back to wet only? Have you asked your vet what he thinks?

Jamiya

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Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 08:45 AM         

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The vet said that it could be it .. but he said to continue to leave both if we're gone for that long.

Can someone please read the other post I've made?
I am having a lot of trouble.

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Member

Posts: 50
From:Seattle WA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:05 AM         

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The problem with feeding only dry is that your cat isn't going to get enough moisture. When fed only dry, they are much more prone to Urinary Tract problems and stones. Both are essential. Water is not enough. In the wild, cats get moisture from their prey. They actually don't have the mechanism in their brain that says "oh, I'm thirsty, I'm going to get a drink of water." What I do is feed my cats two meals of wet (actually a raw diet)a day and I leave out a portioned amount of dry. They are actually still kittens (7 and 8 months old). There is a popular myth that wet is bad for their teeth and it isn't. As long as they are getting their crunchies too, you should be fine in that department. As for her diarrhea, this seems to be common in kittens. What you should do is be super consistent in your portions and formulas of food. Don't give her all wet one day and only a little the next. It's important to portion it out. Also, what kind of food are you feeding? It may not be agreeing with her now. Some kitten foods that are great are Wellness, Felidae, & Royal Canin. Wellness makes a great canned food and so does Felidae. Add canned pumpkin to help stop the diarrhea. Just a teaspoon. Hope that helps!

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-10-2003 09:53 AM         

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Any time you change their food kittens can get diarrhea until their body adjusts. I always left my kittens with free access to dry food, and gave them canned kitten food in the morning and at night. They still ate the dry food and were healthy.

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Member

Posts: 141
From:Nova Scotia, Canada
Registered: May 2003

posted 09-10-2003 05:54 PM         

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Another belief is that dry food will reduce plaque in the cats teeth. But ,as pointed out by my vet, cats seldom chew kibbles unless they are large and usually will swollow them whole. Should yur cat throw up after a meal, check out their barf (my cats eat fast and barf every now and then) and see what the kibbles look like.

My vet suggested feeding a balanced combo of dry and wet for varity and the moisture content.

Maybe your kitty got into some of the old wet food that got yucky while you were out and got a bit sick from that?

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New Member

Posts: 2
From:CANADA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 06:13 PM         

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Hello
I don't know if this is true or not BUT I heard that a little milk might help to solid it up??
For the most part my cat eats dry food and then at dinner he gets wet food as a treat/snack.

Im sure with kittens its should just be dry for the sake of their teeth.

Could your kitten have worms, they are very common and is treated easily?

[This message has been edited by bluangel (edited 09-10-2003).]

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 09-10-2003 06:34 PM         

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Maybe you can just leave a little dry out daily for her...so that at times while you are gone for long periods and must feed mostly dry it won't be so hard on her stomache because she'll be adjusted to it.
Mine get dry and canned.

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Member

Posts: 50
From:Seattle WA USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-10-2003 10:33 PM         

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I wouldn't do the milk thing. Cats are lactose intolerant. Canned pumpkin is the best thing to do for constipation.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-10-2003 11:27 PM         

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Milk actually gives kitties diarrhea.

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Member

Posts: 46
From:Ottawa, Ontario
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-11-2003 12:35 AM         

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Thank you so much everyone, I've been posting a lot and all of you have been so helpful w/ advice.
Like I said, I am new to owning a kitty!!

I really appreciate all your suggestions and imput.

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