feeding cats aged 10 & over

rita-rabbit

I thought I was doing my cats well on feeding: 15 & 14 approx yrs. However visit to vets was advised they both have "lumps in their tummies" & the younger 1 suspected over-active thyroid! gutted:eek:. some discussion around feeding fish flavoured catfood ensued & what type. I felt vets disapproval of feeding Burns dried fish & Butchers Classic wet tins - however it has served them well - as the youngest has allergies & 99% of supermarket wet food & most dried produces horrible greasy dandruff (plus loads of whiffey poos in their trays).

I did loads of online research as a result & read dried food is generally bad for cats. Also that fish flavoured food - even wet is often also bad for them - as often trashy/going off/ seafood used in pet food - & this can lead to overactive thyroid:mad:

So I'm now feeding them Animonda Carney senior tins. It said to be easier on their teeth however it's actually hardish (like corned beef) & I chop it up a bit for them. I'm also putting in a teaspoon of milled linseed for roughage. I've given the dried food & fish flavoured wet away to Celia Hammond - as I do think it's better than most. The cost quoted for tests was nearly £200 so I'm trialling this until I can see how they go. I'm also giving them some homemade infusion: lemonbalm & oatstraw - which they are getting used to slowly. Already both seemed perkier (it's been 8 days since I made the changes).

Ideas on other additive free/high meat content good value senior food welcomed.

rita-rabbit

slippery elm bark
http://www.holvet.net/slippery_soup.html
http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/slippery-elm/
discovered this online after research about elderly cats & overactive thyroid. Basically that after treatment for the thyroid kidney issues have been discovered etc. If folks are wondering why I'm not just going back to vet & going along with what's being offered it's cos a woman in my dept's dog is having treatment at the same vets & he's miserable & not doing well. The medical food that vets sell that's iodine free is apart from being expensive, also low/no protein & as Mia's already lost alot of body weight I will not subject her to something she won't enjoy & will be bad for her long term - carnivores need protein!
I already use a natural shop to buy herbs to make infusions for myself & hey presto they also sold this stuff. My plan is to give both my elder cats slippery elm to maximise their health outcomes - it's good for humans & cats & dogs. If the native americans used it for centuries that's good enough for me. Yes preparing it was a faff but not as much as dosing them with it - they will get used to it & I will get faster at giving it to them!
I just don't trust Big Pharma for me or my pets. Simple - I'm determined to do my best by them as I have for myself via natural herbal remedies now that I have information. Charity vets I think do a better job than private ones too - as they won't suggest stuff they know the owners can't afford/or that are unecessary.
tips on raw food that Mia will eat welcome - I will be befriending local butchers for fresh offal from small mammals. In the past she did eat chicken livers & lamb kidney. I think it's essential to get my elder cats to eat raw regularly to maximise their health in the last 3rd of their lives. Chi is healthier - he's an ex rescue & used to hunt. My research has shown raw is way better than any prepared petfood - esp for cats - so I want to feed this to both at least once a week - if not more. Ideas for sourcing raw meat that's attractive to a cat that prefers manufactured catfood welcome (neither will touch minced raw meat).

rita-rabbit

i'm leaving the linseed out now I've started on the slippery elm.

paddypaws101

Whilst I am also a fan of natural remedies...and diets....where possible, I am afraid that the thyroid issue will need medication. I would not touch the thyroid food which you quite rightly say is lacking in protein, but I would never ignore raised thyroid values, it will not go away.
With cats of that age I would look at meds to stabilise the thyroid and then either surgery or ( if funds allow) radio active iodine treatment.

Lil_Dee_2

A lot of older cats develop thyroid issues because they actually get a growth on their thyroid gland (non-malignant) that then causes the over-production of thyroxin.

Felimazole is a well known and well used medication for this issue. My last cat was on Felimazole for some years before she passed away at the grand old age of 23 !! Yes, she developed a few kidney issues, but we added additional medication to her diet to combat these as they occurred.

I have to agree with Paddypaws - the thyroid issue will not be solved without medication. The reason (fyi Rita-Rabbit) that the cat loses weight is because their body literally "rushes" the digestion process, so most of the nutrients in their food as expelled, rather than absorbed.

I would suggest a return to the vets asap to get your kitty started on the road to recovery. It may take time, as each cat is an individual and needs their own levels of Fleimazole, so please don't expect miracles straight away !

rita-rabbit

Took her back to vets on Tues, v high count on bloods & I asked for gel in preference to tablets. Collected & started applying same day: she's doing v well on it, already a happier cat. The slippery elm I will continue to give as both cats health & appetite has improved with it.
I'm also feeding them quail & chicken, raw feeding hasn't worked so far with Mia, Chi the Tomcat will eat chunks of raw but I'm going to feed Animonda Carni for some meals as its a balanced diet. Ended up cooking quail & chicken & hand feeding it (boiled & then manually picked meat off the bones!) to get both moggies which was a FAFF but I can't afford to waste it!:T

Lil_Dee_2

Good to hear Mia is taking to the gel. Take your time with introducing the raw, find out what they like, and use that to tempt them over. Have you tried just heart ? I know my two love it chunked up - I have to give them a piece each when I'm prepping their bulk food mix !

rita-rabbit

Mia's eating the raw chicken chunks fine now. I mix it with the tinned food (butchers classic). In fact she's quite chunky now - will have to start reducing portions - she's doubled her weight since first vet visit. Vet was impressed!

rita-rabbit

found this online last night:

http://www.floppycats.com/frankenprey-how-i-feed-my-ragdoll-cat-prossimo.html

likely a 3 mouse a day (per cat) is a long way off. General condition is great too: fluffier/silkier fur after a greasy stage.

rita-rabbit

ok - its not going so well. Since Mia's dose (of Methimazole) was increased she's scratching her head alot! To the point she's made a wound in her face. I trimmed all her claws tonight. Also given her some oatstraw & lemongrass infusion to calm her (I put some on her face & she licked it off). She's an unhappy kitty. Does anyone know about successful homeopathic alternatives? I've googled standard meds for this & all are really 1/the same thing with a side effect being alot of itching.

I don't have pet insurance by the way & no access to the £1,000s quote for radioactive treatment (

krlyr

If you don't have money to spare, don't waste it on homeopathic treatments. Speak to your vet, explain the money situation, and see what treatment they can advise within your budget. You'll come to a solution much quicker than wasting your money on treatments with no scientific evidence of working (and I'm not against herbal/home remedies - where there's evidence they work, which homeopathy lacks)