Rocky concerns

[diandpat]

Sarah, I am not sure where you and Lewis moved to but there are Global Pet foods on Ile Perrot, Vaudreuil, and Hudson. That is where we get Ginger and Hobo's Orijen and Merricks canned food too.

They have a really varied choice of cat and dog foods and neat accessories too.

Good Luck with Spoutnik...I am sure he is going to "make it" with you looking after him.

[SARAH]

We have one on Ile Perot? That IS good news! Where? (saves me the google search or yellow pages)

Chico, even if it's not the best available, like you say it's the cats' reaction that counts. I can at least give them the opportunity to try it, right? (Or Misti at least, for now)

[roccoisus]

chico2 I just read this thread glad to read it wasn't pasasites Hope changing Rockys food helps

[chico2]

Well,I went to get the CSFCLS(chicken-soup-for-catlovers-soul),Brian,was a really nice guy and I can call a week ahead and he'll get it for me again
I had to get a large bag,usually I buy smaller bags,so this will last forever,how to keep it fresh???
Rocky of course dove right in,with Vinnie waiting to get his turnChico was the last to have a go at it.
They all love it and Rocky kept his down
Tonight I'll sit by Rocky and pace his eating so he does not just suck up the FF,give him a little at a time.
Sugarcatmom,does the Slippery Elm stuff taste bad??
How much do I put in Rockys dish,just a sprinkle???
I am getting some tomorrow..

[breeze]

Chico I'm so glad it worked out for you..
As to keep it fresh maybe keep it in the bag and put it in a large seeled tight container?? (if you have one) or maybe in large baggies?? (o but then it would not be in the original bag)....

let me think and I will see what I can come up with

[SARAH]

How about freezing portions? Would that work?

[breeze]

chico how do you usaually keep the smaller bags fresh??

can you freeze dry cat food?? if so put halve the bag in the freezer and use the other half and the defrost some when you need it.. just a thought I'm not sure if you can freeze the food......

or maybe you can get a big container to keep it in and after you can use it for something else?? (storage of some kind)

[chico2]

I don't know if I can freeze dry food,but I am going to check tomorrow for an airtight container to put the bag in,I think humidity is the biggest factor,because of mould.
I put about a cup-full of food in their dish every day,they freefeed on dry..
Brian(I think he was the owner)gave me a can of cat-food for free,but I am not going to try it,I am going to stick to FF for now and see how it goes.

[chico2]

Breeze,the smaller bags I just keep in the cupboard,in the original bag,closed tight and it's been fine.

[breeze]

what the size of the small bag and what is the size of this big bag??

Maybe you can keep it the same way considering it is winter and there is less humitiy in the house at this time....

I have been to a couple of Global stores and I have only found one I did not like, the rest of them are soooo willing to help order things, just kind people who own it.. It is a pleasure to find a store that caters to the customer, and that actullay care for them....

[chico2]

The smaller bags,were about 4lb's(I think)this one is 18lb's..
I got to go,but will check in again tomorrow morning,I have 3 hungry cats demanding food at my feet

[phoozles]

I sent the BF out to get some cat food when Jake was still on dry and he accidentally brought home one of those giant bags instead of the 8 kg bags I was used to. I put it on the floor in the pantry and used a measuring cup to get the food out. I kept the bag rolled up like I would the smaller bag, and it worked out fine.

Don't know if you have a pantry or a closet close to the kitchen to store it in (if I don't lock up the cat food Jake will have it ripped open in a second ) but I didn't have a problem with mould or anything, and it saved me from having to get a new container.

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by chico2

Sugarcatmom,does the Slippery Elm stuff taste bad??
How much do I put in Rockys dish,just a sprinkle???
I am getting some tomorrow..

Some cats actually like it, some don't. It doesn't have a terribly strong taste, it's just that some cats (like my Aztec) get suspicious when you mess with their food. What I've done in the past is mix about a 1/4 tsp (start smaller if you have to and work up) in with something Aztec really loves, like baby food (plain meat, no onions) or yogurt. I give this about 10 mins before his main meal, when he's good and hungry.

Another option is to make a syrup with 1/2 cup cold water and 1 tsp of the powder, slowly simmered on the stove for a couple of minutes until slightly thickened. Cool and refridgerate for up to a week and mix about a tsp in each meal, or syringe 5cc into Rocky before meals.

Good luck! Let me know if it works.

[SARAH]

What's it called in French, anyone know? The healthfood store near us don't know one of the English names for stuff

[badger]

Chico, my sister's hyperthyroid tabby ate FF pretty much all her life (she didn't get dry at all in the last few years, my sister having been bitten by the 'wet food only' bug). She was 22 when she died.

[want4rain]

you think you could just supplement with a bit of the meat you eat for dinner?? feed really wet salmon (in water not oil) every other day? if you are really worried about the FF, thats a nice inexpensive alternative. i also know that i can find talapia bulk for $8 for 10lbs. just bake all of it, save the juice and really wet it down. 10lbs should last 2 months for 2 cat. the whole idea is to get protein in them along with moisture.

if im rehashing somethign... i only skimmed over the (cat)butt (haha!!) end of this thread.

-ash

[Luba]

Have you considered growing some cat grass indoors? Maybe he's missing a digesting enzyme that he was getting in the summer from the greens outside. Worth a shot!

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by SARAH

What's it called in French, anyone know? The healthfood store near us don't know one of the English names for stuff

What do you need to translate ?

[SARAH]

The Slippery Elm ... could be a good thing to keep in the house, you never know when something crops up

[CyberKitten]

Ahem, it depends on what med school one is taklking aboutr re human docs and nutrition - I took many courses in the subvject but tha's superflous.

My main concern is Rocky - I hope he is feeling better Chico - I am too zonked out with my own probs just nopw to think of what to do wbut I'll try.

I hope you will find the right meds - amsurprised the vet did not tell you m was not an antibiotic becuase usually it's a good ideato give them some yogurt or probviotics to make syre the "good" bacteria stays.
Take care and my thoughts are with you!!!!

Cannot find the hug sign - not too with it (((((((((((((((Chico))))))))))))

[Frenchy]

Originally Posted by SARAH

The Slippery Elm ... could be a good thing to keep in the house, you never know when something crops up

I have no idea what's Slippery Elm .... :sad: so I can't help.

[CearaQC]

Sometimes using the Latin name helps.

Ulmus fulva is for Slippery Elm

Check this site out for price comparison

http://www.wellnaturally.ca/herbshe-z.html

I order all my bulk herbs from Mary at Well Naturally. Their Bay Leaves are excellent, quite large and much cheaper than the price at the local grocery stores. Other herbs I've ordered from her were also good, so I'm going to assume their Slippery Elm will be just as good.

[chico2]

For the storage of the big bag,I have no pantry,but a really cool closet and a Wine-Cellar downstairs,maybe that will be ok?with the bag tightly rolled up..
W4R,to be honest with you,I was never really worried about the FF,but wanted to give them a better food.
They have all been healthy cats up until Rockys problem now with his Thyroids etc..
I am not going to rock the boat right now,my priority is to stop Rockys runny poop,maybe later on I'll slowly introduce them to bits of meat.
Rocky always sits on the chair beside me at dinnertime,expecting his tid-bitsbut is usually happy to leave,once he's had a taste.
He just has to find out what we are eating
Sugarcatmom,thank's for the info
I'll get some today,I read it can also help my Osteo-arthritis(sp?)and it's always good to have at home,for any kitty-runs
I suppose it will take a few days until Rockys tummy adjusts to beeing back on what he's eaten for many years,I am going down to check the litter now

[breeze]

I think that will work Chico it's worth a try

and I agree it might take a couple of days to get rocky back to normal
until then :grouphu g:

[chico2]

Well,now I am going down to check the litter

[chico2]

Still loose poop(don't you just love poop-patrol),but hopefully it will improve
He goes only once a day usually,it's not like he runs downstairs every time he eats..
I fed him this morning a little bit at a time,so he had no chance to suck it up and then throw up,so far so good.

[breeze]

Chico did you get in touch with the vet?? or did she ever call you back??

[chico2]

Yes Breeze,I called and she called back,no parasites.
She suggested their food,but I told her i am going back to FF and she did not argue

[chico2]

By the way,Rocky is sooo proud,that his little problem has THREE pages of interest and advice

[breeze]

I'm glad no paristies

I still say a couple of days for his system to go back to his regular food.

I don't know alot about cats even though I had two (but that was a long time ago now).
But I know with Bree it takes a couple of days for her to go back to her normal rutine when she was not feeling well...