Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog food forum > Feeding raw food to dogs & cats - B.A.R.F - RMB - Homecooked diet

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 14th, 2009, 10:56 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
What is considered a regular bowel movement for a raw fed cat?

I originally posted this under Cat's Health but would like some input from fellow raw feeders with your experience, thanks!

Quote:
Can I please get some insight into what is a normal bowel movement for cats. I hear different regularities and I get concerned. Some people say anything longer than 1-2 days is a real concern. Some say 3-4 days is fine. My cat had chronic diarrhea on commercial pet food for years. Since being on a mostly all raw diet his stools are back to normal. At first on the new diet he was going every 1 to 2 days. Now 4 months on a prey model diet - he sometimes does not go for 3 days. I am afraid for him that it will start to get longer. I give him a little bit more liver and fat to no avail. I have given him pumpkin, baby squash with no luck in increasing the frequency. If I give him Laxatone this usually helps but I do not want him to become dependent on this. Can you guys tell me the frequency of your cats and if I am over reacting....thanks!
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old January 14th, 2009, 11:00 AM
Love4himies's Avatar
Love4himies Love4himies is offline
Rescue is my fav. breed
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Boating in the 1000 Islands
Posts: 17,769
Are his stools very hard and whitish? If so, maybe he is getting too much calcium???
__________________
Cat maid to:


Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old January 14th, 2009, 11:07 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
No, it is a bit dark, one piece 3" long. Not thick. One end is spongey and the other end is kind of soft (but I think that may be from the laxatone I give him on the 3rd day to make sure he has a stool). He doesn't seem to be straining (although he usually has the stool when I am at work) and he doesn't seem different in any other aspect...
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old January 14th, 2009, 11:19 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
He eats mostly all raw (prey model). Sometimes he does get fussy at a meal and will not eat his meat chunks without a smear of canned. He doesn't get much bone either....He gets liver every 3 days and a few drops of salmon oil everyday or so.
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old January 14th, 2009, 12:41 PM
bendyfoot's Avatar
bendyfoot bendyfoot is offline
Geek Club CEO
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 5,019
He should be getting 10-15% bone weekly. Chicken necks and backs are easily managed by most kitties.
__________________
Owned by:
Solomon - black DSH - king of kitchen raids (11)
Gracie - Mutterooski X - scary smart (9)
Jaida - GSD - tripod trainwreck and gentle soul (4)
Heidi - mugsly Boston Terrier X - she is in BIG trouble!!! (3)
Audrey - torbie - sweet as pie (11 months)
Patrick - blue - a little turd (but we like him anyways) (6 months)
__________
Boo, our Matriarch (August 1 1992 - March 29 2011)
Riley and Molly
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old January 14th, 2009, 12:43 PM
Love4himies's Avatar
Love4himies Love4himies is offline
Rescue is my fav. breed
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Boating in the 1000 Islands
Posts: 17,769
Will he eat his raw if there is a bit of pumpkin or baby butternut squash smeared on it?
__________________
Cat maid to:


Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs)

Jasper RIP (2001-2018)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)

In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb

“While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old January 14th, 2009, 12:51 PM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
He gets roughly 5-10% bone which is the norm for a prey model diet. I have tried pumpkin and it didn't do much (he really doesn't like it)...I gave him baby squash food last week and yesterday started to try and get him to eat baby peas food (it has more fibre than the squash). This morning I added some water into the baby peas and he lapped it up - yay! We'll see if this helps to produce some more frequent stool!
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old January 16th, 2009, 03:47 AM
growler~GateKeeper's Avatar
growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 17,568
My grrl Duffy is eating ground raw & she usually goes every 2-3 days
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old January 16th, 2009, 06:48 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
When she doesn't go for 3 days you are not concerned? I am trying to get a feel on what is normal for raw fed cats So, hopefully I can stop stressing The peas seem to be helping - he has had a stool for the last 3 days...
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old January 17th, 2009, 12:09 AM
growler~GateKeeper's Avatar
growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 17,568
Quote:
Originally Posted by Khari View Post
When she doesn't go for 3 days you are not concerned?
She usually goes every two days, if it was longer than 3 days I would be very worried. I know with the raw food she is using more of the nutrition she's eating therefore she has less waste to excrete. In her life my grrl has never had any issues with going, until she was diagnosed with kidney failure & she began having problems regulating the water level in her poop causing constipation from very dry poop which led to her vomiting while straining. She now gets salmon oil twice a day and has no problems since being on it.
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old January 17th, 2009, 06:42 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
Okay, so when she doesn't go for 3 days you are not super concerned. But after that you would be, gotcha - thanks!
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old January 18th, 2009, 02:41 AM
growler~GateKeeper's Avatar
growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 17,568
Every cat/dog/human is different so 2 or 3 days for my grrl may not be ideal for your guy you know your cat & his normal habits. Be sure you are keeping an eye out for signs of distress & if you are not comfortable with the length of time it has taken for him to go, by all means contact your vet
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old January 18th, 2009, 09:51 AM
Khari's Avatar
Khari Khari is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Posts: 198
Quote:
Originally Posted by growler View Post
Every cat/dog/human is different so 2 or 3 days for my grrl may not be ideal for your guy you know your cat & his normal habits. Be sure you are keeping an eye out for signs of distress & if you are not comfortable with the length of time it has taken for him to go, by all means contact your vet
I agree - every cat is different but the reason I asked the question was to get a general feel of what people's cats bowel movements are on an all raw food diet. Bishop was going every day when he was being transitioned to raw (raw and canned food mixture), but now that he is on 100% raw he sometimes doesn't go for 3 days. I am not familar if there is a difference in bowel movements on raw and on a commercial pet food.....

On a lighter note - he has been going almost every day for the last week. I have been getting more water into him and giving him a bit of baby peas food
__________________
Khari
Mom to Libby (4 Month Old Kitten) 🐈
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old March 25th, 2010, 06:19 AM
Eclecticats Eclecticats is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2
Raw Diet

I feed my cat a raw diet and she moves her bowls every 2 days, sometimes 2 days in a row and sometimes she skips 2 days.

I do have a question.
If they say that you can give your cat 1/2 teaspoon of baby food squash
twice a week for hairballs, how do you keep the baby food from spoiling? It says on the jar that once opened, you may refrigerate for 2 days only. This tells me that I cannot give my cat this baby food. What do I do take a teaspoon out and throw the rest away.
Very confusing as to how people are feeding their cats baby food squash.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old March 25th, 2010, 07:19 AM
sugarcatmom's Avatar
sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 5,357
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eclecticats View Post
What do I do take a teaspoon out and throw the rest away.
Very confusing as to how people are feeding their cats baby food squash.
You can freeze tsp-sized portions on a plate and put them in a baggie for later use.
__________________
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb

“We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies.” ~ Gretchen Wyler
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old March 25th, 2010, 04:33 PM
Eclecticats Eclecticats is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 2
Freezing Baby Food Squash

If you have freezed it, have you had problems with it getting watery?
This is the response I received from Beechnut Baby Food:

Thank you for writing to Beech-Nut. Freezing our baby food is not
recommended because the liquids separate from the solids upon thawing and
the product becomes like a sponge. The foods may become
watery; and undesirable (unsightly) as our baby foods are produced without
stabilizers.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old March 27th, 2010, 12:26 AM
growler~GateKeeper's Avatar
growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 17,568
If you are only giving the butternut squash there should be no problem as there is only 2 ingredients butternut squash & water. I have frozen & thawed the Heinz Organic butternut squash babyfood with no issues, I prefer to use ice cube trays to freeze it in as it keeps it a bit more compact than a plate & easier to transfer to a freezer bag.
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do

The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old April 6th, 2010, 07:09 PM
Twocents Twocents is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 78
Picture of cat feces from raw-fed cat

Hope this helps.

See about half way down this page on Dr. Pierson’s Catinfo.org under Making Cat Food:

http://catinfo.org/makingcatfood.htm

“Even though bones are the most natural and optimal source of calcium, one of the most common problems that people encounter in their cats when starting to feed a raw diet is constipation. Constipation may become an issue if too much bone is added but constipation may also be a result of introducing a diet that is very foreign to an intestinal tract that has only dealt with dry food in the past and now needs time to adapt to a new diet, that is, if it can adapt.

Please keep in mind that cats do not pass feces in the same volume, consistency, and frequency that a cat on a dry food diet does. I have many people write to me with the worry that their cat is "constipated" because they are not passing stool every day. This is not necessarily a sign of constipation. Cats on a low residue diet like the one on this webpage will not usually pass stool every day. There is very little waste contained in this diet and so the volume of feces will be less. Also, the feces of a raw-fed cat is often dry and crumbly.

Quote:
This is a picture of feces from 2 separate bowel movements from my cats. In other words, an average bowel movement from my cats is half this volume. I crushed 2 of the fecal pieces to show how dry and crumbly it is. Feces from a raw-fed cat also has very little odor!
Signs of constipation include straining and unable to pass feces, or crying in the litter box and acting distressed.

So how do we know how much is "too much" bone? The last thing any of us wants to deal with is a constipated cat but this is the tricky part of the equation and varies from cat to cat.

When the typical prey of wild cats is analyzed, there is a fairly wide range in the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in these prey animals so we do have some leeway when dealing with this issue…”

__________________
What part of "Meow" don't you understand?

We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Inaction is part of the problem.
Please advocate for animals.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old April 6th, 2010, 07:24 PM
Twocents Twocents is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 78
Lactulose for constipation forum link

Cat constipation, lactulose info

http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=880916

I had no luck giving pumpkin or squash - cat got sick of it.
__________________
What part of "Meow" don't you understand?

We can be part of the problem or part of the solution. Inaction is part of the problem.
Please advocate for animals.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:40 AM.