Lee
Senior Member
- Location
- Chatham, Ontario
Ranger developed this several months ago, rapidly lost weight, matted fur, he looked like a train wreck. Tests were done and a new diet ordered, he liked the food he was on which was a gastro intestinal diet and this new food I was warned was something that not all cats liked, in fact most hate it.
But Ranger liked it, he is an oddball, his weight slowly started going up and his fur went back to almost normal. But this diet is not easy, the cat is strictly controlled to only that food, no treats, nothing. Don't ask me how they do it but all salt is eliminated from the food.
Ranger always got tidbits of people food, the first three days on the new diet food I was forced to go outside to eat, locking myself in the bathroom only resulted in howling outside the door. Any food accidentally dropped on the floor resulted in this almost 18 year old cat going into rocket mode.
Now the last week he decided he does not like the kibble any longer, and of course he made this decision after buying the $45 bag. Still was eating the canned stuff, so bought 10 tins at $3.80 a pop.....more expensive than canned people salmon I know.
Now last three days will not eat the canned stuff, just little sniffs and bites and walks away. But still hungry as he attempts to grab my food so I knew it was the food, not him sick.
Called the vet, he will now be switched to a senior food or renal diet, vet has to check his numbers from the past two blood works and put on pills which he warned while keeping the thyroid in check could also push the kidney numbers up so a pill would reduce that risk.
Bottom line, you must prepare yourself for that outcome.
To my thinking, Ranger is almost 18 years old and it comes down to quality of life for his remaining time, enough of trying to coax him to eat what he does not like, I could not live eating the same thing day after day.
Seems to me it's about the same thing as telling an 85 year old person with cancer that he cannot have that cigarette after smoking for 70 years.
Thoughts?
But Ranger liked it, he is an oddball, his weight slowly started going up and his fur went back to almost normal. But this diet is not easy, the cat is strictly controlled to only that food, no treats, nothing. Don't ask me how they do it but all salt is eliminated from the food.
Ranger always got tidbits of people food, the first three days on the new diet food I was forced to go outside to eat, locking myself in the bathroom only resulted in howling outside the door. Any food accidentally dropped on the floor resulted in this almost 18 year old cat going into rocket mode.
Now the last week he decided he does not like the kibble any longer, and of course he made this decision after buying the $45 bag. Still was eating the canned stuff, so bought 10 tins at $3.80 a pop.....more expensive than canned people salmon I know.
Now last three days will not eat the canned stuff, just little sniffs and bites and walks away. But still hungry as he attempts to grab my food so I knew it was the food, not him sick.
Called the vet, he will now be switched to a senior food or renal diet, vet has to check his numbers from the past two blood works and put on pills which he warned while keeping the thyroid in check could also push the kidney numbers up so a pill would reduce that risk.
Bottom line, you must prepare yourself for that outcome.
To my thinking, Ranger is almost 18 years old and it comes down to quality of life for his remaining time, enough of trying to coax him to eat what he does not like, I could not live eating the same thing day after day.
Seems to me it's about the same thing as telling an 85 year old person with cancer that he cannot have that cigarette after smoking for 70 years.
Thoughts?
