Sunday, August 23, 2009

Food and Litter Report

As return visitors to The Kitty Krew may recall, a few weeks ago The Mommy mentioned that she was wanting to try to change our food to a more natural/healthy dry food from our regular kibble. Part of this in response to Bugsy's recent bladder stone surgery (yes, for you new readers, that's in addition to the eye removal surgery 10 days ago - it's been a rough summer for the Bugster!), and partly because she started reading about such things and thought a more healthy food would benefit us all.

So she received many suggestions (thank you all!) as well as some actual food from Angel and Kirby's mom that they weren't eating (thank you!), and has been trying out some different varieties on us the past few weeks. On top of that -- and this was a question from several of you in response to that original post, which The Mommy didn't have the answer for at the time -- it did turn out that Bugsy's bladder stone was a struvite stone, so the v-e-t wants to put Bugsy on that big-name prescription c/d stuff...which still doesn't have very healthy ingredients. More about that in a minute.

As it turns out, Pixie is our easy-to-please kitty. He'll eat pretty much anything, at least so far. On the other end of the spectrum, Callie is extremely picky and has been reluctant to even try anything but our old brand, Kit 'n Kaboodle. In between, Bugsy, Sassy and Roxy each have liked some of the varieties we've tried, and not others.

Just to give you a quick summary of the ones we tried: other than Pixie, Bugsy was the only one to eat the Addiction Venison flavor. But all of them except Callie liked the Addiction Salmon Bleu flavor. Angel and Kirby gave us food from By Nature, and Sassy really liked it, Bugsy and Pixie both ate it, but not Roxy or Callie. All except Callie and maybe Roxy (not sure if we've seen her eat it) like the Wellness Core flavor.

But even before hearing for sure that Bugsy's stone was a struvite stone, The Mommy had run across one of Wysong's products called Uretic, that's supposed to be specially formulated "for cats prone to urolithiasis" -- a fancy way of saying bladder stones (and similar conditions) when it comes to cats. So she ordered some of that, figuring she could at least see if Bugsy specifically, and any of the rest of us, liked it, in case it was necessary to eat that kind of food.

Whoa nelly. Hands down, it's been the most popular food we've tried. We all eat it -- and we do mean ALL, she's even seen Miss Persnickety CALLIE eat it. Thing is, the v-e-t doesn't really want Bugsy eating it, or at least relying on it to do what it needs to do, since it doesn't have "clinical studies" and so forth standing behind it, like the big-name stuff does. (Although they do have a prescription version, too.) But he has an open mind, and is willing to let us try it for awhile and monitor Bugsy closely to see if it looks like he still has a problem with struvite crystals as a precursor to any recurring stones.

Now, we haven't given up on our old standby KnK, either. Depends on what we're in the mood for. But what The Mommy would like to do is get rid of the KnK altogether, and have another healthy food to use as a second food alternative instead. So there are still a couple of other samples or small bags of food that she has yet to test us on, as she's reluctant to take away the KnK until she finds something else Miss Picky Callie will eat too.

The Mommy also got a few cans of healthy stinky goodness for us as a test to see if we'd like it -- we've never much been into that before -- and once again, all but Miss Picky have been enjoying a spoonful or so as a treat on the weekends. She got two different flavors of Wellness Core, one is chicken/turkey/liver and the other is salmon/whitefish/herring. Miss Picky doesn't know what she's missing! She'll lick a little off The Mommy's finger, but won't eat it out of the bowl herself. Silly goose.

~~~

We've also been among many kitty bloggers trying out The World's Best Cat Litter since early last month. The Mommy first did a split-box thing, where one box had the free sample (thanks, Drew!) of WBCL and the other box had our old litter. While there was a clear preference shown for the old litter, the WBCL was definitely being used. After a couple-three weeks of that, The Mommy decided it was time to get some more WBCL and switch out both boxes, to give it a real test.

There was some initial resistance by someone, we're not sure who but there's a good chance it was once again Miss Picky Callie (although possibly Roxy). Whoever it was, was only peeing outside the boxes, they were still using them to poop at least. But now, after a couple of weeks, either resistance is gone, or another not-as-obvious peeing place has been found...

The Mommy definitely likes WBCL much better than the old stuff. Better odor control, doesn't get tracked through the house as much, little/no dust, clumps better. It's denser, which probably helps it clump better, but it also makes sifting it a little harder so it takes a bit longer to clean the boxes -- but that's such a small trade-off compared to the good points. She doesn't try flushing it since we have a septic system and don't want to risk adding too much to the tank (hey, with 5 cats, we have a lot of waste!), so can't say how well that works.

It's made of corn, and it seems to have almost a sawdust/barn smell to it - pleasant, not harsh. Definitely no perfume-y or chemical smell. It's more expensive initially, but intended to last longer so the cost benefit should be somewhat equal over time.

Right now, they're celebrating the grand opening of their re-designed website and re-designed product packaging, and all bloggers can get a $4.00 off coupon on their site through August 29 - Get $4.00 off WBCL!. WBCL is available generally at Petsmart and Petco, as well as other retailers and some online stores as well. There's a store locater on their website.

~~~

That's a lot of info for one post, maybe useful maybe useless. But we thought we'd share it anyway! Now we need to go nap through the rest of this Easy Sunday. You cats take it easy, too!




23 comments:

Quill and Greyson said...

Good for you Callie - I'm told I am picky too.

Daisy said...

It's awesome that you're trying out some real good foods. I know Wysong is a very premium brand.

I had Oxalate stones in my bladder, and I was on prescription foods for a while. My new (holistic) vet said the best thing to do for me would be to make sure I ate lots of wet food and very little/no dry foods. It seems every vet has a different opinion on feline nutrition!

Sally Ann and Andy said...

Hi Kitty Crew,
I can write to you, but if I saw y'all in cat(like person, but cat, ha ha). I would be afraid. I wanted to say my cousin Betty looks like Miss Roxy.
Mack

The Island Cats said...

We hope that food works for Bugsy...Wysong is good stuff...our mom feeds us grain-free foods, mostly because of Ernie's allergies.

We tried the WBCL too...just like your mom, our mom split the boxes between WBCL and our old stuff (Tidy Cat)...Wally wouldn't use the WBCL so after 2 weeks, mom switched us back...now we started using Precious Cat litter (based on a comment by Gandalf & Grayson) and we really like it! Mom says she may try WBCL again sometime...

Sam and Andy said...

Wow, that's a lot of info to retain, but we know our Mommy appreciates it and is processing it all........thanks....:)

Y'all have a purrfect day.

Bengal Duo ~ Zulu and Deene said...

we're not fur which other foods other kitteah might has told you abouts but this is the one our mum gets us, is all natural and nummy!

http://www.healthypetnet.com/HealthyPetNet/Products/ProductList.aspx?realname=10105031&cat=0&hdr=&Ath=False&category=Cat_Food%28Pet_Base%29


purrs!

JC said...

Thanks for the litter and food review ...

Unknown said...

We are purr-ty good 'bout eatin' our foods for momma. She said she needs ta be really careful because Miss Camille Suzanne has a delicate tummy and frows up lotsa' foods that are new so's she is stickin' to what we eat now.

Cool that you's momma is open to new an' different things☺

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

We like Worlds Best Cat Litter, too!
Sure was nice of Mr. Drew to send us such a nice big bag to try.
Hope you can find just the purrfect food!
~ Malachi

Anya said...

Yes
Many info ..... LOL
But very interesting :)

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

We are very picky about what we want to eat and Momma has tried to give us good and healthy food but we won't eat it, so we break her down and make her buy us the stinky goodness we like...Fancy Feast. She wishes we would eat better, but we kitties always win.

purrs
Abby

Noir the Texas Tabby said...

Tell the Mommy how Tommy hears her on the food adventure. Years ago, with before kitty, Sammy was diagnosed with kidney failure. The Vet wanted him to see the c/d's cousin. At the time Perry was just a few years old--long story short. Sammy did a few bites, while Perry would eat it--but had diarreah. The stuff wasn't cheap for the size bag you got and was going to waste. The Vet told Tommy to read labels and Tommy began to read the 'net. Anything with ground yellow corn-is a filler and Tommy won't get it.

I'm glad things have settled down. Tommy's not tried the litter. Right now, we're still Tidy Cat cats.

Give Bugster a pet for us

Noir the Neighbor!

Angel, Kirby and Max said...

Mom has only tried one healthier food ans as you know, we would not eat it. Mom would like to get us on something cause the vet keeps telling her to cut down the amount she gives us so we will loose weight. We only get two thirds a cup dry food every day. And we keep begging for more. Angel is not too keen on wet food, she only likes the gravy. So she splits a can (cup)of Meow Mix between us every night.

We like the WBCL , too. We got our free bag ans Dad did the split, one box with new, one with old, ans we use both. As soon as we run out of the old, both boxes are going to WBCL. Mom just bought a big bag, so can't take advantage of the $4.00 off!

Have a good easy SUnday!

Hansel said...

hmmm we'll have to try the litter next time around, is it expensive? Also, for the c/d .... there are other companies that make things for stones... like Royal Canin makes 'Feline Urinary SO" and Purina makes 'Feline UR"

You might want to ask the vet about those as well. I'm not sure about the difference in nutrition- why not look it up? If we can help with anything let us know (mom orders this particular stuff for her clinic ALL the time)

Ozark Mountain Cats said...

We can give a little review (positive) on the expensive "CD" food that the vet carries. Our cats ate it for ages and liked it. The general age was from one year of age till the cat(s) passed away at 18-19 years of age. Two years ago we switched to Friskie's urinary food. It's about half the price of the CD and it also comes in stinky goodness. The cats abruptly quit eating it this summer so we're feeding adult Authority which is a good food manufactored for Petsmart.

Mickey's Musings said...

We hope you find a good solution to your food problem. We often wonder how much Vet food is better than other kinds.It seems there is no control on the making of pet food.
Just keep monitoring your kitties.Moms often know when something is wrong ;)
Purrs Mickey,Georgia & Tillie

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

I only eat Whiskas - SS has tried me out on several others and I don't like them. Then again, we have much fewer choice in brands than you.

Jasmim said...

Thank you to the comments about Ted !

Tuck said...

I will usually eat almost any food. The exception was this one time my mom tried me on some sort of holistic grain-free gluten free stuff. I didn't eat for three days. The food was replaced...

Reese =^..^= said...

I am very fortunate and have a very healthy appetite.

Vicki said...

I love testing out new stuff...but I can be pernickety too....

Anonymous said...

Skeeter is kinda picky about things (Scooter RIP) was too, but only with kittie food). You'll all agree on something...

Ivan from WMD said...

Ha! Gracie does the same thing as Callie (half-use the cat box)! I guess her little nose is just too delicate.

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