Expert: Silva Mirovics - 3/12/2008

Question
Hi Silva,

Maybe you might have some information that will help me. I have a sick cat 13 years old siamese mix. He has always had problems with Diarrhea vomiting, allergies and such, in the last year he has gotten much worse.

He had contstant vomiting and Diarrhea. I isolated him,put him on baby food,then switched to boiled chicken w/rice. he has improved  quite a bit. I'm now adding probiotic and enzyme powder, and a little vitamineral green supplement. I may have used too much,he had a slight relapse last night,but is okay today. I've also tried a liquid probiotic supplement, it has papaya and cranberry,"digestive Supplement by pet authority, I wasn't sure if the fruit in it would be okay.

My question to  you is, what foods do you know of that would help keep him stablized and give him more nutrition. How long can I keep him on a diet like this? I've heard Eagle Pack products and foods might be good for him. I think he might have IBD the vet has never been able figure out what it is and my other cats are healthy, and don't catch it.

Thanks
Deborah

Answer
Hi Deborah,
Oh your poor little fellow.
The probiotics are certainly good, as are your other supplements.  I would be careful with the green supplement and the onces containing fruit - just give in small doses.  Chicken and boiled brown rice can be great for settling the tummy.  But long-term you will need to look at adding other raw meats.  I would not be giving him any commercial foods at this stage - keeping his diet as close to nature as you can.  Cats are pure carnivors and need about 90% protein in their diet.  The rest can be made up of fruits, veggies etc..

There is a fabulous product by a herbalist named Robert McDowell.  If you go to his website:  www.herbal-treatments.com
Go to "Herbs for Cats",
then scroll down to Irritable Bowel disease.  One bottle will last you many months, so it works out very cost effective and the remedies are of medicinal strength, so you will see good results.  You may need to keep him on this for life at a maintenance dose, or you may find that after a three or four month period, things have sorted themselves out.

Please let me know if you need any further information.
Kind regards,
Silva.