Dried food suggestions for cat w/ allergies

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Where would you start if you suspect your cat had allergies to… something? To be clear, this is NOT my cat and owners would like to at least try to change foods before going to vet for allergy issues.

Would grain free be the place to start? Or try a different protein? Currently, cats are fed this dried food and a variety of high quality can foods (mostly weruva, earthborn holistics and holistics select). Symptoms are irritated, red, itchy face, minor ear infections that keep coming back, and weepy eyes. Other causes have been ruled out. A long lasting steroid shot (given for bad chin acne) apparently cleared up his skin and eyes temporarily.

[jen-s]

I’d try a novel protein like rabbit, venison, or duck in a limited ingredient food. If things don’t resolve, consider raw.

[Artemis]

I HIGHLY recommend Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost. http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/kibble/rawboost/all

One of my cats was always itching, nothing severe, but he would get little sores from scratching so much. I finally switched to the Nature’s Variety and his itching went away almost immediately. Cats are not meant to eat food with a bunch of grains & veggie fillers. Cats are obligate carnivores, and do much better when they are eating mostly meat. Weruva is a great brand, I’m not a big fan of earthborn. I’d suggest Nature’s Variety. There is also Acana (http://www.acana.com/products/regionals/wild-prairie-cat-kitten/)

This (http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/cats/) is a great website for more grain free & raw based cat foods.

[Alagirl]

good grief, on the good stuff and itchy…I might bite the bullet and test the stuff that is in that food first.

But trying a novel food source might help - if the cat eats it. I got the one finger salute when I bought a bag from the TSC and not the usual stuff…:no: eventually they finished it though.

just one thing: Sking allergies take a longish time to clear up and to manifest themselves. Or rather can.

The cat owner might want to have the aid of an anti hystamine to clear things up, but definitely needs to take he time to make sure it’s that food - or the new one.

[3horsemom]

Our cat had similar symptoms and it turned out that he is allergic to chicken. Apparently that is a very common allergy in cats. Who knew? I second the novel protein suggestion. It has worked well for us.

[catzndogz22]

My sensitive-to-everything Lucy kitty has done very well on Natural Balance canned food for years. I’ve experimented with pretty much every dry food available and they all mess her up.

[Simkie]

@ericalynn89;7048390

I HIGHLY recommend Nature’s Variety Instinct Raw Boost. http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/kibble/rawboost/all

I wouldn’t recommend this stuff at all for a potential allergy animal. There’s so much OTHER STUFF that could set off a reaction. I wish they would pare down their ingredient list…I see no reason to feed a cat blueberries, alfalfa, persimmons or the multiple other non-meat items there

California Natural or Before Grain might be a good option. Both have a much simpler ingredient list than Nature’s Variety.

[Artemis]

[QUOTE=Simkie;7050614]
I wouldn’t recommend this stuff at all for a potential allergy animal. There’s so much OTHER STUFF that could set off a reaction. I wish they would pare down their ingredient list…I see no reason to feed a cat blueberries, alfalfa, persimmons or the multiple other non-meat items there

California Natural or Before Grain might be a good option. Both have a much simpler ingredient list than Nature’s Variety.[/QUOTE]

California Natural (same company as EVO) was just bought out by Procter & Gamble, so I wouldn’t suggest buying that much longer.
I do like Merrick’s Before Grain, but it also has blueberries & alfalfa so if you’re against that, I don’t see why Nature’s Variety is any different.
In Nature’s Variety blueberries are the 15th ingredient which is much better compared to being the 10th ingredient in Merrick. Also NV doesnt have potatoes, which I do not like to see in the ingredient list at all (especially being the 3rd ingredient) and Sweet potatoes at 6th… In Nature’s Variety 8 of the first 9 ingredients are meat, which is why I chose it.

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=ericalynn89;7050646]
California Natural (same company as EVO) was just bought out by Procter & Gamble, so I wouldn’t suggest buying that much longer. [/QUOTE]

Not “just.” Probably about two years ago now. And believe you me, I have been VERY VOCAL about my disappointment and dislike of that sellout on this forum. That said, they do limited ingredient diets VERY well. Perhaps better than anyone else.

I do like Merrick’s Before Grain, but it also has blueberries & alfalfa so if you’re against that, I don’t see why Nature’s Variety is any different.

Thanks for calling that out. I think that’s something fairly new. I admit I don’t keep up on the ingredients of their dry food as I stopped feeding dry to my cats years and years ago. The BG wet food is excellent for allergy cats, as long as they can tolerate chicken eggs. Hound & Gatos is an excellent wet for cats that cannot have eggs.

In Nature’s Variety blueberries are the 15th ingredient which is much better compared to being the 10th ingredient in Merrick. Also NV doesnt have potatoes, which I do not like to see in the ingredient list at all (especially being the 3rd ingredient) and Sweet potatoes at 6th… In Nature’s Variety 8 of the first 9 ingredients are meat, which is why I chose it.

Still, NV has a PLETHORA of potential allergens. The list is RIDICULOUSLY long. Incredibly disappointing, IMO. Glad it works for you. I would not even consider it for my cats with food sensitivities. If there is a reaction there is just NO way to know what’s setting them off.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Thanks for all the help guys! After researching, I think canned only may be the way to go. All the dried foods have so many ingredients, plus one of the other cats is sooooo picky, and is really happy with the current dried food! The plan is to start with limited ingredient canned foods that are grain, wheat, corn, soy, milk and chicken free, then if he clears up, slowly expand to see what it is thats giving him problems.

How much do you feed? I know the cans have recommendations, but our animals would be grossly obese if we actually followed the recommendations. Cat is a slim, low energy 15lbs. Is 1.5 5.5oz cans a day enough?

[Alagirl]

[QUOTE=Big_Grey_hunter;7058851]

How much do you feed? I know the cans have recommendations, but our animals would be grossly obese if we actually followed the recommendations. Cat is a slim, low energy 15lbs. Is 1.5 5.5oz cans a day enough?[/QUOTE]

I feed a half a can per cat each feeding (5.5 oz)
they are trim and can nibble on the bowl of dry. Right now they are not cleaning the bowls much, I guess the heat, so I tend to skip the evening feeding.