I wrote about this a few days ago, tagged onto an old topic where another person was having similar concerns, however I didn't get a response and I imagine the thread was too inactive for anyone to really have seen it. I decided to start my own and would really appreciate some sound advice or suggestions!
When I got Jack from his foster home a few weeks ago, he had been eating Purina One kitten formula for about a month. I kept him on the Purina for the next two weeks just because I thought it would be best for his well-being. I knew he was getting used to his new home and new routine with me, as well as being weaned and more strictly box-trained, so I didn't want to put too much onto his plate (no pun intended). After doing a lot of research and talking to vets, I decided I would try him on Innova EVO. I had read nothing but good things and at the time of the recall mania, it seemed like a true safe haven in the food industry.
Well, the first week I mixed 75% Purina and 25% Innova. He ate it very well and didn't leave any Innova behind (I know some cats tend to pick out the food they prefer). After that week, I upped it to about 60%, 40% and he still ate well. However, his stool became very loose and very, VERY smelly. I won't tell you how I described the smell to a friend but just know it involved a mexican dish and a dead person's hindquarters. :-# Anyway, I kept it up for a day or two and just thought it would work itself out, but it didn't. His loose stool never seemed to cause discomfort, however, I noticed it was very runny in the box, almost clumpy like urine. When I poked it open with my scooper, I noticed a streak of red in it. It was blood, or at least it looked that way to me. This worried me and immediately I backed down on his Innova intake, going back to the original 75%, 25%. His stool hardened up again and we continued on and recently this week I tried to up it again. Today when I walked into the kitchen, he was in the pantry, scooting around on his bottom. He would stop and lick his backside and then scoot some more. I looked at his bottom and it was clean. I sat him down and he just kept close to me, sitting at my feet while I did dishes. Well, eventually I smelled that horrible smell and when I looked down, he was gone. I looked into the pantry and I saw him scraping furiously at the lineoleum around a streak of smeared stool. I wasn't angry, but he seemed so embarrassed by it. I could tell he didn't mean to do it, especially after I saw his litter box, so I hugged him and shut him up in my bedroom, since it is IMPOSSIBLE to clean his litter box or go near it without him on top of me, trying to get between me and his "business".
I looked in the litter box and there were those same runny clumps as before and even some that had gotten on the side of the box. I poked at it and saw a little streak of red again. After cleaning it and the floor, I called the pet store where I buy his Innova and asked the woman at the counter if this was normal. She said because of his age that the food might be too rich for him, but that it should settle itself down in a few days. Well, this is the second time it's happened and he's been mixing Innova for nearly two and a half weeks.
Do I have anything to worry about? Should I just give up on him eating Innova, since it seems to not agree with him? I don't want to change his food right now, even to go back to the Purina because I am worried that might cause even another upset. I'm just keeping the mixing at the level it is right now, just for consistency's sake, but if this could be messing with his digestive system or hurting him at such a young age, I would like to discontinue it and find a good food that is healthy, but mild. Of course, if this is something he will work through, I'd like to know so I can at least be prepared.
Thanks for reading this, if you made it all the way through. ANY help would be appreciated!!
sarah & stinky jack
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