Have you read "Feline Urinary Tract Health:
Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection" by Dr. Lisa Pierson?
See a story there about a cat named Opie who almost died from a blockage. Dr. Pierson want to prevent other cats from suffering from this. http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth
"Water Fountains for Cats" study says "The results here do not support replacing a cat?s water bowl with a fountain to achieve increased water intake and production of dilute urine." http://winnfelinehealth.blogspot.com/2010/09/water-fountains-for-cats.html
RESPONSE:
That's why we still use both! Some cats drink like crazy from the fountains, others just like to play in them then drink from the bowls! Shows you just never know with cats!
Donna -
House Full Cats Mom
Sep 05, 2009 Rating
recall by: Anonymous
Didnt they have a recall on the venison in april 09?
RESPONSE:
We don't know about a recall but are looking into it. Does anybody else know?
Donna House Full Cats Mom
Aug 12, 2009 Rating
Hill's Products by: Natalie
I wanted to concur with Donna re: Hills Products (Science Diet). When we adopted our first set of female kittens last summer, the vet sent us home with free samples of the Science Diet dry food and we later bought the wet food. The girls ate it for a while, but then started turning up their noses at it. Interestingly enough, during the time when they were on Science Diet, they were having bouts of constipation, bloody stools, and diarrhea. As new kitten parents, we freaked out and were running to the vet a lot at first.
I know some swear by Science Diet, but it was not working for our girls. I didn't know what to do since just about every food I researched was part of that awful pet food recall. Finally, I found one--Natural Balance--that wasn't part of the recall and seemed high quality. Plus, unlike the limited flavors of Science Diet, we had a wide variety to choose from, from the "exotic" (Duck and Green Peas and Venison) to the standard cat food fare (Chicken, Turkey, Whitefish, etc.). Success! The girls scarfed down the food--and their bowel problems eventually disappeared. Their coats are now sleek and shiny, too.
Later we adopted our two boys (12-week old shelter cats) and started them off on Natural Balance. They were both scrawny, their fur looked matted and they had eye goop and eye infections at first. After a month or so on the food, the problems mostly cleared up. They are big, handsome boys now (the largest is 15 lbs--he's not fat, just very tall and very long!). Also, I was very concerned that the boys might develop urinary tract problems (when I had male cats in the past, this was an issue), but so far, so good.
Everyone's favorite is Venison, by the way!
I'm sure there are other terrific foods out there, but since we found a brand that all four cats love we're going to keep them on it. I just wanted to share this story of our journey away from Science Diet.
Natalie:
Thank you so much for your story! We have heard good things about Natural Balance but haven't tried it ourselves. Glad your babies are doing well on it!
