Really, really stinky cat poo - help!

[Flaxbee]

This is a multi-part question/post. First, what is the best cat food diet - I know probably all dry or all moist isn't good, but is there a preferable ratio of 40/60 or 25/75? I have an older male cat (at least 11 y.o.) who is missing his top two canines so I feed him more moist than not, though I know the canines aren't used for much more than tearing meat, something he's never had to do. Then I have a 7 y.o. very lightweight female who has always done a great job maintaining her weight, I don't worry about her too much.

And then finally, the new, stinky poo guy. He's young, probably between 1.5 - 2 years and we just caught, fixed, and adopted him about 3 months ago. Vet said he checks out fine with worms, etc., and he's steadily put on weight. He strongly prefers moist food, though I haven't run the gamut with dry foods. I know many here recommend Royal Canin and Organix, both of which I'm going to try soon -- but what's the best ratio of moist to dry?

And why would the new guy's poo be SO SMELLY? He also farts a LOT (odd for a cat; I've been owned by more than 15 in my life and this guy is the first regular farter), and his poo is not really well formed, much looser than 'normal' turds, if I can say that without sounding totally obsessed with my cats' bowel movements. It also has an awful, kind of sour after smell. He's indoor/outdoor - sleeps outdoor on the screened porch and comes and goes thru a kitty door; he only brought me one mouse the first week he became a regular member of the household, and no other critters. I don't think he has a diet of much wild meat anymore because he powers through a lot of food each day and has gained probably 7 lbs since we brought him in - he's big, about 20 lbs, without an ounce of fat on him; when we first caught him he had an upper respiratory infection and even though he weighed 12 lbs, he was bony.

Thanks for any insight...

[sleepyhead]

1. Canned food is best for cats.

The latest research has shown that they do best on a high protein/high fat diet. Cats are carnivores and don't digest carbs well (note their anatomy: sharp shearing teeth to tear meat apart, very short digestive tracts that are not suited for lengthy digestion of fiber and carbs). Dry food is about 40% carbs - too high for cats and can lead to weight gain, maldigestion, flatulence, and even type II diabetes. Feed a high-quality canned diet exclusively - approximately 6 oz/cat/day, divided into 2 meals. This is also good to keep their fluid intake up - cats don't naturally drink lots of water and the fluid content in canned food is better for their urinary tracts.

For Stinky Poo cat: try the canned food regimen first (making sure to use a high-end food as opposed to the cheap brands, which contain lots of filler). That may be all you need to do. If that doesn't do the trick, see if you can determine if there is a particular flavor that sets him off (e.g. maybe liver is too rich for him, etc.) Consider adding a probiotic to his food - check in the pet store or ask your vet for some RxBiotic (made by Rx Vitamin Co.) to add to the food. (Some vets use Tylan powder, which is a powdered antibiotic given at 1/8 tsp/meal, for this. It is very safe and works well for many gassy cats.) In some cases, flatulence may be due to inflammatory bowel disease, which often can be managed by switching to a hypoallergenic diet. Make sure that whatever diet you choose is fed consistently and exclusively for about 3-4 weeks before concluding that it doesn't work. It may take that long for his system to adjust. Good luck!

[Flaxbee]

4. Hi sleepyhead -

thanks for the info, I'll check out the RxBiotic and the Tylan with our vet. I don't mind the stinkiness so much as I want to make sure he's not ill. He's got such bad gas, and runny poo, that perhaps he does have some sort of bowel irritation.

[Lorien]

2. I sound like a broken record, but

I strongly recommend switching to a holistic diet (not Royal Canin-that's a "emergency brand" for when you can't find the good stuff, IMHO). I'm convinced that the stuff that's allowed in commercial foods causes loads of problems (see post #4 here:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x2281#2294 ), including vomiting, diarrhea, gassiness, weight gain, dandruff, behavioral problems and even severe illness. I know that a holistic diet cured my elderly cat Miro of the same problems you've described, and many of my friends who have switched to human grade foods have had the same positive experiences. www.waggintails.com and National Pet pharmacy are good places to go for holistic brands. Try Spot's Stew, Wellness, California Natural, Merrick, Newman's Own or Innova for wet food. Organix is the highest quality dry food I know of, but Wellness and Artemis Fresh Mix also make fairly good dry diets. My Oberon prefers dry food, but all three get wet food twice a day, in very moderate quantities (so nothing is wasted and they don't overeat). I also feed Kosher pets freeze dried beef diet and Brother's Blend raw diet for variety. There's lots to chose from. Try going to www.artemiscompany.com and use their search feature to find a retailer near you if you prefer not to shop via the internet.

On Edit: Here's a short list of some holistic pet food retailers in your state. A larger health food store will probably also carry some good brands:

NaturesRules, Inc
PO Box 413
Stokesdale, NC 27357
[phone]
[phone]
[phone] faxRetail Stores

Asheville Pet Supply
1451 Merrimon Av
Asheville, NC 28804
[phone]

Phydeaux
103 West Weaver St
Carrboro, NC 27510
[phone]

[Flaxbee]

3. hey Lorien...

was just cruising through one of the other cat threads and following one of your links, found Artemis and Asheville Pet Supply - thanks! I'm going there on Tues. and will make it a point to stop by.

;-)

[Lorien]

7. The Mountain Express says it's the best pet suppy store

in the area! Ask for samples; those natural pet food stores often will give you a bag full to take home and try. :hi:

[Princess Turandot]

5. He may actually have worms or an intestinal parasite..

they don't always show up on one test..depends on the luck of the sample and where the worms/parasites were in their life cycle.You might want to check with your vet again..it could be something like guardia or coccidia, both parasites, which I think usually make the stool smelly and loose. The treatments for those aren't that intensive. Also, if he goes outside, he can pick up parasite eggs from the soil, I think.

What are you feeding him? If it is 'super-market' cat food (Friskees, MeoxMix etc) it could be the food as others have suggested. If it's a pet store purchased brand, even if it isn't one of the most expensive ones, it's less likely to be the problem. I'm not entering the brand or type of diet debate but I don't feed my cats the most high-end foods and have never had an odor problem. (I think odor related to food has to do with how much of the nutrients are absorbed by the cat's system; the cheaper foods tend to leave more undigested nutrients in the stool.)

[Lorien]

6. Good point about the parasites

something us indoor only cat owners sometimes forget about.

Yeah, those cat food "fillers" (often corn based) do make for more waste. High quality foods also contain digestive enzymes and ingredients like papaya or chicory which help reduce waste and increase nutrient absorption.

[Eurobabe]

8. that was my first thought too, some kind of parasite

esp. if he is an outdoor/indoor guy.