gluten-free Cat Food For Constipated Cats

[WinterSong]

I've posted about this briefly in other topics, but I think I really need to make a switch and need help.

My cat has been to the hospital twice for severe constipation. The vet put her on a special prescription food to help her go to the bathroom, and now she's healthy and very happy. But it has gluten in it. I'm struggling. My boyfriend mostly feeds her but sometimes he gets stuck at work or goes out of town. I hold my breath when I feed her because of particles that are released in the air when I open the bag, and I wash my hands constantly. But then of course she licks herself after she eats. And she sheds. And her hair is everywhere. And I also want to kiss her because I love her so much.

I'm going to talk with our vet, but my boyfriend is very reluctant to try anything new for fear of endangering our cat's life.

Does anyone know of gluten free cat food for constipation?

Also, any advice? I feel like I need a hug.

[bartfull]

I never switched over to gluten-free food for my precious kitty. I scooped her dried food instead of pouring so that cut down the dust. I just made it a point to wash my hands before I put anything in my mouth. That way even if I touched some of her shed hair, let alone her herself, I never got glutened. When I kissed her it was always on top of her head (she hated to be kissed but I would say, "I kissed you right on top of your head! You hate that! But I do it 'cause I love you so much.") Then I would wash my lips just in case.

 

With a little extra care on your part you can keep both your kitty and yourself from getting sick.

[ravenwoodglass]

Are you getting ill frequently or have blood results that indicate you are still getting gluten somewhere? If not I think Bartfull gave good advice. If you are having problems then do talk to your vet. They are quite familiar, in many cases, with animals who have to be grain free so the vet may have an option that will work for you. 

[mamaw]

I   have  been  learning  so much  about  Cat food lately... I love  my furry friends  as  I love my  children!!! Let's  face  it  they are  my  kids  now  that the kids  have  grown...heck, I  don't  even  think  they  know  they  are  considered  pets! But  they  put  up  with us  humans  &  let  us  have a  small place  on the  couch &  bed!!!!

Here  is  what  I'm  learning, we  should not  be feeding dry  food to  cats, not  enough moisture ( constipation) &  other  issues  happen... esp. in older  cats... also  can  cause  overweight  &  diabetes....out  cat  loves  dry food  &   canned  ......Recently at a  vet   apt they  said  I  really needed  to  do  something  in regards to  the  cat as  far as feeding.... The  cat   could  stay on  wild  Alaskan  salmon  raw & other  raw  foods  but  needed  to  get  rid  of the  dry  food  & only give  it  as  a  few grains  for a treat  & try to  wean  off completely.... I  purchased  a  low carb  food  called EVO  which was a start. Cat  is VERY picky but  ate  this  dry.  Plus  I  found  all low carb canned   food (  which  again  I  need  to wean off  of). I  continued  my research  to  find  Radcat  &  Young Again cat  food... tons  of  good  reports....I  received samples  of  Young Again  &  cat loved  it... I  just ordered  this food  cat  is loving it &  vet  is  very happy. saying  I probably  am adding  years to  cats  life....We too  have  noticed  a  difference  in the  cat... All good...

I think we  as  humans  tend to think  what  we  eat  like  veggies  & grains  are also good  for  our  furry friends  but  that  is not  so...So  we  are  now  almost  weaned    after  11  years! 

[BlessedMommy]

I adopted a constipated kitty. His previous owner feed him gluten containing dry cat food. I switched him to grain free wet cat food and added things to it like canned pumpkin, extra water, prune juice, etc. My kitty's constipation has improved a lot. 

 

Now that I've read of the health benefits of wet cat food, I'm working on switching my other kitty other to grain free wet food.

[bartfull]

My vet told me my kitty should have both wet and dry food. The dry food is lower in calories and is good for their teeth. The canned food helps prevent constipation. What I used to do with my precious kitty was leave dry food in her dish for her to munch on whenever she wanted, and twice a day I gave her about a tablespoon of canned. It kept her healthy.

 

It's also really important that their water dish is always filled with FRESH water. Our water here is so full of minerals it'll clog a coffee pot within a week so both my kitty and I drank bottled (RO) water.

 

If your kitty doesn't drink enough that will cause constipation. Some cats just don't, but if you have moving water for her she will likely drink more. There are devices that they make just for that purpose that are sort of like mini waterfalls. Cats love to drink from them.

[bartfull]

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[WinterSong]

Thank you so much for the advice.

 

I don't think I've gotten outwardly sick from handling my cat's food. My last blood test came back negative, but she lives at my boyfriend's apartment (we're planning on moving in together), and I wasn't seeing her on a daily basis. But emotionally it has been stressing me out a lot, and I'm worried about long term effects of having gluteny cat hair everywhere.

 

In the past, my cat rairly drank water, but recently has been drinking a lot more. She didn't like the moving water. Our favorite trick was placing a mug of water in the bedroom. She thinks that it is my mug and that she's being sneaky and stealing it

 

When she was with her foster family, she ate dry cat food full of carbs and gluten. When we took her home we put her on a very good quality wet food because we wanted her to be healthier, but that was when she first started getting constipated. The vet had us try mixing pumpkin in with it which only helped a little. Then she went on the medicated food and her poops looked like dinosaur poops. We couldn't believe that she had all of that in her little body! Her energy and overall happiness increased. So the tricky thing is that all of the advice to put her on high quality, high protein, low carb food does not work for her.  I think I need to find a gluten-free brand of specially made food for constipated cats.

[bartfull]

But if you or your vet can't find it, honestly, just wash your hands every time before you put something in your mouth. You should be doing that anyway, A.) to avoid germs, and B.)to avoid gluten. Seriously. There are folks here who worry about friends coming over and putting their gluteny hands on the doorknob and other surfaces. If they just wash their hands every time they eat anything, they don't have to worry about it. It's the same with the cat. You won't get germs or gluten, and the cat can stay on this medicated food that has helped her so much.

 

And as I said, I was gluten-free for over four years and still fed my cat gluten food before she died last week of old age. I never got glutened by her, not even once.

[psawyer]

You have received some good advice. Your mother probably taught you to wash your hands before eating--she just did not know the real reason!

 

For many years, my wife and I operated a retail store that sold pet food and supplies. We gave treats to dogs that came in, and most of them were NOT Gluten-free. We each got into the habit of washing our hands after every canine visitor. Never had a problem over almost 12 years.

 

Washing your hands frequently is also the best defense against colds and the flu.

[BlessedMommy]

I'm sorry for the loss of your fur baby, bartfull.

[bartfull]

Thanks Ruth. She was my best friend and I will miss her forever.

[WinterSong]

Thank you, everyone, for the advice. I may ask my vet for an alternative, but if she doesn't have one I'll just continue doing what I'm doing and work to decrease my anxiety about it. Thank you for sharing your experiences. 

 

And bartfull - very sorry for your loss. I'm sure that you had given her a wonderful home and that she lived a very happy life.