The chick feed is corn, right? So, if he has an intolerance, I would imagine it ould be upsetting him. Isn't that the way it goes? Just when you think you've gotten the litter sorted out... :roll:
I wouldn't get too upset yet though. Have you tried giving him some slippery elm? That could really help a lot.

 

I would withhold food for 24 hours. Then give him a teaspoon of wet food, expecting that it might come back up. Wait an hour and give him another tsp, wait an hour and then another until you get a full meal in him. This process just sort of cleanses the system and allows the stomach to settle by not not having to work.

The litter sounds like a possibility for causing issues. What are you feeding?

I had good luck with the Slippery Elm with Callie's IBD, more so than reglan.

 

Can't withhold food from a cat for 24 hours, too risky, esp. if he's already sick or stressed.

Chick starter is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and can even contain chicken protein (poultry feathers). Some are medicated; the medication is not necessarily listed in the ingredients. It certainly could make him sick from that, or from the corn itself. Here's the ingredient list of one typical chick starter; note it also contains soy and wheat (common allergens), as well as menadione, a form of vitamin D that is potentially toxic; it's not allowed in pet food (though some companies, like Blue Buffalo and Purina, use it anyway).
Ground Corn, Dehulled Soybean Meal, Rice Bran, Wheat Middlings, Dried Bakery Product, Hydrolyzed Poultry Feathers, Whole Pressed Safflower Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosaphate, Salt, L-Lysine, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Methionine Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Copper Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Mineral Oil, Ehtylenediamine Dihydriodide, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.

Chick starter may sound like a good idea because it's cheaper than World's Best, but it's not just corn. I would never consider using it for my cats because they are bound to ingest it, just from cleaning their feet if nothing else.

Slippery elm is a good idea! Here's the recipe so you don't have to search for it:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?a ... lipperyelm

 

Can't withhold food from a cat for 24 hours, too risky, esp. if he's already sick or stressed.

Interesting...as this is advice I got from a vet when one of my cats had an unexplained vomiting episode. I was subsequently unimpressed with the care he provided for Callie's IBD, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Although it did work for the incident he prescribed it for and another time when Maggie was having similar issues.

 

My Cassie was diagnosed with IBD after she would undergo spells of frequent vomiting and regurgitation. She rarely had loose stools. The vet would just prescribe her metronidazole everytime she had a flare up, never suggesting a diet change etc. This went on for years. I wish I had done my own research. While the metronidazole would work to get the vomiting calmed down for several months in a row, she ended up developing intestinal lymphoma and I have read about a potential link between IBD and this cancer. I would think like previous posters have written that the chick starter may not be the best idea for a litter. Have you tried feeding some chicken baby food? It helped Cassie when she was sick. I would feed her that for a couple days untill her tummy was settled down. Of course it doesn't contain taurine so it can't replace regular cat food for an extended amount of time. Also Science Diet I/D worked wonders for my kitten Kaley while she had Giardia and was nauseous and had the runs. I don't like the ingredients but it did it's job while she was sick.

 

Chick starter may sound like a good idea because it's cheaper than World's Best, but it's not just corn. I would never consider using it for my cats because they are bound to ingest it, just from cleaning their feet if nothing else.

Interesting. I have been using it and found it to work absolutely fantastic! Don't want to put them at risk, though of course. However, I'm curious as to weather you feel there would be more harm for ingesting chicken starter than a scoopable clay litter....(non medicated, the stuff I get is non medicated, the brand has them listed sep. medicated or non medicated on the labels)

 

Oh everything is relative, you know. Depends on the cat, breed, how hairy the feet are, how vigorously a particular cat digs in the litter, current health problems, etc. Ingesting tiny amounts of clay at a time should not pose a problem to a normal, healthy adult cat (although it can for very young kittens and elderly cats, and cats with GI problems). For real diggers, dust can be a significant problem, and can lead to asthma. If you can find a chick starter that has fewer chemicals (there are several on the internet), maybe that's okay for cat with not-so-furry feet, or a cat that doesn't actually eat it!

Even though it is expensive, I willingly pay for World's Best. My guys do well with it and it keeps my own asthma at bay. After a while the coupons help reduce the monetary load ($2 on a 7# bag and $5 on a 17 or 34# bag). You just collect the bar codes and send them in. It's a big wad of coupons so the savings add up.

 

After a while the coupons help reduce the monetary load ($2 on a 7# bag and $5 on a 17 or 34# bag). You just collect the bar codes and send them in. It's a big wad of coupons so the savings add up.

Hmmm...I'm using World's Best and I never noticed anything about coupons. 2nd day in a row I learned something new! I'm gonna be so smart by the end of the week! :lol:

 

Someone posted that they were actually using laying mash which I think looks the same as the starter crumbles, but the ingredients were super basic with no chemicals added. I'll try switching to that. Luckily for me, I have never had a cat that eats the litter and tracking has never really been an issue here. All mine are short haired though, so I'm sure that makes a huge difference. Otherwise, I'll go back to Swheat scoop or worlds best. I didn't know about coupons.

Question, not to make this into a different topic but...has anyone tried the Feline Pine that is now in a ground up/scoopable type litter...no pellets....it's pretty inexpensive so I'm curious about that. Though I really didn't like the smell of feline pine...

Edit: If anyone is interested, they have a rebate, so your first bag is free...

http://www.naturesearth.com/rebates/fpsrebate.jpg

Hmm, big discovery, this one does the first bag free by rebate too:
http://www.planetwiseproducts.com/breed ... n_2008.pdf

Oh and here is the 'Rewards Program' for Worlds Best:
http://www.worldsbestcatlitter.com/file ... dsForm.pdf

 

Thanks Julie, now I gotta start saving UPCs....

 

I don't remember how I first got started on the coupons (probably from the store where I buy it), but give them a call. They send you an envelope, you fill it out and send it back with UPCs...the turnaround is pretty quick. I have such a backlog of UPCs that I will be in coupons for years!

 

I use the Southern States layer feed. I lost the ingredients tag off the bag and I haven't needed to buy a new bag yet, but I'm pretty certain it is simply corn plus vitamins and minerals. I won't need to go to the feed store until I need more horse feed and fence posts, but I'll find out then.

 

It's the minerals that are the main issue.

 

Thank you so much for all this info! There is definitely something up with the chick starter, because Hissy, the other cat who was chowing down on the litter, also threw up -- and I have literally never seen this cat throw up in his entire life. 8O All of the chick starter went into the trash today (good riddance :x) and was replaced by WBCL. Looks like that rewards program is going to be a major help...

I gave Taro some Reglan 2x/day for the last two days, and he hasn't vomited or regurgitated again, so hopefully he'll be OK now. He's normally really stable on his regular diet -- grain-free, minimal seafood, both wet (Fancy Feast & Wellness) and dry (EVO), supplemented with canned pumpkin and peas. I haven't tried Slippery Elm yet, mainly because I'm doubtful he'll take it unless I force it. The cat who will happily eat carpet lint, styrofoam and soiled litter is a prima donna about medication, go figure. :roll: Fortunately, the Reglan comes in a tiny pill that can fit into a Pill Pocket.

 

Well, I think I may stay with the chick feed, I too am using Southern States and swear it was a very basic list of ingredients. If minerals are the main problem and mine are not is eating it, not even the kittens and no one is throwing up, I'm staying put. The stuff is fantastic!

As for the slippery elm, try it because mine LOVE it. Phoebe will lick it in powder form right off my finger.

 

Just FYI, although slippery elm does come in capsules and you can (theoretically) pill him with it, if you open the capsule and mix it with the food (and a little water--not hot), they'll probably eat it. It has a very mild, slightly sweet taste. Not at all obnoxious. Maybe others who have used it (either in powder or syrup) will report on how their cats accepted it.

 

Maybe others who have used it (either in powder or syrup) will report on how their cats accepted it.

I was mixing it with a little water and then food at first and then realized i didn't need to do that at all. They like it! Like I said above, Phoebe will come and lick the powder off my hands and I caught her licking up the bit I spilled out of the capsule as well. Must be yummy.

 

Callie loved the syrup, but she isn't one to judge by...the only thing she ever refused to eat were pretzels.

 

Maybe others who have used it (either in powder or syrup) will report on how their cats accepted it.

I was mixing it with a little water and then food at first and then realized i didn't need to do that at all. They like it! Like I said above, Phoebe will come and lick the powder off my hands and I caught her licking up the bit I spilled out of the capsule as well. Must be yummy.

My cats love it too. It has a yummy smell, even for me

 

Huh, I could have sworn I read that Slippery Elm was bitter and cats didn't like it. :?: I must be confusing it with something else. I'll have to check it out -- thanks!

 

Um, may you are thinking of panacur. LOL. I can't get that down my crew if i were to sit on them.

P.S.
Bought my slippery elm at the vitamin shoppe, incase they have one by you.

 

Or, www.vitaminshoppe.com! Although I found another online store, www.vitacost.com, that is WAY cheaper even that that. Both will be health food store prices by miles, any day!

 

Wow, just checked out that www.vitacost.com good find!!! The cost for slippery elm plus their $4.99 (any size order shipping...which is GREAT) shipping is what it cost me to buy slippery elm locally.

Jet, you could order online and it would be like getting free shipping with these prices. Nice!

Thx, Dr. Jean!