Hello, sounds like you are in a tough spot. I commend you for all the efforts and care you put in for the kitties.

As for the food, is that dry or wet food? Many recommend feeding wet food to cats, and that could possibly remedy the vomiting problem you are having. It's unfortunate that the dogs do not let the cats downstairs. Have they just never gotten along?

I think a vet visit for Blackie is definitely good idea. I'd say the priority would be to get him checked out and to get their vomiting under control. I think finding the right diet is key.

 

Sorry your having so much trouble with your kitties. You came to the right place to get help though. However everyone will say here that science diet is no better than grocery bought store food.... It's just double the money your wasting... Look on the ingredient list.. It's all corn wheat beet pulp and a bunch of nonsense. That is not going to help your cats vomiting at all... There are very few vets out there who know what they are talking about when it comes to nutrition. Why?? Because one they get paid to recommend it and two because when they went to vet school the only one or two actual nutrition classes they had were put on by science diet and/or royal Canin..... It's like a people doctor trying to be a dietician... There's a reason we have dietitians... Haha so there's so much more better diets out there for your money probably even less money than science diet.... I won't touch that stuff with a 100 yard pole. Even if I was dirt poor and someone gave me science diet I still wouldn't feed it to my cats.... Company is a complete money hungry JOKE!! Anyways! What you want to look for is a high protein grain free low carb diet. Especially if your cat is possibly diabetic you defiantly need low carb... And guess what if your vet prescribes a prescription diet for your cats if they are diabetic... It's no better than the normal science diet... :lol: so what I'm saying is if she gives you a diabetic or urinary prescription diet there is way better solutions out there. You don't need to spend huge amounts of dollars on stuff that's the same quality as grocery store brand. As the previous person said canned food is way better for your cat because of the water content. It will majorly help with urinary kidney or diabetic issues. A lot of people do half kibble half canned diet because cans can get expensive. So here are my brand suggestions starting with the first two being that ideal LOW LOW carb.... Others will be just a little higher but the first two are the better options especially for a possible diabetic cat..

1. EVO turkey & chicken (kibble or cans)
2. Pinnacle Peak Protein (kibble)
3. Natures Variety Instinct (kibble or cans)
4. Wellness CORE (kibble)
5. Wellness cans labeled grain free
6. Castor and Pollux Grain Free (kibble or cans)
7. Blue Wilderness (kibble or cans)
8. Go Natural Fit & Free (kibble or cans)
9. Orejin Cat & Kitten (kibble)
10. Horizon's Legacy (kibble - currently what I use)
11. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain (kibble or cans)
12. Timberwolf Serengeti (kibble)
13. Weruva cans (chicken or beef varieties only)
14. Merrick Before Grain (kibble or cans - no fish)
15. Soulistic cans (no fish)

That's a pretty good list... The first cans are going to be the cheapest and highest quality if you buy them in the big 13.2 oz cans.






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Thank you so much for continuing to love these cats and do your best to take care of them in the new circumstances.

Blackie might have Diabetes or Kidney Failure. I pay close attention to him and I can notice some symptoms such as lathargy and exessive water drinking and urination. I'm going to be making a vet appointment about that soon.

Sooner the better. Those are definitely symptoms related to the problems you mentioned, but might not be either. It's just good to know. If they do have diabetes or kidney problems, the sooner you catch the issue, the better.

Well, upstairs in the new house isn't that big at all. A little hallway and bedrooms that are always closed (the cats pee on anything laying around) so they are always in my room. The hall is so small that there's nowhere else to put the litter box but in my bedroom closet.

If they're used to being outdoors, have they been trained to use the litter box? Maybe they need a refresher. Also, I'd try to find space for a second one. Sounds like you're doing well with the single, keeping it clean for them.

They also try and eat my plants (not poisonous) but they usually throw it back up

I'd put the plants out of reach for them. Especially if they've been exhibiting stomach issues anyway. Vomiting isn't fun and cats seem to be drawn to eat the plants even though it makes them throw up.

I took complete control over them a few years ago because I'm older and nobody else wants the responsibility especially with all their health problems now so I've been reading up a lot on the care of cats and that's why I'm now spending a fortune on cat food. I'm willing to do the most I can to make them healthy and happy again.

Thank you! There will be good advice here, especially on the food. It's great you care so much for them. Lots of resources here.

 

I can sympathize with you and the vomiting issue that you are having. I had the same problem with my 4 year old vomiting EVERYDAY for about 6 months and I was losing my mind (I thought he had hairballs). I found this forum and everyone told me that it probably wasn't a hairball problem but a vomiting problem, my cat was on Science Diet Hairball Light dry. After reading all the links that everyone gave me and all the suggestions to get him off the dry (kibble) and on a wet diet - it has been 3 weeks and he has only vomited 2 times!!!! It is amazing what a transformation I have seen in him. The only wet food that I can get him to eat right now is Fancy Feast, I give him 1-3oz can in morning and 1-3oz. can about 6 p.m. (leave a little for bedtime snack) and then he has about 1/4 cup of dry that he can nibble on, which is Taste of the Wild (grain free). I know that he needs to be on better than Fancy Feast buy just trying to get him to eat the wet food was also a challenge. It has been a struggle for me but it is so worth it. Good luck - your kittys are so lucky to have someone who cares and loves them so much!! Keep us posted on their progress and with the food change.

 

In your post two things stood out for me right off the bat. My oldest cat Jitzu had very similar issues to your two before I knew what I was doing as far as taking care of her.

She threw up all the time, and she peed on all of my things.

My first two suggestions are fairly basic (as far as this forum goes *wink*). I know your vet told you Science Diet is a good food...but it isn't. Other people here have suggested some great brands, and I agree with them on that. Wet food is also a great idea.

I'd also go back to the vet and have them tested for UTIs, if you haven't already. Peeing on things and drinking lots of water are symptoms of diabetes...but they're also CLASSIC signs of a UTI which is waaay easier to treat. I'd rule that out first, since it's also most likely.

In the case that it is diabetes switching to a good quality wet food will also help and be cheaper than the prescribed vet food and daily insulin. Wet food might be more expensive than what you're feeding now, but compared to the cost of diabetes care it's quite low.

As far as things with the dogs go, can you be any more specific about the problems between the cats and dogs? I'm wondering why the cats can stay upstairs, is there a gate preventing the dogs from climbing the stairs? Are the dogs trying to chase/kill the cats, or just too excited and the cats don't like it?

Once I know what sort of issue is keeping them upstairs I can give you some suggestions on how to help solve that part of your problem.

 

As someone who has very recently had the veil lifted from his eyes about cat nutrition and diet, let me first sympathize with your plight. It's SO frustrating, but good for you for trying to figure it out. I can also assure you that it's worth it, and you can do it! The information is out there, you just have to find it and sift through it all. The people here can help with that, as we've all been or are going through it too.

NebraskaCat is right: Definitely get Blackie into a vet.

Regarding the vomiting, I have a good hunch about Bonkers. One of my cats, Fanty, used to vomit right after eating, all the time. Multiple times a week. For years, and the vet kept saying he was just eating too fast. Well, due to other reasons with his brother, Mingo, I recently switched them from dry kibble to grain-free, canned wet food. And lo and behold, Fanty's vomiting has completely stopped! It's been 3 months now without an incident! I'm convinced he has a grain allergy, which is apparently quite common in cats. They're not built for consuming grain or carbohydrates. So I would second the suggestions above to find a grain-free diet for them, preferably canned (which has many, many additional benefits over dry kibble).

 

One more thing I would like to point out.... If you can't afford expensive cans... EVO in the 13.2 oz cans is actually cheaper than the cheapest accepted aka Fancy Feast Classics.... Evo beats it by 5 or so cents an oz surprisingly enough... seeing how the qualities of those two are at two different ends of the spectrum.... So! That is something to think about when your choosing cans....


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