Cat Food & the Animal ER - July 08, 2008

The last time I took Snowy to the vet, they told me he was too fat - he weighed 17 lbs. Problem is that Brandy is skinny, nibbles only a little at a time, and he ate whatever she left behind. I tried to feed him less, pick up the bowls, but that didn't work well. He had gained another pound, so I switched his cat food to a Healthy Weight formula, and eliminated the canned food. Last Sunday, we had to take him to the animal ER. Steve noticed that he wasn't acting like himself and that he seemed to be in pain. I was going to wait until Monday and take him to our regular vet, but something told me not to wait. He had a urinary blockage and had to have a catheter, and spend the night. I'm glad we didn't wait, because it is a life-threatening condition. Now he is on a special diet, which he doesn't seem to like much. I have to feed them separately because Brandy is still eating the Healthy Weight formula. She will eat the special food, though, and the vet said it wouldn't hurt her, but it is expensive. Snowy has to go back for a check up in 1 month. Hopefully, there will be a less expensive urinary health formula cat food available commercially that the vet can recommend.