Tracie Hotchner Blog

This letter from a listener is long but the details matter — she is a cautious, thoughtful cat Mommy and despite her doubts because of Spot’s earlier health issue, ultimately her good sense and dedication to Spot’s health paid off.

I am writing about my Spot, who is a 12 year old male and would love to hear what you think of his story!

In October 2009, I took Spot to a local holistic vet primarily to have a second opinion on dental work.  Spot weighted in at 14 lbs. and his diet at that time consisted of Royal Canine’s Select Control, wet and dry, which was recommended for the prevention of both types of crystal formation.  In 2001 Spot had emergency surgery on his bladder to remove a struvite crystal and, to be honest, the prescription food was keeping him crystal free and his blood work, including his ph level, all came back excellent.  However, his weight was climbing and the holistic vet did not like the “by-product” ingredients in the prescription food, which she called “junk.”  Instead, she recommended taking Spot off dry food totally and exclusively feeding a good quality grain-free wet food.   She felt that his urinary issues would be resolved once he was on better wet food only.  The vet tech mentioned that she liked Weruva and Tiki Cat.  I decided not to feed Spot fish so I opted to try Weruva’ Paw Lickin Chicken.

I have to say I was nervous about this since, other than his weight, he was doing what I thought was great on the SC.  And, I worried about the timing of changing his food since the new holistic vet also confirmed that he needed to have his teeth cleaned which turned out to include a lower extraction.  However, after doing some of my own research comparing Weruva to SC (Weruva has “as fed” nutrition info online) I jumped in.  I think since he always had both the wet and dry, it made the transition easier.  After two months and with a lower front tooth missing, he has made a complete transition!

What I have found is this:  he now urinates 2-3x’s per day instead of 1x per day with his prescription found (the necessary dilution to prevent crystal formation); his PH level is around 6.0 (which is within the PH level SC states their food promotes and the exact PH  “as fed” level Weruva states online for their Paw Lickin Chicken. BTW, I purchased test strips from CVS and monitor this obsessively!); his coat is soft and shiny;  his eyes are no longer runny; he sheds way less and, within two months, he has lost 4 lbs.   Other notable changes are that he has way less bowel movements and doesn’t throw up anymore!

I was working on removing his food after 20 min and feeding him 2x’s per day but right now I find that when I do this, he doesn’t eat enough and I am somewhat concerned about his “rapid” weight loss.  So, I leave the food out throughout the day and night (which I also did with his dry and wet SC).  He always eats all of it!   Also, I was trying to get him to try other Weruva flavors but he won’t eat anything else (except a freeze dried 100% chicken treat every other day).  But, again, I have stopped trying to feed him other flavors because of his weight loss.   He was also used to eating the same SC for the last 8 years, which only comes in one flavor.

Spot appears to be just fine and happy.  He walks around with his tail curled up in the air and does play more.  He can even roll around again like he did when he was a kitten!  I called the vet’s office and spoke to a tech who agreed the weight loss was fast but not unheard of and told me to keep an eye on it.

I am still nervous about crystals and somewhat worried about the rapid weight loss and would love to read your thoughts/experience on this.

Warmest regards,
Lee

You are doing GREAT!!

You are so fortunate to have great veterinary support telling you just what I have been saying — no more “kitty crack” (and look at the ingredients if you have any doubts about that!).

How great that Weruva is his favorite since it is the highest possible quality ingredients and chicken is the very best protein source for cats (other than mice or birds!)

The weight loss is wonderful — don’t be alarmed. Some of it was probably retained water weight – just like can happen with us at the beginning of a diet when we cut out junk foods and carbs.

You’re noticing ALL of the fantastic positive changes that getting off “kitty crack” can create in a cat — which only goes to prove what an important change this has been.

I’m going to read your letter on the air tonight on my show DOG TALK® & CAT CHAT® which starts late tonight (SAT) — 10:20 PM EST — but if you can listen live on WOR 710 AM in New York or the tri-state area, or go online to www.WOR710.com the show streams live on the internet. Your computer becomes a radio! I’d love to have you call in if you feel like it. 212-766-7100 — you would be helping a lot of other people

If you don’t get this email in time (I apologize for last minute notice!) you and your friends can listen to the show on podcast. It goes up on the WOR website and on my page (on the weekend schedule) a few days after airing.

Keep up the great work!!

Tracie