Bertie Belly

**Peter Galbavy** · 16th February 2011, 08:30 AM

Woke up this morning, greeted by 3 loud, hungry bundles. While they have their RC Kitten down all the time, they do love their Whiskas. They have had a couple of rounds of a different kitten food for lunch to see what they thought (Schesir Kitten 6 x 85 g: Great Deals on Schesir Cans at zooplus).

Well, Bertie had a very dirty back-end, back legs covered in semi dry runny stuff. Oops. I guess that was overnight diarrhea. He got hi first half-bath in the sink. Poor dear.

Now, I have simply ignored the problem for this morning and fed them as usual and will keep an eye on how the rest of the day goes.

Question: If it continues - I hope not - given there are three brothers and only one might have a Bertie Belly (as opposed to a Dicky Tummy, since Dicky is fine

) should I take the dry food up completely and then feed all three on a light chicken/rice type diet for a day or two or just stop the wet food or ???

**WoodsideMaineCoons** · 16th February 2011, 08:53 AM

I would carry on as normal - it will be either the new food or a bit of stress that has caused it. Stick to their normal food and make any changes gradually. If you want to introduce a new food then do it tiny amounts at a time.

**jckkerrison** · 16th February 2011, 10:26 AM

Although I feed mainly wet I have to watch what I use that is why their main wet is Felix cans but in jelly,give them gravy & its shits all round,the only sachets they have is Feline Fayre which they love so have those as a treat for breakfast about three times a week,they
did have them for a few days on the run once & I ended up with a Bruce & Welly belly,too rich for them if given more than occasionally,so would think thats what has happened with
Bertie,he has a slightly more delicate stomach than the others,I agree with Woodside carry on feeding them wet but don't give them a complete change in one go....
Your first joy of having a MC,dirty drawers,all good fun !

**Peter Galbavy** · 16th February 2011, 11:11 AM

Thanks all. I am just being a worried dad, of course, actually someone has just used the tray. Phoar! Just going to check rears... phew, all 3 clear. (Sad, but I am sure every single one of you knows what I feel like right now...)

The feeding plan is roughly this:

To start:

RC Kitten free feed for at least two weeks / one 4kg bag,
Whiskas kitten, 2 pouches between 3, twice a day
Some cooked white fish and chicken as a treat, maybe twice a week - some pollock is currently defrosting

Then:

Mix (actually, on the side) James Wellbeloved Kitten (random flavours) for a month, see how they take to it over the RC Kitten.
Continue Whiskas with maybe some Sainsbury's own brand - breeder suggested trying it too
Cooked meat/fish as treats, depending what they hit on

Finally,

James Wellbeloved, probably multiple different types out all at once
Tinned wet food, based on taste and tummy tests
Cooked treats to continue

Please feel free to comment! Please.

PS Yes, I noticed their little fat bellies already. Especially when hanging out of a barrel on the kitten tree

**jckkerrison** · 16th February 2011, 01:24 PM

There will be a few smiling faces after reading your last post,every one of us on here will have been a worrying parent,the first one {two,three} gives you all the worries after that you are a seasoned parent & just get on with it.....!
We have all had to do the bottom test & have all done a big sigh if it has passed,I have had one session where all of them had stomach upset following on from each other,six bums & trousers to wash at different points,did think about packing them off with their bags in the end,starting to get that B****y H**l feeling,shit shit here,shit shit there but they couldn't help it bless them & they are all good at having botties washed so no stress really,just the smell.Have you had the situation yet where somebody has come round & just as you sit down with a nice cup of latte & chockie biscuit one of them uses the tray & it is a goodie,all other days it is a time when they would never think of going in,if it hasn't happened,it will.
As for their menu mine would think xmas had come every day,they have never had that type of choice & options but then I have always said mine are like street kids being dragged up with a hard mum but it looks good to me,somewhere in their though as they get older try them on one of the larger kibbles to give them something to bite into,there is a special MC one but that did test the tums of some of mine so they now have Hills Oral,all fine with that,poor Merl who is on strict diet gets 8 kibbles of that a day fed to him as treats if it is a day when he will get a small amount of one of the other biscuits,if it is oral all round on that day his ration goes up to 16,I count them but he loves it if hubby feeds because he is more generous !
Do hope you don't have too many Bertie bellies while testing,if you find a good one stick with it,mine have basically been on the same since day one except for those that show & then we treat them to a special can on the day at the show.{could be classed as a bit of bribery,Welly always goes with dad to choose his}
Now wouldn't all your kitties luv to come & live with me,not.....x

**Joolz** · 17th February 2011, 12:13 AM

Mine arrived with RC Kitten 36 dry and RC Kitten Instinctive pouches, I'm feeding them 1 pouch in two plates 3 times a day and leaving a bowl of kibble down all day. It's expensive and my vet said that we would need to change it or risk them getting too fat. I'm reluctant to change though because they are eating really well and we've not had any tummy problems, and as they say - if it ain't broke why fix it!

**Peter Galbavy** · 17th February 2011, 08:12 AM

Well, all OK this morning so no repeats in the last 24 hours. Phew.

Some steamed/microwaved Pollack last night and a pouch of Whiskas - the fish went down in about 2 seconds between the 3 of them and they have almost learnt to beg for more. Almost.

**Tivicoons** · 17th February 2011, 02:41 PM

All I can say is my Cats are all free fed Royal Canin sensible 33 and they are absolutly fine in the poo division, if for any reason (like I stupidly forget to order some) I try anything else then watch out! It isn't all of them the get the trots, tends to be Spice and her offspring. BUT I tried James Welbeloved back in 2009 and they were all ill!!! It had an awful effect on their bowels and my pocket as they got thru a ton of cat litter!

See if you can get a friendly, nearby, breeder to order you the RC food for you, as it is much, much cheaper than from pet shops.

**FreyjaRoMaine** · 17th February 2011, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

There will be a few smiling faces after reading your last post,every one of us on here will have been a worrying parent,the first one {two,three} gives you all the worries after that you are a seasoned parent & just get on with it.....!
We have all had to do the bottom test & have all done a big sigh if it has passed,I have had one session where all of them had stomach upset following on from each other,six bums & trousers to wash at different points,did think about packing them off with their bags in the end,starting to get that B****y H**l feeling,shit shit here,shit shit there but they couldn't help it bless them & they are all good at having botties washed so no stress really,just the smell.Have you had the situation yet where somebody has come round & just as you sit down with a nice cup of latte & chockie biscuit one of them uses the tray & it is a goodie,all other days it is a time when they would never think of going in,if it hasn't happened,it will.
As for their menu mine would think xmas had come every day,they have never had that type of choice & options but then I have always said mine are like street kids being dragged up with a hard mum but it looks good to me,somewhere in their though as they get older try them on one of the larger kibbles to give them something to bite into,there is a special MC one but that did test the tums of some of mine so they now have Hills Oral,all fine with that,poor Merl who is on strict diet gets 8 kibbles of that a day fed to him as treats if it is a day when he will get a small amount of one of the other biscuits,if it is oral all round on that day his ration goes up to 16,I count them but he loves it if hubby feeds because he is more generous !
Do hope you don't have too many Bertie bellies while testing,if you find a good one stick with it,mine have basically been on the same since day one except for those that show & then we treat them to a special can on the day at the show.{could be classed as a bit of bribery,Welly always goes with dad to choose his}
Now wouldn't all your kitties luv to come & live with me,not.....x

Jackie, your post nearly killed me! I've got a filthy chest infection and I absolutely LMAO reading it, which triggered a coughing fit of epic proportions!!

Peter, you have every sympathy; I remember being boggled at the undignified things you end up doing once you're an MC slave, and how some of the things you learn to accept as 'normal' never make it into the MC books!! One thing I've learnt about both my two is that sometimes the 'higher' quality foods (i.e. applaws, bozita) caused the worst of the Runny Bottom Syndrome ever, and I've ended up reverting back to the Whiskas they were fed at the breeders. I've managed to introduce some of the Gourmet recipes too, so they now get a wide variety of flavours that don't require me to stuff wet wipes round their bums! I also can't feed mine the RC Maine Coon kibble (RBS again), so they now have Hills Natures Best and love it. And it loves them, if you get my drift...

**jckkerrison** · 17th February 2011, 09:55 PM

[QUOTE=FreyjaRoMaine;12921]Jackie, your post nearly killed me! I've got a filthy chest infection and I absolutely LMAO reading it, which triggered a coughing fit of epic proportions!!

Sorry about causing you a coughing fit Karen,hope you are all recovered from it now & also not too long before chest infection goes too,what rotten luck you poor thing getting something like that,all the furries send you a cuddle,take care x