Cat with lymphoma is picky. Are there healthier Fancy Feast options?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Trixie. I am sorry to hear about her recent diagnosis. Unfortunately, gastrointestinal lymphoma can be a longterm consequence of inflammatory bowel disease in cats. I am glad that will consult with an oncologist. There are actually a variety of treatment protocols, some of which can be oral tablets given at home. Cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy really well. They do not usually lose hair like human cancer patients will. There can be some nausea, but this is generally mild and there are good medications to control it. The main side effects tend to be white blood cell suppression. For this reason, her blood work will be monitored carefully. I hope this information helps!

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear about Trixie's diagnosis! It's great that you're working with an oncologist; I can tell you're wanting to provide the best care for Trixie. Most cats do feel better and perk up on the medication. If her appetite was down, you may see her start eating a bit better, and if you had noticed lethargy you may see her perk up and act more social again. Often we can see an increase in both appetite and thirst, which leads to more urination as well. Generally we don't see too many other side effects from the medications, and your oncologist will want to know if you do have concerns with how Trixie is feeling on the meds, as they may tweak the dose based on how Trixie's responding. I have seen a few animals go into remission, but I would defer to the oncologist on the actual numbers, as they see far more cases than we do in general practice! Hope this helps. Hugs to you and Trixie.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! A decrease in appetite is not unusual in cases of cats with cancers and on certain medications. Definitely keep your vet in the loop about where her appetite stands/how she is doing eating as they may want to adjust/add medications. This article gives information/ideas on this issue: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952607 In some cases we do end up placing feeding tubes to provide nutrition if needed. Some cats enjoy the food warmed up, so you can try warming it in the microwave (always check temperature before feeding to ensure not too hot). Some prefer wet food, some kibble, some like kibble that has been soaked to soften it. Trying a buffet to give varieties to choose from may help you discover what she finds appealing.

If you think Peaches May have lymphoma you should see your veterinarian as soon as possible. While some people think that a restricted carbohydrate diet could help with cancer there is currently not much evidence to support this theory and there are other therapies like chemotherapy or corticosteroids that are far more likely to help. Here is a little more information: http://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/2017/08/cancer_diet/

I'm so sorry that Katie was diagnosed with lymphoma. Athough they have not done as significant of studies in cats as they have with dogs, our goals with cancer are to feed a food high in protein and fat, but low in carbohydrates. This is especially important for cats since they are obligate carnivores, so a canned food is ideal. A salmon based diet is a wonderful idea since omega 3 fatty acids can have some anti-cancer effects. My cats love Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon. They also love Wellness Turkey and Salmon. Cats rely on their sense of smell to entice their appetite, so smelly fish based foods are a great idea for a cat with cachexia. I also find that rotating foods on a regular basis can be very useful for cats on chemo, so they don't get turned off to a particular food if they are nauseated. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Kitty! Since she is already 17 years old and she is having such a tough time with her inflammation in her GI tract, I think steroids will be the best choice for her. If her blood work looks okay now, then I think she can tolerate the steroids. Unfortunately, if you don't put her on steroids the lymphoma or IBD may continue to get worse. It is true the steroids will not CURE lymphoma, but it certainly give her a better quality of life right now. It could keep the IBD under control and eventually you may be able to decrease her steroid dose to a lower dose. The concerns of long term steroids are much lower since she is already geriatric. If she was 4 or 7 years old, then I would be much more worried with starting her on long term steroids at that time. At the age of 17, our goal is to give Kitty are good quality of life. If you want more options about the lymphoma and interested in seeing an oncologist, I would ask your vet for a referral for a oncology consult. I hope this helps!

This could be a novel protein diet if Trixie has never had tuna or pumpkin before, but most cats have had tuna in food at some point in their lives. Natural Balance also does not have a boarded nutritionist on staff and I believe Royal Canin has more quality control measures in place to ensure there is no contamination. Ultimately it comes down to what works best for Trixie - check in with your vet, but I’d guess that it’s fine to try this food and see if she has a flare up of her symptoms.