Cats drooling

[sherrylynne]

Ok, all three cats that receive some wet food are drooling. Stubbs and Ligiea started drooling a bit more than usual as of a couple of weeks ago when they are happy, and as of a couple of days ago, much more, and not just when they're getting groomed. Watson started drooling profusely last night(only for about an hour, then it stopped) while he was just sitting on the arm of the sofa.
Ligiea and Stubbs are on a combo of Wellness Indulgence pouches and tinned Evo 95% meat. Watson is on freeze dried raw, with a wee bit of Wellness mixed in(trying to get him used to different textures/tastes in prep. to a fresh raw switch again), but he also steals theirs when he can get away with it.
Stubbs eats fine, Ligiea stops and starts, Watson today(and last night) hasn't been too hungry.
As of tonight, all Wellness has been removed from their diet as a precaution, and Stubbs and Ligiea are strictly on the Evo to see if it makes a difference. Watson will be going back to strictly freeze dried again for the same reason.
I know there have been some concerns that Wellness may be using Tuero(?) for their supplements, but the pouches were fine previously. This problem just started recently for my cats. Is it possible the supplements in the wet could be causing some nausea?
There has been no diarrhea, and the only one vomiting is Stubbs, but I chalked that up to possible hyper-T.

[Bonkers]

  sherrylynne,  I am very concerned about this. Especially since more than just one of the kitties are involved. Eating something toxic can cause this as can many other things. Are there any plants or cleaners in the home that they may have ingested?   

http://www.cathealth.com/drooling.htm

[coontuffy]

I second what Bonkers has to say sherrylynne.
I too am very concerned.

From past experiences with cats and certain medications that have made them drool to excess; due entirely to the bitterness of the medication.......flagyl is one.

I am concerned that there is something bitter maybe that they have gotten into?
Can you smell anything different about their food?

[Bonkers]

   Sherrylynne, How are your kitties???

[sherrylynne]

To start with, I keep all the cleaners basically under lock and key. I have ferrets who can, and do, get into everything! So no, cleaners are out. So are plants, for the same reason.
Neither hubby nor I noticed anything different in either the looks or smell of the food. I assumed it had to have been the wellness, because that is the only common thread. Our 4th cat did not have the same problem. He's on Evo kibbles.
I'm not sure if it would react that quickly or not, but we've removed the Wellness Indulgence pouches, and the drooling has now basically stopped. Appetites are now back to normal.
I spoke with the owners of the pet store(small, individually owned, raw feeding store) and they are not aware of any recipe changes in the food.
So, where do I go from here? Do you think it even worth while to write the company? Or will they just slough it off, and ignore it?

[Bonkers]

   First of all, if you still have the opened or unopened pouches, hang onto them. If you have any that are open, put them in the freezer. I would then contact the company and report what has happened.

  coontuffy and/or 5CatMom may be better at advising you as to other options you may want to consider.

  Specifically which flavor of the pouches were you using??

[sherrylynne]

I get all of them, and mix them up every meal time. So it could have been any/all of them!
I've got no open ones. We use the entire pouch between the two cats, with a small bit to mix into Watson's. I'll hold onto them until I contact the company.
I just bought this bunch of pouches, though. There are 24 pouches in a case, and we go through 7 cases in a month, mixed together with the Evo.

[Bonkers]

   That could pose a problem as you pretty much need to know which variety was fed prior to the start of the drooling and supply the lot#'s from the packages. But then there is the possiblilty if they were all manufactured around the same time that something could be off with quite a few of the flavors.

   I would also be curious to know who actually manufactures the pouches as I do not recall that info ever being posted here on the forums.

[sherrylynne]

How would I find that out? The manufacturer, I mean?

[Bonkers]

  Ask the person to whom you speak with at Wellness.

  Perseus previously has had good luck getting info from Wellness, but she has not been around here for awhile. 

 

[Hannie]

I don't know this to be fact, especially a couple of yrs after all the recalls.  I vaguely remember hearing that Menu was the only place that manufactured food in pouches.

I could be wrong about this but maybe somebody else knows for sure.

Just thought I'd throw that in because for some reason I believe I heard that back during the recalls.

[sherrylynne]

I sent an email off. I'll let you know if/when they respond. Here's the email in it's entirety. If they get back to me, what else should I be asking?

I started 2 of my cats on Wellness Indulgence pouches last December/January 09. A third one gets a little bit of it mixed in with his freeze dried food. About a month ago, I noticed my old guy(15) started drooling a lot more than usual. I just chalked it up to his age. Then, the 12 yr. old started drooling a lot more. Oh well, she's epileptic. Could be an aura. Then last week, my 4 year old was drooling so badly, it was dripping from his mouth as he sat on the arm of the sofa. Not good. They have no access to either cleaners or plants. My 9yr old cat(who is on a different brand of dry) has not had this problem at all. The only common theme amongst the 3 cats is the Indulgence pouches. So, we stopped feeding them. The drooling has now stopped as well.
Could you possible tell me who manufactures your pouches for you? I've always been pleased with your product prior to this, and am simply trying to find out what the potential problem might be.
Thank you. Sherry Stone

[sherrylynne]

To date, I've received no response to my original email. However, I sent another to Chanda Leary this morning. I'll let you know what she says.

[sherrylynne]

I not only got an email back(Menu foods does do the pouches), but Mike Shapiro phoned me today . He took down all the info I could give him, asked for vet reports if I need to get them(told him I don't think they'll need to go, but left it open ended), and thanked me for emailing, and talking to him.
I have to admit, it was a bit difficult to concentrate on the call as I was taking one of the ferrets to the vet for an eye injury(she's fine ), had only one cup of coffee, no shower, and was fighting rush hour traffic
I have to admit, I'm impressed with their response.

[Bonkers]

  Not sure who Mike Shapiro is, but on another thread he had signed an email as "Specialist, Consumer Affairs".  Did he say whether he would get back to you on this?

 It is unfortunate that you did not have more info to supply from the pouches. I really doubt that much can be done although I do hope they investigate.