Has anyone tried Balance IT or U-Stew supplements for home made food?

[Lisa0825]

I think I am going to try making home made cooked cat food (I do not feel comfortable with the raw food diet, though I know many here support it).

Balance IT and U-Stew have pre-mixed supplements in the right ratios to be sure you get the right nutirents they need.

I was just curious if anyone here had tried these or any similar products.

[phylny]

1. I have not.

I use Dinovite supplement in my raw food, but don't know if they have it for cats.

[Lisa0825]

2. Thannks - I will look them up too :-) nt

[hamsterjill]

3. My feline-only vet uses it for kitties that are not eating well.

When we've got a kitty that is ill or not eating well, we use the Balance IT to supplement either baby food or cat food.

I would love to be able to feed my rescue group cooked, homemade food, but as I still work full time, I don't have the hours in the day to do that.

I'll be very interested in your experience as time progresses, etc. One of these days if I'm ever able to retire, I hope to have the time needed to do the cooking for them.

[Lisa0825]

4. I work full-time too. I am going to try the U-Stew first...

because they had a more affordable trial size package. The info I read suggested making a batch and freezing it in servings.

I am looking into this because one of my babies (11-year old Jennings) has been sick with GI issues. He has turned his nose up at foods he used to love, including the special diet I got from the vet. The only thing he would eat consistently was cooked chicken, but I know that lacks nutrients he needs. I was more concerned with getting some calories into him short term since he was losing weight, knowing I couldn't do that long term.

But if he likes the home cooked U-Stew, it could be a win-win, even if he is all well by then. At least if I have the supplement on hand, I can do like you and your vet do.

[hamsterjill]

5. I hear ya!

I have several older kiddos that are going through geriatric health issues. Sometimes it's a real challenge to find something that they'll eat, and what they eat one day, they may not eat the next.

Like you, my focus is getting SOMETHING into them.

I am convinced that many of their issues are the result of cat food over the years. I don't buy the cheap stuff either.

I'll be curious about your opinion of the U-Stew, so please keep me posted.

[Lisa0825]

6. The package arrived today.

Jennings wasn't very interested in his food today (again), so I tossed a chicken breast in the toaster oven. When it was done, I cut it up really fine. I separated a bit out in case he wouldn't eat the U-stew, so I'd still have some food he'd eat. I mixed just a little of the powder with the chicke and water, since I figure it is best to go gradually. He sniffed it a bit, and I thought he was going to turn it away, but he diid start to eat it. So we'll see.... I'll make a batch tomorrow with more of the mix in it and see how he reacts.

[hamsterjill]

7. That's great that he ate it!

Here's hoping he continues.

The things we do for them, right???!!! LOL

[Lisa0825]

8. They are truly my children! :-)

[hamsterjill]

9. I feel the same way about mine!

Given the choice, I'd much rather be sitting in the middle of my cat enclosure with my babies than doing most anything else.

I love all other animals, too.

[Lisa0825]

10. So I made U-Stew with 2 small chicken thighs...

This time I made it with half the amount of supplement to continue letting him adjust to the flavor. Jennings first lapped up all the broth, so I guess he likes the flavor a lot! Then he gobbled down half a chicken thigh, which I think is a decent meal for him - probably about 90 calories.

I let 4 others taste it too. Buff also seemed to like it, but didn't finish what I gave him, so he may be undecided. Shirley liked it. Fabi lapped up the broth and left the chicken! LOL! Chance was not interested at all.

Of course cats can be very finicky, so this could change after a few more tries. Even if I don't make it a main meal for them all, if only Jennings goes for it, it will be worth while to help him put some weight back on.

Today is the third day he has eaten pretty well without me constantly coaxing him, and yesterday, he even pounced on Chance! That was the first sign of friskiness I have seen in him in weeks!

[Lisa0825]

11. I just made the U-Stew with ground turkey, and Jennings went nuts for it!

I started making it because he turned his nose up at both types of canned food I put out. By the time it was done, and I cooled it down with a little crushed ice, he had actually started to eat the Fancy Feast. But I set a bowl down next to him to see what he'd do. He sniffed it, sniffed the FF, and then lapped up the U-Stew with gusto! LOL!

After 4 days of finally eating well, his back is already not feeling as bony anymore. So happy