Cat Information

Does anyone have cats that are allergic to red dye? Do your cats vomit up their foods shortly after eating?

My cats do like Friskies Feline Favorites dry food, but each time I have returned to this food, my cats (I have 8) throw it up. I have had to pick through "all" of the food to pick out the red dye pieces. I usually buy natural cat foods in order to prevent this task, but, occasionally I will feed it to them without sifting and sorting out the red pieces. I am always sorry that I do this as my cats promply become sick, gagging until they throw it up. I have spoken to other cat owners who stand in the cat food isle and are trying t buy cat food that is of good quality, which does not have a recall on it, and "yes", I am not the only one who is looking for cat food without red dye. I think the food once sorted and sifted of red dye pieces looks just as good, if not better than with the red dye pieces. I cannot buy the Friskies Seafood Flavor dry food, because it has more red dye pieces in it. It is usually the one that is on sale. I am wondering -decreased sales?

Public Comments

1. I use Meow Mix Indoor/Outdoor and it has cut down on the vomiting issue, but you still get the occassional hair ball.
2. I don't know if it would be the red dye. Some cats are very picky. I think the reason they are vomitting is that there is something that is bothering their esphogous or they are eating too fast. Since the food is not digested than it hasn't reached the somach yet, the most likely cause is something in his gi tract.
3. Friskies is a bad food to feed regardless. It is full of fillers and crap. Slowly transition your cats to a new high quality food. You won't find it in a grocery store, walmart/target/mejier, or petsmart. Wellness, Innova, Merrick are all good foods. I prefer wet for my cats (vomitting ended for my fermale!), but those companies make quality dry food too.
4. You are definitely not the only one looking for cat food without red dye in it, so do I. I have 6 cats, but only one that can't tolerate red dye in her food. She starts making a 'choking/coughing' sound when she eats it. I had also removed the red pieces from her food and she was fine, so I know it is the cause. Cats, just like people have different nutritional needs. (I get sick if I eat 'red' candy, but am fine with the other colors) Talk to you vet or other experts in your area to find the right food for your 'babies', that is in your price range. Maybe if we let the companies know that enough of us care, they will take the 'dye' and other unnecessary ingredients from our kittie's supper. Best health to them all.
5. I have cats that also have trouble with foods that have red dies. Only the trouble with mine is at the other end. I currently have 8 cats and 2 foster cats and 2 dogs. Say goodbye to all grocery store foods. They are all overpriced garbage. Some cats tolerate it, but yours don't. Stick with the natural foods you are buying and the other high quality cat foods. Meat should be the main ingredient. In the USA the high quality food isn't that much more expensive in the long run. Cats eat less of the expensive food because it has more nutrition than the cheep stuff. This offsets the higher price. Purrs, The Cat Lady