Tiny Fly Eggs In Cat Food?

[palehorse]

My new cat Sarah, well, kitten really, has been eating Purina Kitten Chow. Now, first off, I don't want to be sued by Purina, so this in only a guess.

Any of you here have lab access, can spot eggs under a microscope, and be willing to check this for me?

Reason I ask is, Sarah's "poop" seems to be producing tiny flies on it's own. Sounds bizzare I know, here's the situation:

I use a littermaid, automated litter box. Since Sarah is just a kitten, and I got the "mega" model for multiple cats, it only needs emptied about every two days.

Inside *very* clean environment, not only do we have a maid, but the Wife is fantical about cleanliness. There are no flies (especially the strange little ones) in our house, and never have been.

When emptying the container I notice these little flies in with the "pooh" and I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how they are getting inside.

It occured to be that they may *already* be inside via the cat food. I had something similar happen before with catfish food for the pond, and I think this is thesame thing. Somehow the food got contaminated by these flies and they end up laying eggs, which sit dormant in the food. After the cat ingests it, she passes the eggs and the warmth (gross I know) of the pooh "hatches" them.

This is only a theory. I am switching catfood brands at once to see if it stops the problem.

Anyone else have this happen?

[Tucker'sMom]

No, I have never had this happen...how bizarre. Please let us know what happens... I think I am going to be ill...

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by Tucker'sMom

No, I have never had this happen...how bizarre. Please let us know what happens... I think I am going to be ill...

What brand of cat food are you using?

[Tucker'sMom]

I use the Special Kitty Dry Indoor Formula with hairball control. Let me explain before someone else out there accuses me of not properly caring for my cats... My cat has a hyperactive thyroid, which has been the cause of at least 5 years of vomiting almost non stop. I had had him to the Veterinarian several times for the vomiting and the weight loss. They told me repeatedly that is was a behavioral issue and that he was at a "healthy weight". Shortly there after, that Veterinarian sold the practice to my current, wonderful Veterinarian. I had the cat in for some anal gland issues and mentioned in passing that he vomits all the time, but the previous Veterinarian kept insisting that it was behavioral. The new Veterinarian had a FIT!!! Looked back in the chart and was very upset and stated that no condition should be considered behavioral until ALL other conditions had been ruled out (by tests or otherwise). He guessed that Skeeter had a hyperactive thyroid, did the tests, started the meds. The meds in itself upset his stomach for a bit and we had a tough time finding food that was gentle on his stomach. The Veterinarian recommend that we just try foods until something clicks...the Special Kitty worked, and he has been eating it ever since without issue. I know Special Kitty is a "STORE BRAND" and that is a bad word especially since the food recall, but I have only ever fed my pets dry food. NONE of the Special Kitty dry food was affected by the recall. So there is the whole story. My Veterinarian is pleased with Skeeter's rate of weight gain and it sure is great to see him a bit more than skin and bones. Almost everything I do for my pets is PER VETERINARIAN ADVICE.
I know it's kind of a long answer to a simple question, but you had to get the whole story to completely understand...

[latergatorj]

PaleHorse- I've never heard of something like that happening. Did you change foods yet- is it still happening with the new food? I'd be curious to know what happens.

TuckersMom- Bailey eats the same brand of cat food- the fish. I'm glad you were able to find out what was wrong with your kitty and were able to find something he'll eat. Sometimes that's half the battle, finding a food your kitty will eat... and which agrees with them. Also glad you found a Veterinarian you like- that can also be hard to do.

[cichlidfreak]

Gross, I never heard of that, it sounds yuckie!!!! PLease let us know what you find out... sorry I been gone again

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by cichlidfreak

Gross, I never heard of that, it sounds yuckie!!!! PLease let us know what you find out... sorry I been gone again

I swirched to IAMS kitten food. Too soon to see if it works.

[palehorse]

Well the first dumping of the litter discharge with IAMS showed NO FLIES. This confirms somewhat my theory, but the Purina needs to be looked at under a microscope to confirm my theory.

[Tucker'sMom]

Now that is incredible to me. Do you think there is a possibility that the food was somehow infested post-manufacturing rather than at the plant? This is possible. Where did you purchase the food???

[palehorse]

Originally Posted by Tucker'sMom

Now that is incredible to me. Do you think there is a possibility that the food was somehow infested post-manufacturing rather than at the plant? This is possible. Where did you purchase the food???

Yes it is possible I suppose if the package were not properly sealed. They would have to penetrate the packaging to lay eggs in it.

I bought the food at Winn Dixie and it is the second bag too. (Sarah eats like a horse lol)

Like I say, I have saw this before in catfish food. In the catfish food they hatched in the food bin, and the flies would swarm out when the lid was open. This was some time ago, so it is not a cross-contamination issue.

I saved some of the old food, maybe my youngest daughter who is still in college can take it to the lab and take a look at it. Gonna ask her when I see her again.