Cat Food After Novel Protein Failure

Switching to rabbit and landing in the opposite problem — constipation instead of loose stools — is actually more common than people expect, especially in Himalayans, who tend toward sluggish digestion anyway. It tells us the issue probably isn't protein-specific; it's more likely an overall digestive sensitivity that needs a different approach entirely. Digestive sensitivity in cats is often food intolerance rather than true allergy, and rather than trying another novel protein, a hydrolysed protein diet is usually the smarter next step — the proteins are broken down so small the immune system and gut don't react to them at all. Before I point you toward something specific, can you tell me a bit more: what were the loose stools like before the rabbit food, how long had they been going on, and is your Himalayan indoor-only or does she go outside at all?

That timeline is helpful. Four months of loose stools followed by constipation on rabbit suggests her gut is quite reactive and doesn't tolerate change well — which is actually a useful clue. At her age and with that pattern, I'd want to move her onto something that reduces the digestive workload completely rather than keep rotating proteins. One more thing: what's she currently eating — wet, dry, or a mix? And has a vet ruled out anything like IBD or parasites, or is this something you've been managing without a diagnosis?

Good — wet food only is exactly right for a sensitive Himalayan, and having a clean vet bill makes this simpler. Hydrolysed protein is the move here. My recommendation is Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal wet food — it comes in pouches, it's widely available on Amazon UK, and it's specifically formulated for cats with chronic digestive sensitivity. The proteins are hydrolysed, the fibre balance is calibrated to support motility in both directions (so it helps with loose stools without causing the binding effect you got from rabbit), and it has added prebiotics. It's not a forever food for every cat, but for a 6-year-old Himalayan with four months of reactive gut history, it's the most reliable reset. Transition slowly — mix it with the rabbit pâté over about ten days to avoid another shock to her system.

Six weeks of infrequent stools warrants a quick mention to your vet, particularly for a Himalayan — the breed can be prone to megacolon if constipation is left unaddressed for a long time. Going every two to three days isn't immediately dangerous, but if she's visibly straining or hasn't gone at all for more than 48 hours, I'd get her seen before waiting to see how the food change lands. If she's uncomfortable but still producing something every couple of days, starting the Royal Canin transition now and flagging it to your vet at the same time is reasonable. The change in diet should start moving things in the right direction within two weeks.

That's exactly the right plan. Slow transition, vet loop-in on the constipation — you're covering both angles. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal is a well-evidenced choice for what she's dealing with, and Himalayans generally do well on it once they're fully transitioned. Hope she's more comfortable soon.