Tomlyn High Calorie Nutritional Gel for Cats, (Nutri-Cal) 4.25 oz

My little best friend is almost 15. As a kitten, she swallowed magnets (playing with those darn pics we all post on our fridge. Tell all you know - don't do that! Use a photo album or tape instead!) Ever since her little lifesaving surgery, she can only eat certain kibble and only 10 or so of them at a time, and each feeding spaced well enough apart. Any more, and she'll get sick.Needless to say, she is always begging. She just doesn't understand her situation until it's too late. And then, well - it's too late for my carpet. Not to mention that she doesn't feel well afterwards.She has been healthy as a horse otherwise until a scare a few months back. At the vet visit, she weighed in at a mere 5.5 lbs (runt of the litter, asian persuasion --not starvation by me). While she was deemed utterly healthy (and sweet :) by the vet (albeit, diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia --the probable reason for her 'unwellness moment' (see my Excel Glucosamine Cat Paste review)), I felt as though we could put a bit more weight on her to possibly help with her hips and all-around health... it couldn't hurt, she's so darn kitten-cute-small and wirey --and I'd sleep better at night.Here's where Nutri-Cal came into play....I'd spent at least an hour at the local big pet store reading tubes, canisters, you name it. I had to be careful in my final pick as it needed to be easy enough on her tummy. I ended up with 2 choices. I found one of the employees and asked her about the two (one being Nutri-Cal, the other some 'senior supplement). The minute she said that Nutri-Cal was recommended by vets -- my decision was made. She also added that anything 'senior-oriented' would not include good-for-you-fatty-type nutrition (if you're looking to add a bit of weight onto a cat). That is, if your needs included weight-gain, one would be better off buying a product (even food) geared towards kittens, not senior cats. Just a tip for anyone else out there in my older-tiny-(or skinny)-kitty situation.A tube of Nutri-Cal was purchased. It has been a godsend! Sage is so much more content now; she has gained a bit of weight, and I believe she feels better all-around including her hips. She's back to her kitten-at-heart ways. She doesn't sit and beg anymore, she'll actually go play or lay down after licking some of this stuff up! AND, she adores the stuff.... she just loves it!!I don't just give her some 2 or 3 times a day, she gets this in between almost each feeding (except when she gets fed by her automatic timed feeder while I'm at work). She gets a good 7+ fingertip blobs a day. I've found no side-effects; she has never gotten sick even when she begs enough that I'll give her some 10 minutes or so after her regular food; and she has filled out fabulously. This stuff is a gift from god!! I just squeeze some out onto my finger, blob the stuff onto her plate, and she's a happy camper! I truly feel that this has made an incredible difference in her life... and I don't say that lightly.I would recommend this stuff to anyone in my situation, or someone with an aging or sick cat who won't eat regular food much (or at all). Anyone who cares about their kitty, or is worried about their kittycat should drop a dime on this stuff. I really cannot push this product enough. The happy life (or even extended time) spent with your best little friend that this product offers is worth more than I can put into words.I've hesitated writing this review because there's always some corporate suit out there that gets wind of reviews like mine and decides to raise the price. I'll hope not this time around. I spend the time here hoping rather that this review helps you as much as it has both Sage and myself. Peace of mind, and a happy life for my cat.... can I ask for anything more.On a final note... buying this stuff off amazon is also worth it's weight in gold. I've already picked up 6 more tubes via here. Local (big) pet stores around me charge overly EXCESSIVE prices vs. the cost found here. THIS is the DEAL kittycat owners... look no further.>>>>>>> UPDATE 3-2011 <<<<<<<<I'm back for tube #15 or so..... order #4 (or #5?).While the seller/middleman sellers may change around a bit in order to find the best price+ship cost.... I'm still back!!This stuff is the bee's knees!!AND STILL, via amazon, the cost is still almost 3x less than here in Los Angeles!While the price would never stop me from purchasing this stuff; I really am sick and tired of paying 'over' the national price..... so Sage, watch out ---- here comes 5 more tubes of lovin & lickin healthiness!!! :)While Sage may occassionally get 'picky' over the paste on her plate now.... I just offer her a bit of her kibble and she's all over it -- both the kibble and nutrical (as long as the two don't touch... weird, but hey... she'll then eat both). Otherwise, most of the time she has no qualms over licking up her nutrical :)Buy this stuff!!!!If you love your kitty, even a young or beyond healthy kitty... then you've nothing to lose!!! Your best friend will live an even healthier and longer life with it than without it.I still swear by this stuff --- a bit of fattening health put onto them thar bones, and I'm sleeping sounder than ever; not to mention that Sage's activity has increased 5-fold.I absolutely love, love, love my little girl and would spend many many dollars in order to keep her happy and healthy -- but I don't need to cuz I've found Nutrical!Her kitten ways still exist thanks to this stuff (plus a few glucosamine products otherwise that I've also discovered along the way).My little one (of 15 years) is happy and healthy, hence I am even happier :)>>>>>>> end UPDATE <<<<<<<<********************************************************>>>>>>> NEW UPDATE <<<<<<<--> update 6/10/2011 <--first off...'mishiny' - thanks for adding to this somewhat 'thread' that is amazon :). Your 'ditty' brings a tear and a hope and a joy when it comes to animal lovers such as us :)I update here because Sage has become 'finicky'. She has never before ever refused what is in her bowls, and would eat everything she could get her little paws on.And no, I do not want to discuss the possibilities of just why she's not eating as she has for the last 15.5 years.... I've a good enough thought and shall 'opt-out' until I can no longer 'opt-out'.I DO however COME TO OFFER A TIP to others for the same issue. KITTY not eating but needs to eat........the tip found perhaps at the Nutri-Stat page or???(I'm desperate as of now; I'd found it somewhere and it does work....)Sage now has many supplements......not because of anything other than she needs them and beyond deserves them :)She has a hip dysplasia situation... and I've (since prev review below) found what 'she considers to be the most ultimate treat' in a glucosamine product.)The problem is that now she only wants to eat these treats (while not a treat, but a necessity now, but not real foodage)' along with increasingly more miniscual amts of her normal food.Something found somewhere in another's review....And it has since saved me from tears this last week....I had to get 'calories' into Sage this last week.... anything, I just had to.Per reviewer:Take NutriCal from tube and1) Smear into mouth... along gums, etcI've had to not only do that, but2) Kindly and sort of force mouth to open, and then sort of smear, but more or less get Sage's mouth to open and then smear NutriCal where and where you can AND THEN don't be afraid to also smear outer (lips portion sortof... any place s/he'll lick it most of it up ----- you'll figure out where works best for good intake vs bad intake (puking).Some kitties (older or kitten-like) need a bit of help when it comes to nutrition or assisted-nutrition..... so don't be afraid to help em out :). It just might be the difference between years or months or days or whatever some silly human deems 'just right'.Anyways.... trying to work thru this scenario with Sage right now and felt the need to share what I hadn't even thought of, or recognized as a solution to a problem.....I'm feeling a bit better over this information............ perhaps you will tooBeyond the above, I suggest lots of love and holding (Sage loves to be held, however many don't), and lots of "good girl or good boy" going forward. They know what you mean and hopefully love the 'holding' moments. (Make those as much as you can.... take the time and do it, MORE IMPORTANT - MAKE THE TIME AND DO IT :). You'll both feeL better for that time spent together...... both now and in the long run.---------> end update 6/10/2011 <----------********************************************************>>>>>>> IMPORTANT UPDATE <<<<<<<--> 7/14/2011 <--Should you find your kitty refusing this stuff (esp if s/he adored it before).... please go directly to your vet. Consider having a blood & urinalysis done (fairly cheap considering the costs otherwise).Symptoms of 'lack of eating', 'bed-wetting', and excessive litterbox 'peeing' led me to make a doc appt. I had researched much online and that cinched the need for an appointment. However, only 11 hours before our doc appt, I came home from work late one night to find my best friend needing medical help immediately. She could barely hold her head up, she could barely walk. The worst of the worst seemed to have come about in only the 8 hours since I had left her earlier in the day.As a pet owner, sometimes we're not capable of noticing the day-to-day (or even week-to-week) changes in our pet. Afterall, they can't speak and really tell us how they're feeling. And sometimes, that change may just be excused due to the fact that they are getting older or finicky. Sadly, those changes are most likely seen in hindsight.PLEASE, never wait should you feel something is wrong with your cat. A suspicion is good enough reason to make a doc appt. If s/he is not eating as they had before...... PLEASE go straight to your vet and have them checked out. A days' delay may end a lifetime when things have progessed beyond our suspected knowledge. Just "please, do not wait" - go see the vet.We went straight to the ER.Sage was diagosed with kidney failure. More than 3/4 of her kidneys had stopped functioning.This had also led to anemia, which had further led to a heart murmur, and even further ---a potassium deficiency.We're talking maybe less than 1 week of strange eating (or lack of eating) symptoms.... something I had neglected to see myself that had slowly developed over previous months. If only I had known, or seen, or or or....No one thought she would make it.By 4 am, I'd stood there alone on Sepulveda Blvd balling my eyes out and crying my life out. Unable to visit her once she had been sent into the hospital ward, I was sent home. Words here will never tell of the emotions felt then. Only a 'pet lover' could understand that moment.Sage was in the hospital for 3 nights... I say nights because that's the only thing I can basically recall of that time 1 month ago.Kidney failure is the leading cause of death in older cats.It cannot be reversed.... ever. And it can lead to other ailments, causing the inevitable even sooner.It can however 'be somewhat contained or monitored'.Thankfully and fabuously, Sage is now home and is rocking life what seems to be 110%.While this 'life-rocking-moment' has nothing to do with NutriCal.... I offer my 'moment' to others in order to STRESS that if your beloved begins to refuse food... especially NutriCal (should they have thrived on it before) ----please go directly to your vet. I believe that Sage is only here at home and loving life for ????much longer???? is due to having made it to the vet 'just in time'.My previous 'updated review' below was posted only 4 days prior to our emergency vet visit..... and less than 11 hours before our scheduled appointment.I've dropped almost $4000 in the last month. The red blood cell injections alone are $300 for the tiniest of bottles that give you only an injection a week maxing out at 6 injections. Believe it or not --- this is actually medicine for 'post-chemotherapy human patients'. As is the 'Pepcid AC' and the 'Aluminum Hydroxide'.... none of which is cheap. Additionally, there are 2 different blood tests that need to be done weekly. Not to mention the special kidney function Hill's special diet food that must be bought.For me right now, no... thankfully $$$ is not an issue at the moment, but normally it could be.And for those without means to $$$ immediately, sadly it will be.Could $$ have been an issue? YES! (for some reason, timing worked out and someone who had passed gave me the ability to help something most important in my life otherwise).Do I have endless $$$? NO. I've my limits of financial ability to save my best little friend. This is probably most folk's concerns too.Did I spent too much saving my special friend? NO!She is costing me more than my paycheck every two weeks. Only due to an inheritence is this $$ available to me.Most vets no longer accept 'payments'.And with that option gone, so are most of our valued family :(So just to offer a couple of thoughts with the rest of you.....1) Issues going on with your kitty? .... make a doc appt.2) If you've an older cat and 'something might seem out of order with s/he' .... make a doc appt.---- start the process early and there's no limit to what might be saved in the long run money-wise.... and while I hate stating money ---it is a concern, let alone a hinderance in possibly 'saving the life of your pet'.)3) If your pet is 11 or older, and as of 'last checkup' still healthy, considering getting pet insurance. The best I've found is "trupanion" ([...]). They cover much more than other policies and cover up to 90% of incurred fees. If your older pet just passed her/his annual exam with flying colors ---- GIVE THIS SOME THOUGHT!!!!! I say this because 'anything pre-existing' is not covered. I can only wish I had considered this myself.Yep, Sage passed her annual exam a year ago with flying colors ---- had I known then what I know now.... well, you get the picture. In essence, Sage could have been covered by 'health insurance' but we never went there thinking we didn't need to.4) Just a further couple of notes...No one can tell me how long I have with my best friend. She is home and she appears happier than ever. The docs have said that she is 'doing extremely well' for her condition. Initially, things were so bad that I've her specially ordered urn (sans the inscription) now sitting here at home. Additionally, two sets of pet tags were specially ordered for her... one set for me (on her urn) and one set to be placed inside the urn with her.---FYI---The best pet tags on earth reside at: [...] . Red Dingo is the brand to search for in the searchbox. These enamel pet tags are truly the best that you will ever find. They make 3 sizes.... the med or large size is fab for dogs too.Those at VCA Animal Hospital have allowed me more time with my best friend. As stated prior -- this was not expected.These folk rock!Every day, an ER/Hospital doc called me every morning and every evening with status updates (4 docs total over 4 days). Additionally, they've financial adivors that will do the same. If you're using the West Los Angeles VCA (on Sepulveda Blvd) in CA --- ask for Amanda in the financial dept - she !@#$ rocks and will help you all she can. VCA will also match med prices from 3 diff websites. My needs include 2 different 'human meds' that can't be found online for pets, but I've saved over $30 for the Tumil-K tablets that are 'pet med'.... so I've saved a bit along the line here. Every bit counts when you've a weekly $100-$330 doc visit, along with the prev $3200 hospital stay.VCA Pet Hospitals rock!!I thank you for everything, but above all --- somehow allowing my little girl to come home with me when you thought 'nought'. While you didn't expect much, and nor did I ---- Sage was apparently the trooper of the day and 'wanted' to come home. I still and always will give you folk at VCA the benefit of the doubt on that one. Sage is with me and I didn't have to 'expedite' the matter right there in your office..... and for that, I will never forget you for :)Hopefully, someone may have garnered something from my babble here.I wish you all well, and hope that you keep in mind doc appts and pet insurance.Sage and myself shall never know of your needs, but we'll hope you'll have taken in our 'cautious' thoughts to be aware of otherwise.For believe me, you won't always notice the 'bad' until it's gone 'too bad'.... try to keep an open mind to yesterday's and today's differences when it comes to your little kitty :)You'll know that you'll have done everything that you could have along the way. And for most --- pet insurance may offer more time than you could have ever afforded otherwise. I may have spent some inheritence $$$, but without it --- Sage would not be here today... and today she's happier than ever at home with me. For how long, who's to say.... but my little sweatpea is home, and that's more than I could've ever asked for :)Godspeed to all little ones...--- your moms & dads love you---xoxo---ps: if all else fails foodwise... try 'Gerber Baby Food Chicken with Gravy' either 'snuffed' onto their nose (they'll hate this) or off your finger. Things became sooo bad that off the finger started to falter 'that monday afternoon' and all I could do was to keep putting bits of the baby food onto her nose so that she would lick it off her nose. Our scenario became so bleak, that I almost sort of kept forcing her to lick off her nose the babyfood. Somehow, we managed to get almost an entire jar of babyfood into her. Had it not been for that.... I really don't think that my little friend would be here today. So please - don't hesitate on anything that might make a world of difference otherwise; the vets will tell you the same thing ---- just get some food into them.... and babyfood I've found works fab during those moments :)I'll hope this long ongoing review might help someone somewhere out there. NutriCal has been fab for my little girl... however sadly, she no longer gets it. Too much protein in it and it goes against the 'special food needs' she now requires. I shall however use it in the future for any little beast that might come into my life otherwise --- it's great stuff and I'll continue to forever hold to that... I'll hope that you too might find some solice in using it with your little friend.

I purchase this regularly for a frail old feral who requires daily medication and who doesn’t eat well. This product arrives promptly and is consistently high quality. It’s a bit pricey, but I believe it has helped keep this poor guy alive the past 3 years. I mix it with warm water and Hartz Delectables (tubes of treats). I stir it into a slurry and add lysine and whatever additional meds he requires. He laps it up when he won’t eat anything else. I give it to him 2x daily about 5 days a week.

Yeah, forget the directions to dab a little on a paw and let the cat lick it off. My cat was horrified at being smudged. She wouldn’t lick it off a plate either. I didn’t like taking a glob and shoving it into her mouth forcefully, and you should’ve seen her incredibly unhappy and disgusted face the one time I did.I got this to increase the calories my cat took in during a time she was too sick to eat well or enough. On that count, it’s fine and does offer calories and some nutrients. The issue is getting it into your cat.This stuff is pretty thick- you can’t syringe it in, and it doesn’t mix into food easily. What I ended up doing was putting a teaspoon of this and a teaspoon and a half of baby food in a tiny container and microwaving it 8 seconds. Then I could stir it all together, let it cool and syringe feed it.All the high calorie gels have questionable ingredients that you probably wouldn’t want to give your cat long term but this stuff *did* help keep weight on my cat til she recovered sufficiently to eat more on her own. At the same time I used this, I also tried the Richard’s Organics Nutrient brand. I prefer the Tomlyn - it’s far easier to get out of the tube and (after heating with some baby food) it mixed better. I also tried Under the Weather which was about the same to use as the Tomlyn, but was more expensive and in an inconvenient and large container.I’m definitely not a veterinarian but as a consumer I’d suggest that any high calorie gel is probably not enough to keep your cat going, even if you follow the directions. It certainly won’t fill an empty belly (which must be uncomfortable) or keep them eliminating regularly. Not eating can become habitual so stop it fast.What we did for our 8 pound cat: Got some of the Gerber (meat only) “2nd foods” for “sitters” (on the label).They have:TurkeyChickenHamBeefRead labels. In most other brands, the calories are lower per jar.You can also easily mix and syringe with Hill’s A/D diet as it’s liquidy and nutritious. You need a prescription for this food from your vet.Even mixing a teaspoon of the gel with 1 1/2 teaspoons of food, you end up with a bunch of syringes of food. You look at it all and wonder how you can possibly get it into your pet, so many little syringes.Hey, it’s your pet’s life. Get someone to help if you can. Wrap that baby up in a towel or blanket like a burrito. Put the burrito on a towel or sheet you don’t care about to catch any droppings. Gently lift the side of the lip and get the food in there 1 ml at a time. Chase with some water syringes at the end.It’s not fun but it may keep your pet alive. We’ve done this twice daily now for 10 weeks. Our girl is just now starting to get back to more regular eating and moving around again. Worth it? Definitely.This is NOT intended as veterinary advice. If you have a vet who’ll give you syringe feeding guidelines, follow that advice. Our cat had 2 different vets (regular vet and internal medicine specialist) and neither one had any ideas. I’m just saying what we came up with and apparently worked. Best wishes to you with your pet.

I foster and rescue both kittens and adult/senior feral cats in my area and this stuff is truly a lifesaver. I’ve used this on baby kittens and 15+ yr old kitties and they love the taste. You can see an improvement in appetite quickly. This stuff works wonders for cats who aren’t eating much due to URI’s or tummy problems. I’d recommend it to anyone who has a cat.