GI Sensitivity

My cat has been diagnosed with GI issues and placed on a special diet. I just found a bunch of wet food packets in the cupboard (not yet expired) and was considering giving it to her. Would this be OK or could it cause her GI issues?

Hello!  If your cat has been placed on a special diet because of GI issues, it is likely that this is either a) to avoid certain proteins that cause inflammation of the gut eg in the case of allergies, or b) to provide a lower fat diet (eg in pancreatitis).  Giving  unspecified cat-food on top of this, may mean that the allergic cat may well digest the allergen anyway, despite your paying for an expensive food without it in.  In the case of an allergy, even the tiniest amount of a 'trigger' protein can set an allergy off.  Or, in the case of low fat foods, it would be a bit like buying an expensive commercial diet shake / meal replacer and then having a doughnut on top and wondering why the diet didn't work. Obviously I don't know why your cat has been prescribed this diet, but I've given you what are probably two of the most common scenarios there.  It does therefore sound like a bad idea to give the tins, without checking with your veterinary surgeon first. However, there are many less fortunate cats eg in shelters, or those belonging to people in financial difficulties, that might really benefit from the food if it is still in sealed packaging and in date, so please don't throw it away until you have checked.  All the best!