CB, let me tell you a story about a dog, not a cat, and about a diet change and vet bills.
For many years, I had a beloved German Shepherd named Gryphon. Gryphon had pancreatic insufficiency, horrible skin allergies and infections.
I was spending upwards of 180 dollars a month at the vet's on steroids, pancreatic enzymes,and antibiotics. Gryphon still had diarrhea, skin infections, rashes, was skinny, and generally sick.
Finally, on the recommendation of a well-known breeder of German Shepherd Dogs in Germany, I bit the bullet and changed Gryphon over to a raw diet.
Now, I don't recommend this for Lily, but with Gryphon I was desperate, and I had already tried the type of foods I recommend for Lily with no success.
The raw food cost about 20 dollars a month more than I was paying my vet for Gryphon's medications, and less than I was paying for the constant crises, blood tests, etc.
I got my first order, and after about two weeks, I noticed...NO DIARRHEA!
After month, I made my second order and as I was waiting, I noticed that Gryphon was shedding less and there were no new sores on his skin. Not only that, he was actually gaining weight!
I called my breeder friend in Germany. He said to slowly start tapering back the enzymes. I called my vet who chewed me out for feeding raw food. On my own, I stopped the antibiotics and wrote to a vet friend in Germany to ask how to taper off the steroids as the vet I was using here was not cooperative.
Following my German vet's instructions, I tapered Gryphon off of steroids safely. 3 months later, Gryphon was off all medications, had a full, healthy coat of hair, and was 10lbs shy of a healthy weight for the first time in 5 years.
Yes, diet can make that much of a difference!
I later found that the company that made the raw food made a line of dry food that Gryphon could eat and after 3 years switched him over to that. He did very well on that combined with raw, meaty bones in place of dry food once a week.
I honestly believe that if you get Lily onto a good, healthy diet you will see a vast improvement in her health. I also believe that if you raise little Charlie on the same sort of diet, you will have him for many more healthy happy years.
Best of luck to you,
toK