Natural cat food

[findeight]

After trying everything and spending tons on stuff they wouldn’t touch, we have settled on FF pate with dry Nutrish by Rachal Ray. Both are available at my grocery stores, Target, big box pet stores etc. and often discounted.

FF in particular offers boxes of 12-24-36 cans. I got two 36 can boxes of two chicken flavors and a turkey on a buy one that was already reduced, get one 1/2 off and got 72 cans for about $25 at a grocery hyoermart type regional store (Meijer). They split a small can three ways daily and nibble on the dry. Everybody is happy.

Cats do well in it, not much puking, constipation or unpleasant poop smells as with some of the real expensive stuff. Cats (Siamese) are in good weight, about a 4, but not fat…well…except the one with the real stocky build, more like a 5-6.

I had a lot trouble with the boutique type premium brands not being dependably available, changing formulations, discontinuing flavors after cats decided they liked it and…honestly, I don’t need to be spending 100 a month to feed 3 kitties and keep them in litter…that’s another thing I ended up going back to more commercial and less expensive product with. Not just for price but, like the food, the $$$ brands disappointed me and the cats didn’t eat the food and don’t care about the litter.

[Joanne]

I got a lovely ginger rescue kitty about 10 years ago. I first started out with dry food with a little bit of wet. Then I went to a higher quality dry food (Merrick) which he loves. Gained weight. Next found out that dry food is bad so changed to Science diet light wet about 3 years ago and he lost a bit of weight. Found out that Science Diet isn’t very good. Since changing to the wet, he has had problems with anal gland impaction and gingivitis (which he didn’t have for the first 7 years I had him).

He likes Fancy Feast. Switched him over to the pate mixed with a bit of water since he has never been a very good water drinker, even with his own little fountain. He prefers the fish varieties of Fancy Feast which I thought was great because the vet said to keep him around 175 calories for gradual weight loss, and it is pretty low carb. Now I find fish is bad for him. Also have started him on distilled water. I don’t want him to have urinary problems.

Any suggestions?

[Joanne]

I got a lovely ginger rescue kitty about 10 years ago. I first started out with dry food with a little bit of wet. Then I went to a higher quality dry food (Merrick) which he loves. Gained weight. Next found out that dry food is bad so changed to Science diet light wet about 3 years ago and he lost a bit of weight. Found out that Science Diet isn’t very good. Since changing to the wet, he has had problems with anal gland impaction and gingivitis (which he didn’t have for the first 7 years I had him).

He likes Fancy Feast. Switched him over to the pate mixed with a bit of water since he has never been a very good water drinker, even with his own little fountain. He prefers the fish varieties of Fancy Feast which I thought was great because the vet said to keep him around 175 calories for gradual weight loss, and it is pretty low carb. Now I find fish is bad for him. Also have started him on distilled water. I don’t want him to have urinary problems.

Any suggestions?

[CindyCRNA]

Joanne, FF beef feast or chicken feast. My girls loved those flavors. I too just learned that the fish isn’t good for boys.

[Minerva]

Fish isn’t good for any cat with urinary issues, male or female. The mineral content of the fish raises the pH of their urine and can cause crystals to form. Males are just more susceptible to urinary trouble, especially with crystals and stones, because their urethrae are narrower.

I have a female with past urinary troubles caused by fish. Now she only gets fish occasionally as a treat.

[anon510129]

[QUOTE=Joanne;8974711]
I got a lovely ginger rescue kitty about 10 years ago. I first started out with dry food with a little bit of wet. Then I went to a higher quality dry food (Merrick) which he loves. Gained weight. Next found out that dry food is bad so changed to Science diet light wet about 3 years ago and he lost a bit of weight. Found out that Science Diet isn’t very good. Since changing to the wet, he has had problems with anal gland impaction and gingivitis (which he didn’t have for the first 7 years I had him).

He likes Fancy Feast. Switched him over to the pate mixed with a bit of water since he has never been a very good water drinker, even with his own little fountain. He prefers the fish varieties of Fancy Feast which I thought was great because the vet said to keep him around 175 calories for gradual weight loss, and it is pretty low carb. Now I find fish is bad for him. Also have started him on distilled water. I don’t want him to have urinary problems.

Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

Obviously I started this thread and been asking others for suggestions, so I am no expert. From what others have said, it seems like non-fish, wet food is your answer. I think adding the water is smart.

I bought a bunch of the Nature’s Variety large cans yesterday. They have them at Pet Smart in a large variety of flavors. I got beef, chicken and lamb. My guy goes crazy for them!

Good luck!