What do you feed your cats?

[Jessica]

Allie gets a small bowl of dry food in the morning & a can of Fancy Feast for dinner. She is very, very picky & if I switch food on her (to a cheaper version), she sniffs it & walks away. So ... how do you spoil your's?

[meow2u3]

1. What I feed my cat

Boots gets a bowl of dry food in the morning and either a can of Fancy Feast, or 1/2 a can of Friskies or 9-Lives for dinner. Since he's a 7-month-old neutered male kitten, he doesn't think that paltry sum of grub will satisfy his needs, so sometimes I'll give him a little more dry food after he scarfed down his early evening can.
What Boots feeds himself: bites of tuna sandwich, the milk remaining in my cereal bowl, the few pieces of meat or fish from my dinner, all by jumping in my face while I'm eating. I throw him down 10 times; he comes back up 11.

[Jessica]

2. I understand that!

She loooves yogurt - so I always let her have the last little bit in the cup.

[ET Awful]

3. Well . . . Quinn and Althea get fed pretty well

They have a constantly full dish of dry food (currently experimenting with organic and high-grade foods to see what they like best).

They also get a can or half a can (depends on whether it's a 3 oz or 6 oz can) of good canned food twice a day (morning and evening). In the past the canned food has been Nutro, but I'm trying to push them towards something that's better for them (and not owned by Republican donors). So far I've been trying with a little success to get them on to Natural Balance canned food which they will eat, and also some Wellness (which is a local company, so if I can get them to eat it, it keeps the money in my own community).

They have no liking at all for people food. They turn up their nose at anything people-food related that I offer them.

[Lorien]

4. No GOP owned Friskies or "Fancy Feast" for mine

after spending $7,000 to keep two cats alive who had been raised on those products (and losing the battle), I started looking into what I was REALLY feeding my pets; spoiled meat, corn products, dangerous color additives,slaughter house sweepings, fecal matter, growth hormones and even road kill are permitted and often included in those brands and several "premium" brands like Iams, Eukanuba, Science and others. The only way to ensure that such your furbabies aren't consuming such things is to switch to holistic brands with "human grade" ingredients. My cats have a huge variety to choose from; Wellness, Organix, Artemis, Innova, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, Halo, Felidae, California Natural, Prairie nature's variety, Newman's Own, Merrick, Kosher Pets and Brother's blend just to name a few. Since the switch, my 16 year old cat Miro has lost eight pounds (he was over 25 pounds) and a non malignant tumor on his back, his coat is glossy, he no longer vomits daily or has diarrhea. I'm glad I found out in time to help him, but I'm still kicking myself for feeding Peewee and Jasper that stuff. My pet sitter tried to tell me four years ago-but I thought I knew better. I don't know if I'll ever forgive myself for that. :cry:

[Jessica]

5. No!

Ohh ... I hate hearing that. Do they carry some of those foods at Petsmart? I'm gonna have to switch now -- if she'll let me! She's a tiny little cat and sometimes I feel like it's my fault, though I think she's just small by nature. I feel so bad for feeding her that crap - but I'm glad your babies are okay. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll try the big switch tonight.

:-(

[Lorien]

7. I think the only one they carry is

Natural Balance. Go to www.artemiscompany.com and use their search feature to find holistic retailers in your area. Also, check out the Wellness/ natural pet foods link at www.nationalpetpharmacy.com . You can also order a box of samples of various holistic brands at www.waggintails.com

Making the switch isn't easy at first because corn syrup is addictive to cats (and it's also very bad for them-but it's added to grocery store brands to keep them eating the stuff). Most cats take a while to be "weaned' from the bad brands, but once they are you'll notice an overall improvement in their appearance and attitude. My Miro plays like a kitten now-and he hasn't done that in ten years!

[meow2u3]

15. I didn't know that

Where can I find a low-cost food my cat would like without my inadvertently supporting the repunks? I'm on a fixed income and cannot afford the organic stuff because it costs too much. Besides, Boots Mobile (his new name because he talks so much) is finicky.

[Lorien]

16. Hmmm...the best cheap eats I can think of (non-repuke)

is Sensible Choice made by Royal Canin (a Canadian company). You can get it at PetCo, and I think PetsMart just started to carry the brand. Hope your kitty goes for it!

[Warpy]

22. My two rescued cats live 100% on kibble

I made the mistake of trying canned food ONCE. Diarrhea in long haired cats is not pleasant.

They're not terribly interested in "people food." They will eat rare cream cheese or yogurt, but that's about it.

I'd get terribly bored on that diet, but they seem to prefer routine.

[prozacnation]

6. Dog food

I know it's horrible, I know, I know. However, my cat for the most part refuses to eat his own dry food. He will eat some wet food but he is very picky. For the most part he will seek out our dogs dry food and eat it. Luckily my dog is eating an incredibly healthy food. I know it lacks in some of the nurtients he needs but at least he is eating. I refuse to feed my dog outside or lock the cat up so it's hard to hide the food from the cat.

[Lorien]

8. Try Artemis or Organix brand

most cats who go for crunchy kibble LOVE it. The main problem with dog food for kitty is the high carb content (can cause diabetes) and there's often not enough taurine (can cause blindness). You can get a product called "missing link" to add to your cat's food if he absolutely refuses anything else, or give him Welltabs from Wellness as a daily vitamin.

On edit: it's Artemis FRESH MIX that is like "kitty cocaine", not regular Artemis feline.

[prozacnation]

11. Thanks for the info!

I wonder if dog food tastes better for some reason. I get them both very high quality food. It's just odd that he refuses his own. Do you know where I can get "missing link"? For that matter where can I get Artemis or Organix? I usually shop at Petsmart or Petco. I should probably look at Trader Joes.

[Lorien]

12. Go to the Artemis link in post #7

or here: http://www.naturesvariety.com/where.Lasso and enter your zip code; you should be able to find a store in your area that offers holistic brands. Missing Link and a Holistic brand called "Natural Balance" can be found at PetsMart or Petco, but most human grade brands can only be found at health food stores, holistic vet offices, and pet boutiques.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. I usually order all this stuff from

www.carealotpets.com

Their prices are excellent. Almost always lower than my local stores amd lower than the other catalogues I have checked.
I have also used www.waggintails.com since they had the Wellness food that carealotpets did not have until recently.
I believe waggintails may still be the place to get Merricks. You pay for shipping, but you don't pay tax.

You can order from carealotpets online or over the phone. [phone].
Sometimes I receive my order two days after I submit it.
They are VERY nice, located in Virginia Beach, VA

I agree with LORIEN, what you may spend in food, you will save in vet bills...and you will have your pet with you for a longer time, and s/he will be healthier..and you will be happier.

EDIT: My 7 year old GSD has been to the vet to be neutered and for his initial vacs. His rabies booster at 4. If I am lucky he will never see a vet again.
My 8 year old cats have not been to the vet since they were spayed and given their initial shots. They are indoor cats.
My two year old cats have not been to the vet since they were spayed and given their initial shots. They are also strictly indoor cats, and I hope they never see the inside of a vets office again either.

[prozacnation]

23. What about Pinnacle?

That's the brand that I have been feeding my dog. It's supposed to be one of the superior foods. They also make cat food. Any thoughts?

[Lorien]

24. It's a good brand

I believe that it's human grade; my holistic pet food store started carrying it a few months ago.

[meti57b]

21. Hi, Dog food doesn't have taurine in it which is an essential

ingredient for cats. Without taurine, cats develop dilated cardio-myopathy.

Here is a short description:

http://www.hdw-inc.com/healthtaurine.htm

or google on "cats taurine"

[Orsino]

9. Waltham prescription dry

...and occasionally the canned version.

[Beaverhausen]

10. My vet made me put my cats on a diet!

I used to leave a bowl of dry out all day and give them canned food twice a day.

My vet told me to cut out the dry altogether and give them canned food twice a day. She said in the wild cats eat only once a day, when they make their kill.

So now...since I can't deprive them of their crunchie food (and the canned food I feed them is really expensive- it's M/D from the vet) I give them a little of each morning and night.

I think they have lost a little weight. No one else agrees with me though.

The dry food I feed them is Dick Van Patten Natural Balance reduced calorie.

[Lorien]

13. I would just switch to Natural Balance ultra mix

canned instead of the M/D, and just feed them each half a can once a day, and half a cup of dry kibble. That's what my Miro gets, and he's lost a significant amount of weight in the past year. The Natural Balance doesn't have fillers, so little of it stays on as extra weight.

[jean]

14. I would love to feed our cats healthier food - one is a 12 yr old

(overweight) female who eats Waltham lo-cal kibble ... and her young friend, a year old lean male who eats Science Diet adult kibble.

The young male is new (less than a week) to our household - and they're both interested in eachother's food, of course. He is supposed to put some weight on according to our vet and she is supposed to always be watching it. She's been alot more active and alert since he arrived. (the vet says she inherited a not great dentition...and should not eat canned food )

[Beaverhausen]

17. Thanks. I will try that food

My cats usually throw up anything that isn't bought from the vet but I will try this.

:hi:

[iconoclastic cat]

18. IVD Rabbit and Green Pea.

We feed the girls the dry, but the boy cat gets wet (trying to avoid urinary tract problems).

[BrklynLiberal]

19. I have 4 female cats. I always have 4 little bowls of Wellness Super 5

Mix Adult Cat Food(that's a holistic Chicken food) available for them.
Every evening, when the dog is being fed, they get to split one of the 7 1/2 oz cans of Merrick Thanksgiving Dinner or Terducken Moist Food.
None of them are skinny, and very rarely are the dry food bowls emptied. I usually replenish them at the halfway point which is every third day.
Of course they get plenty of water.
I just got one of those fountain things. It was a riot watching them size it up...with the usual tilted head, hesitant paw reactions.
They also get a big stainless steel bowl of fresh water.

ONEDIT: I have had 7 cats over the course of the past 20 years and have never encountered a picky eater. At the beginning I fed them Science Diet(when I was ignorant). I never fed any of them moist food until the past couple of years.
Atone point I was using Spot's Stew for the moist food, but switched to the Merricks recently.
I switched to what I consider the more healthy foods about 17 years ago. Gee, I cannot remember what I used to use before I switched to Wellness, but there was some other holistic brand that I used before I switched to Wellness.(Guess I better up my Ginko Biloba)

[Mallifica]

25. Purina indoor formula

mine's gotten to be a bit of a fatty -
she likes this and it works well for a student budget.

[Frogtutor]

26. My male cat has urinary tract issues (very common)

so he's been getting Hill's Science Diet Feline CD almost since day 1. The only thing I don't like about it is that I have to purchase it from the vet, which means a special trip during vet hours only. This is especially annoying when my husband gives his food to the dogs because they're out. He can get Purina Dog Chow at almost any store, at any hour of the day or night...grrrrr The cat has a feeder bowl, and I just keep it filled. He eats whenever he wants. He's pretty finicky and doesn't really seem to want to eat anything else!