Best quality dry cat food?

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Dry isn't good for the urinary system. It has most of the moisture taken out of it and even leaving out bowls of water, felines still don't intake enough moisture.

In the wild, cats' prey is mostly water, approx 74%. Dry food also contains veg proteins which cats haven't the ability to metabolise. It's also high in carbs which isn't good either.

However, I guess it's up to individual owners what they choose to feed their pets.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

This illustrates my point about dry food and it's affect on the urinary system.

sorryusernamesgone wrote: »

After feeding my cats on purely dried food I had a couple of them come down with cistitus and stones in the bladder,

UKTigerlily

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Dry isn't good for the urinary system. It has most of the moisture taken out of it and even leaving out bowls of water, felines still don't intake enough moisture.

In the wild, cats' prey is mostly water, approx 74%. Dry food also contains veg proteins which cats haven't the ability to metabolise. It's also high in carbs which isn't good either.

However, I guess it's up to individual owners what they choose to feed their pets.

That's pretty much what I read about that made sense to me, also something about them being desert dwelling animals & designed to take moisture from prey. I'm using up this Hill's & then going back to natures:menu & maybe a tiny bit of dry, though the Plaque Off i'm hoping will help, i'd only recently heard of that so hadn't had chance to try it before! It's always funny how we have these food debates on here but never about is McDonalds or Veg better for us/our kids to have for tea? lol

However, I do admit I feed the Dog dry as the brand I use I think are the best dry out there & they don't do wet! Not many Dog foods have 0 grains in them! I've not read up on Dogs so don't really know yet what looks best, i'm imagining the wet is again closer to natural but idk! She does get natures:menu too tho!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Dogs can tolerate any food really. Their system is more a kin to ours. They are able to metabolise veg proteins & carbs. I suppose it's the same with any animal, just avoid over feeding

Edinburghlass_2

I've fed my cats on Iams dry food for years with no problems at all although they do have plenty of live wet food in the fields should they want it. In fact today there was a perfectly formed little field mouse left for me at the front door un-eaten!

Recently had the eldest (11) at the vets over a problem unrelated to food and his teeth were checked and found to be absolutely fine. There is always water in the kitchen but they do seem to prefer the rain water that is in a dish left outside for them.

emmahip

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Please avoid Iams, sorry I know it's personal choice but they do horrific testing on animals, really barbaric & cruel things, so many people stopped using their food (Myself included!).

One of my cats was really ill from eating Iams, it is full of rubbish that really cats like so it seems they prefer it!

After some advice from a really good vet we feed all of our crowd (2 cats, 2 dogs) on James Wellbeloved.

It is pricey but watch out for good offers in places like Pets at Home of BOGOF's etc.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

That's great for you & your cats. All I'm doing is stating what's best for a cat to eat, ie: species appropriate diet. However, it's up to the owner of the cat to judge for themselves. It is especially helpful if the choice is an informed one.

Edinburghlass wrote: »

I've fed my cats on Iams dry food for years with no problems at all although they do have plenty of live wet food in the fields should they want it. In fact today there was a perfectly formed little field mouse left for me at the front door un-eaten!

Recently had the eldest (11) at the vets over a problem unrelated to food and his teeth were checked and found to be absolutely fine. There is always water in the kitchen but they do seem to prefer the rain water that is in a dish left outside for them.

UKTigerlily

I actually like to read everyone's opinions/experiences & links to facts. If I hadn't i'd still be feeding Iams or Whiskas! Tess had Iams Light when she was a fat cat, then I learnt about the testing which I wouldn't have known about unless i'd listened & looked into it, the same with Whiskas/Felix. Really we are damn lucky to have such a huge choice in foods for our Pets! I give the Dog about 2/3 dry (Orijen) & 1/3 wet (natures:menu) as she does love her wet food & I like a natural diet (By that I mean natures:menu is just veg & meat, no anything added to it, that's all it is)

The Cat is stuck on her free Hill's T/D food & Science Plan but will be back to nature as such soon! I also like the look of the dry food another mentioned that i'd never heard of & can't remember the name of, C something! PLus, if i'd never read forums I wouldn't know about Orijen which is the only Dog food i've come across so far to list it's first ingredient as just 'Chicken' no meal/derivatives etc.

So keep all opinions coming!

EyePeaSea

Edinburghlass wrote: »

There is always water in the kitchen but they do seem to prefer the rain water that is in a dish left outside for them.

I started off with tap water for mine, but they didn't seem to like it, so I switched to filtered water. In the mornings, if there's only enough in the jug for their bowl or my orange squash, guess who gets the horrible tasting tap water - not them!

MrsE_2

EyePeaSea wrote: »

I started off with tap water for mine, but they didn't seem to like it, so I switched to filtered water. In the mornings, if there's only enough in the jug for their bowl or my orange squash, guess who gets the horrible tasting tap water - not them!

You give your cats filtered water too?:rotfl:

Mine get chilled filtered out of the US fridge freezer, my sisters used to get cooled boiled water:D