Cheap pet food

Belisarius

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Can you get this in anything other than 800g packs? That's all I can see on MySupermarket and it's more expensive per kg than the large Applaws packs.

Yes, especially if yo take advantage of the bulk buying offers on Applaws dry at Zooplus (£4.66 / kilo) & Pet Supermarket (£4 / kilo) at the moment. I also can't get the dry Encore where I am (either in the shop itself or delivered), so I am not wondering if it is only being trialed at the moment. I do think that the Encore wet is a good way to go, though, as I have never seen the Applaws wet discounted much.

Ruby_Moon

The very fact that dry foods come in a variety of 'pressed' pretty shapes (stars, fishes, or just rounds) tells anyone that they are made up of at least 40% starch else the food would be powder.

Don't be fooled into thinking that 53% 'meat' means 53% protien or that any cat food on the market has 80% protien in it.

Hills Science, Fish4Cats, Orijen and Applaws are some of the worst foods available for cats as the manufacturers have very cleverly over the years fooled poeple to believe that their products are actually healthier than cheaper wet food.

A very cheap wet food is always better than a 'good' dry food.

Cats eat high protein. They eat nothing but meat (including bones). They do not like to drink. Cats cannot synthesize taurine so need meat.

A cat may appear healthy on dry food simply because cats tend to keep their problems to themselves and silently 'use up' their 9 lives. Meanwhile, the liver is failing, the urine crystals are forming and the cat is not getting all the nutrients it needs and it lives at reduced capacity.

Fire_Fox

Ruby_Moon wrote: »

The very fact that dry foods come in a variety of 'pressed' pretty shapes (stars, fishes, or just rounds) tells anyone that they are made up of at least 40% starch else the food would be powder.

Don't be fooled into thinking that 53% 'meat' means 53% protien or that any cat food on the market has 80% protien in it.

Hills Science, Fish4Cats, Orijen and Applaws are some of the worst foods available for cats as the manufacturers have very cleverly over the years fooled poeple to believe that their products are actually healthier than cheaper wet food.

A very cheap wet food is always better than a 'good' dry food.

Cats eat high protein. They eat nothing but meat (including bones). They do not like to drink. Cats cannot synthesize taurine so need meat.

A cat may appear healthy on dry food simply because cats tend to keep their problems to themselves and silently 'use up' their 9 lives. Meanwhile, the liver is failing, the urine crystals are forming and the cat is not getting all the nutrients it needs and it lives at reduced capacity.

It would be really helpful if you referenced your assertions - veterinary opinion or published studies please - I have degree level qualifications in biological disciplines and a research background so am keen to learn from you.

Allmost all dry cat foods seem to be around 20-30% protein so I would assume that is considered an appropriate percentage of protein for domestic felines. As you say, the cheap dry foods contain mainly plant proteins so the bioavailability us likely to be lower. Even if a cat ate only chicken or fish they would not be eating 100% protein more like 25%.

Applaws dry food contains 80% meat and 20% vegetables, no grains. Where exactly does the starch/ carbs come from? Vegetables are pretty low in carbs barring potatoes. Just because dry foods are pressed does not necessarily mean they contain starches, tho I accept cheap ones do ... I have actually made tablets in my youth (have studied pharmacy manufacture).