Dry cat food advice needed.

Lyceum

Been lurking for a while but,just signed up today as I'm in need f a little advice.

I have two cats, feed them applaws wet food and James Wellbeloved dry.

To my shame I used to feed them Iams, but my youngest cat was over grooming his stomach and the vet suggested he could have developed an allergy to something in his food, so after a little research I discovered how terrible Iams was and changed them to JWB and Applaws. I'm delighted to say the over grooming has stopped and the cats are doing really well.

Now to the problem. I recently read JWB has been bought by mars and I can't help but thinking it'll only be a matter of time before they start messing with ingredients so it's cheaper to make, and no doubt charging more for it.

So, I'm thinking about changing them to a different dry food, problem being I'm scared it'll have some effect on my boys over grooming, IE, he'll start again.

So, I'm just looking for some advice really as I can't decide what to do. Should I keep them on the JWB? The age old, if it aint broke, don't fix it method. Or change them to a different food now (close to the end of the current JWB bag so I'd do it now to give myself time to switch them over).

If I do change them, what to? Arden grange (my dogs are on this and doing excellently)? Natures best? Applaws dry? I also noticed pets at home do a 'purely' range which looks quite good (I can't link but the ingredients are on the pets at home site)

Any advice at all is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Fire_Fox

I have switched from JWB as I too am not happy about supporting Mars! I am in the process of trialling Noah on a number of different products, as I e-mailed fifteen companies receiving loads of free samples. I have noticed Noah scratching, especially around his ears, some days and not others.

There are a number of hypoallergenic dry foods on the market: Arovit First Class and Wafcol for example. Burns, Arden Grange and PAH Purely are completely natural, Applaws dry, Orijen and Fish4Cats are all grain free. If you look through the first two or three pages of this board, there have been quite a few nutrition topics recently, and many of these foods have been discussed.

lindens

I have just decided to give Arden Grange a go(someone on here recommended), they sent me some nice samples and nutrition sheets. If you are ordering from them already for your dogs, I would give them a go.

cyberbob

I'd stay with JWB we have used there foods for years (in both cats and dogs). They have a good name. Just because Mars have bought the company doesn't mean anything will change. Why put your cats through more changes of foods if you don't have to

bulchy

I always use JWB for my cats and dogs, didnt realise they had been bought by mars, I too would be reluctant to change, but if they do decide to change the ingredients, I will, as my pets do so well on it. My 2nd choice would probably be Arden Grange.
Sue

Lyceum

Thanks for the advice. I've decided to give arden grange a go as the dogs are doing so well on it (tried them on JWB first, but they were extremely windy, so changed to AG).

Spudette

I would recommend Applaws dry food as in my opnion it has the best ingredients and I would use Almo Nature Wet as they have the best quality wet food.

Applaws:
80% Chicken - 20% Vegetables and Natural extracts.

Cereal Free. Prebiotic - naturally hypoallergenic.
Enriched with Mineral DHA EPA. Naturally preserved
with Vitamin E and Rosemary oil. Developed with vetenarians.
Natural Cranberry extracts - helps maintain urinal tract health.

Almo Nature (Mixed Seafood)

Whitefish 45%,
clams 14%,
cuttlefish 9%,
shrimps 7%,
cooking water 24%,
rice 1%

Moisture: 82%
Raw protein: 16%
Raw fat: 1%
Raw ash: 2%

I hope this helps.
Raw fibre: 1%

sarabe

I used to have a boarding cattery and have used many different dry foods.

Without a doubt the most popular food with the cats was Franks Pro Gold. If a cat ate dried food then it loved Franks above any other. My own cats have Franks in addition to raw meat.

spike7451

Try Pet's at Home's "Purely" range.
http://www.pet-food-choice.co.uk/Review_Purely_food_for_cats.htm

robert_harper_2000

Purely looks nice but
unspecified animal fat and Meat and Animal Derivatives aren't the best things, Applaws looks better usually get it on a £9.99 2kg deal or Orijen high meat content - real meat not Meat and Animal Derivatives

Fire_Fox

robert_harper_2000 wrote: »

Purely looks nice but
unspecified animal fat and Meat and Animal Derivatives aren't the best things, Applaws looks better usually get it on a £9.99 2kg deal or Orijen high meat content - real meat not Meat and Animal Derivatives

I understand the derivatives (and the benefits of fish body oils) but why not animal fat? Not trying to catch you out, wish to learn. Is the 'chicken oil' listed on some of the premium brands better than other fats?