Best dried food for a cat??

spike7451

cheepskate wrote: »

We have the same problems with our boy. When we first got him he ate anything then our old dog died and he became the fussiest cat. He will only eat even the best wet food once or twice then refuses them.
We recently tried him on raw food, thinking he's got to love this, but again after a few shots he just goes off it. I dont know why he goes off raw food as he's forever eating the mice he finds.

We went round every brand from low to high price in the supermarket and he wasted most of the stuff. We then tried Lidl's food and he loved it, but only the non- gravy ones. Since found out that he prefers Aldi's ones as they are a pate type and has been eating them with no problems for about a year now.

Why cant cats just be like dogs and eat anything

Because as Cat Slaves we are expected to preempt out furry masters & mistresses & provide them with the diet they will like without knowing what they like.
Mistress Daisy Cat is the same,she wont eat anything in gravy!!

mogwai

Rev wrote: »

If you want the best, it's Orijen, no questions. Check out independent reviews. It's widely considered the best kibble available. But it has a nice price to match.

Would second this - we have our cats on orijen, and they do really well on it, eat less of it than other dry food, and are (touch wood) healthy active kitties..

I get mine from zooplus, if you stock up and buy over £75 worth you get 5% back, plus 5% back from quidco, so comes to about £34 for 7.5kg bags..

rita-rabbit

warning
too much variety can make the moglets fussy(er)

http://www.rlpetproducts.co.uk/store/cats/food - link for ordering Bozita cartons in smaller amounts.

beks

Thanks everyone, it seems like we still have more foods to try ... I am not sure I can make for a fussier cat by swapping foods all the time though, she really is the limit. If I thought she were happy then it wouldnt be so bad but she pesters me constantly for food, even after i have put some down for her and it drives me nutty!!

She went through a (very brief) stage of eating tesco finest pouches so I stocked up on them and then went off them a few days later (they all got taken to the cat sanctuary). Her latest is the tesco finest tuna tins but at 68p a go - either more than half is left or she doesnt touch it. The purely range doesnt go down too well, its licked and then left and feline fayre is the same. She wont touch whiskers or the like and she seems to think I have lost the plot when I put down raw food, prawns, chicken wings, hearts, mince etc - tried them all with the same nonchalent response!!! She wont touch meaty wet foods but seems to occasionally favour the fishy ones but now she wont even eat tuna that I put down for her, again she just licks it and walks away.

I thought I had tried every brand but it looks like there are still more to go - I think I will try Orijen and Bozita next!! We have a feline visitor occasionally and I almost welcome it now because he or she finishes off all the waste that our fussy monster leaves behind. Its so nice to see clean bowls, not half finished or untouched muck!!!!

I know she is a not starving but I really dont know how she manages to keep to such a high weight when she really doesnt touch her food. She doesnt go out enough to catch food every day to put on weight and she is healthy enough so I dont get it. Its nice to know I am not alone in the trials and tribulations of feeding a fussy cat though!!!

Claire_Bear

rita-rabbit wrote: »

warning
too much variety can make the moglets fussy(er)

http://www.rlpetproducts.co.uk/store/cats/food - link for ordering Bozita cartons in smaller amounts.

'Bozita Chunks
Please note, a minimum order of 6 applies to this product. Any mix'

So you have to order 6x370g packs, which is the same as the smallest amount from Zooplus. However, this has the advantage of being able to order 6 different flavours in one go, whereas on Zooplus you get 6 the same which won't be very good if your fussy cat decides he doesn't like the one flavour you've got!

It sounds a little harsh but maybe you should just pick one or two foods which your cat has previously liked, and just feed it all the time. If your cat is hungry she'll eat it. I think by changing all the time she's realised that if she goes off a food you'll run out and get something else and it's going to drive you round the bend. This way you could potentially unlearn the fussy behaviour?

spike7451

Well,Daisy cat has twigged onto a new scam to fool me!!
I put out her pouch for her to eat,so she'll eat a bit then next time I go into the kitchen,she'll wail 'Feeedddd meeee!" as the moglets (I like that term!) do.
So I get a fork & turn the food over for her in the dish.
NOW she'll look at the dish & wail until I've stirred her food for her & THEN she'll tuck in!!

Freddie_Snowbits

Our tiger, rescued by Freda from the cat home, loves dried. But always make sure there is plenty of water down for him. Go Cat is his favourite (the ones without veg, as he can shoot peas like they are going out of fashion).

He is available to a good home!

Dizzyduck

Hi
I have found that Jills Dry Cat Food from Pets Kitchen went down pretty well and they have an offer ( Taster hamper) £12.99 with free post (wasn't keen on the wet food) also asked "Joe the TV Vet" about a dry diet and this was the response:
"With regard the issue of dry food and cats, this is still a contentious point to some people but there is no evidence to suggest any link between feeding dry food and any health problems so I am very happy to recommend a dry diet, provided of course that there is plenty
of fresh water available. Our dry foods are particularly good as they are
all natural with no artificial additives and contain only top quality
ingredients such as fresh chicken and salmon."

Pets kitchen website : http://www.petskitchen.co.uk/


hth

tankgirl1

beks wrote: »

Hi all

After a little bit of advice ....

after years of struggling to feed our 5 year old cat, I have decided it is time to try her on a complete dried food. She is the fussiest cat in the world and there is no wet food that I have been able to find which she actually likes and will eat every day.

She might eat them one day, but the next she just turns her nose up at it. I must spend a fortune on cat food - she will only ever eat the most expensive sort (the little tiny tins) but goes off them really quickly. I do leave them down but they end up getting flies in them and that turns my stomach!! _pale_ She has been like this ever since we got her and sister (RIP) when they were rescue cats (even the centre commented on how fussy they were).

She constantly nags me for food but as soon as I put the bowl down, she walks away in a huff!! I have also tried raw diet with no success, she looked at me with utter disgust when I put a chicken wing infront of her!!! However, she will eat most biscuits and will fill herself up on them and drinks huge amounts. I have recently taken her to the vets for blood tests as I was convinced it was either diabetes, thyroid or kidney problems, but they all came back clear. She is also slightly overweight (about 6/7kg now), sleeps ALL the time and has a anal gland problem.

With all the food that goes to waste, I think our only option now is to try a complete dried food. She currently just eats supermarket own brand biscuits with the wet food so I thought if I changed her to a decent, more expensive one then at least I know she might get more nutrients from there, I am wondering if not getting the right food is making her tired??!!

So what are the recommendations for complete dried food for cats? Unless anyone knows of any wet food which all cats will eat??!!!!
Obviously looking for a fair price but also want a decent one which wont make her pile on the weight either. TBH, anything must be cheaper than how we feed her at the moment with all the food going to waste (I have made many trips to the local cat sanctuary with the food she turns her nose up at lol). I did ask the vet but they werent really much help.

I must admit I didn't read any further than the sentance I highlighted.

In my very honest opinion, unless they are ill, cats and dogs will eat what they are given. They may be fussy, but personally, with mine I persevere - food is there - eat it if you are hungry or starve. Mine all eat what they are given.

My reason for this? I have seen too many pets who will downright refuse to eat a low phosphorus or low protien or low sodium diet, that would have prolonged their life (dependant on their medical condition), or spoilt pets who are used to eating boiled while fish daily - so when they become ill (ie cat 'flu) - there is nothing left to tempt them with - they are already used to being fed 'treats' as a daily meal for the last x amount of years!

Sorry if I sound harsh, but if your kitty is in good health, you pick the food, and you persevere - kitty will not let itself starve!

beks

tankgirl1 wrote: »

I must admit I didn't read any further than the sentance I highlighted.

In my very honest opinion, unless they are ill, cats and dogs will eat what they are given. They may be fussy, but personally, with mine I persevere - food is there - eat it if you are hungry or starve. Mine all eat what they are given.

My reason for this? I have seen too many pets who will downright refuse to eat a low phosphorus or low protien or low sodium diet, that would have prolonged their life (dependant on their medical condition), or spoilt pets who are used to eating boiled while fish daily - so when they become ill (ie cat 'flu) - there is nothing left to tempt them with - they are already used to being fed 'treats' as a daily meal for the last x amount of years!

Sorry if I sound harsh, but if your kitty is in good health, you pick the food, and you persevere - kitty will not let itself starve!

Thanks for the reply and yes, to an extent I do agree with you and i dont think you sound harsh. Another of our cats was on a low sodium and phosporous diet so I know the importance of getting them to eat it.

HOWEVER, our moglet (and her sister) were like this when we got them from the sanctuary and they were only just over a year old then. It does not matter how long I leave the food down for, she just will not eat it (I take it up after 12 hours of lying untouched though - I cannot force her to eat it. I have fed the same thing week after week after week in the hope she will get desparate and eat it but it does not work. She does not look like she is starving (at all) but I do wonder how she is not wasting away as her food isn't touched. I wouldnt see her as a 'spoilt' cat, she is a loved cat who I am doing my best to feed with something I feel is suitable and that she likes. I have persevered for 4 years and nothing has changed, she is no worse but no better - personally I think that is long enough to keep trying!!

And since this is MSE, this isnt to mention the huge cost of giving mountains of food to a cat which is just not eaten. I would be happy to spend the money on her if she ate it, but it all goes to waste which makes me feel guilty for not giving it away in the first place!!!

The reason I am heading for dried is because she has not yet turned her nose up at any dried food (unless I mix it with wet lol!!). I know it has its downfalls (according to many) but after trying so many different wet foods and raw foods with no luck, I feel backed into the corner. In terms of the meat or fish content, what is the percentage to aim for? Presumably over 30% which I think is what is in Iams etc?