Cheap but good cat food?

pinkie_pie

Hi, sorry if this gets asked 1000 times, a quick hunt hasn't quite found the answer I'm looking for!

I have two 10 month old kittens, who are currently fed wet food - whiskas, felix, they will eat any sort - there is always one on offer so I get whichever is £2.50 a box. They have two sachets a day each, sometimes if they look hungry I might split a third between them or I give them biscuits as a snack.

I'm well aware that there is better food - however my vet did tell me (whilst giving me a free bag of royal canin!) that I'm better off sticking with the cheaper wet stuff as apparently it makes them less fussy! The thing now is, they are always hungry, constantly mewing, the wet food makes a god awful smell and mess, so I'm wondering about the alternatives. I'm sure the box said they should just have two sachets a day each, but even when they have more they are still mewing.

I can't afford to spend a lot - they've had a few small bags of james wellbeloved and enjoyed it but it appears much more costly. Is there a good solution? I just want them to stop appearing starved too!

Thanks

GlynD

Cats are grazers so try to give them a variety of food, some of which is available all day. A bag of IAMS or similar is a good crunchy snack for a cat and it can be left out without any perceptible smell. Also, be sure you don't give them cow's milk, buy the special Whiskas milk. With regards to wet food: buy it in pouches and give each cat a separate pouch in the morning. Do not repeat this in the evening as they will have their crunchy dry food.

GlynD

Sorry, I've just reread your post and note it is the pouches you're using already, although you called them sachets.

GlynD

I forgot, if they're kittens, you can also train them to come to you in the evening for treats. Soft and crunchy treats are available in most supermarkets. Your vet is correct btw. Don't think that expensive foods are the best. It's what the moggy likes which is best. One of ours loves defrosted prawns as a treat whilst the other won't eat them.

gettingready

Generally - if supermarkets sells it.. it is crap.

Cheap but decent - try Classic from Pets at Home:



http://www.petsathome.com/shop/classic-mix-cat-food-400gm-12-pack-42563

goodgirl80

I use Purely, also from Pets at Home. they do dried bags 2kg for 6.99 which is the cheapest I've found for anything half decent

GlynD

gettingready wrote: »

Generally - if supermarkets sells it.. it is crap.

Cheap but decent - try Classic from Pets at Home:



http://www.petsathome.com/shop/classic-mix-cat-food-400gm-12-pack-42563

I'm afraid I would have to disagree. No offence intended. Our two (one of whom is 10) have eaten Whiskas, Felix and IAMS since they were tiny kittens. On the advice of vets I should add. Try them with anything different, even expensive brands, and they walk away from it (unlike the neighbour's moggy who'll scoff anything in sight).

Cats are just like people. They're all different in their tastes, so sometimes you have to try one or two things before they'll settle on a preference.

Another thing, we haven't mentioned the most important issue - water. Always make sure they get fresh water in a bowl twice a day. They won't drink it if it's not fresh, then you'll see them drinking out of puddles and so on to get oxygenated water.

gettingready

GlynD wrote: »

I'm afraid I would have to disagree.

Oh - feel free to disagree.

OP asked a question, everyone will answer to the best of their own knowledge. Your and mine knowledge may be different.

Personally I would never rely on vet's advice re pet nutrition as most vets are simply cluless in this department.

GlynD

gettingready wrote: »

Oh - feel free to disagree.

OP asked a question, everyone will answer to the best of their own knowledge. Your and mine knowledge may be different.

Personally I would never rely on vet's advice re pet nutrition as most vets are simply cluless in this department.

I honestly did not intend to cause any offence. The information I have posted is my experience of looking after these very fussy animals for 10 years (with the oldest). Before settling on a plan of action I took veterinary advice and researched the internet to see what other views were, just like the OP is doing now. From that I deduced the following which are constant:

1. Cats are grazers and need a supply of food available at all times for "snacking". One or two feeds a day is not the correct way to feed a cat.

2. You must always vary the cat's diet by feeding several different types of food at once, i.e. wet and dry.

3. You must never give a cat cow's milk.

4. Cat's should never be fed sweet things due to the design of their teeth and (particularly) gums.

5. A cat will decide what it eats. If it doesn't like it, it'll walk away.

Would you agree or disagree with any of those? Your opinion would be valuable in setting the OP straight.

goodgirl80

GlynD wrote: »

2. You must always vary the cat's diet by feeding several different types of food at once, i.e. wet and dry.

I'm confused by this, because it would be my instinct to give a cat a bit of both, but I have had a few rescue cats and the rescue places always have them on dried only and always recommend this. Not sure she likes wet food, but I thought perhaps I should try to give her once in a while

gettingready

No offence take, not to worry...

OP asked a simple question, about cheap good quality wet food.

The cheapest good quality wet food I know about is Classic. Other people may come with other suggestions, simple.