Grain free cat food

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi, investigating grain free foods (one very skinny cat and one pudgy one).

Has anyone tried either of these?

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/porta_21/170885

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/animonda

I have tried a couple in the past (without even realising they were grain free - Applaws and Orijen but the wee monkeys wouldn't eat either (they don't seem to like the high meat content ones for some strange reason).


Thanks

Fridaycat

Sorry, can't help you with your question, , but just to let you know, our lot don't like the dry Applaws either, though they do like the tinned stuff. Funny little chaps, aren't they? We try to do our best for them, but they just turn their little noses up at our efforts :rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

Yup, I must have "wasted" £000s over the years trying this one and that one - only for them to not eat it.

They both like what they get now (Royal Canin) but I'd like to get them onto grain free if I can - it was recommended as a way to hopefully "even out" both the "skinniness" and "pudginess" - also, my dog gets a grain free food and he's doing miles better since he was switched.

Fridaycat

Ours are the same, and Royal Canin is the definite favourite, I buy 10 kg size of Fit 32 and then alternate the odd meal by giving them wet stuff or buying 400g sizes of different RC. It is tricky if you have to move away from a firm favourite, but I hope you get there in the end

bethie

both of them have gotten quite good reviews over on petforums.

The two A-Zs are really comprehensive!


http://www.petforums.co.uk/cat-health-nutrition/

Fire_Fox

Have you tried mixing a small amount of Applaws/ Orijen in with the old food, then increasing the amount every few days until you are feeding 100% grain-free? High carb kibble is sprayed with digest which is intended to make meat flavoured corn flakes taste irresistible, rather like companies add salt to sweet biscuits or sugar to savoury crisps.

rising_from_the_ashes

Bethie - thanks for that link, it's great! Will be investigating more thoroughly tonight! Looks like the Porta one's out tho' (ash content is high & have a male cat - having previously been through the heartbreak of a male cat with cystitis-stones-CRF, I'm a bit paranoid and will steer clear of that one).

Thanks FireFox - TBH I usually put a new food in a separate bowl, however, I may try mixing and see what happens!

paddypaws101

The Animonda one is not actually grain free, so I am a bit confused!
How about either
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/dry_cat_food/taste_of_the_wild/178009
or
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/ask?query=acana&num=20&form=search
Both of which go down well here.

Fire_Fox

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Bethie - thanks for that link, it's great! Will be investigating more thoroughly tonight! Looks like the Porta one's out tho' (ash content is high & have a male cat - having previously been through the heartbreak of a male cat with cystitis-stones-CRF, I'm a bit paranoid and will steer clear of that one).

Thanks FireFox - TBH I usually put a new food in a separate bowl, however, I may try mixing and see what happens!

Different types of crystal or urinary problems need different dietary strategies to prevent or treat, if you try to avoid one you may increase the risk of another. Acidity and hydration are just as/ more important than ash content - the easiest way to achieve that is a high meat (or animal derivatives) wet food as cereals are alkaline. Are you only feeding dry or wet too (my memory is terrible)? Have you seen this site?

Royal Canin is much lower meat/ higher grain than Applaws/ Orijen/ Porta Sensible, there are different enzymes needed to digest protein and carbs. Definitely mix the new food in stepwise or you may find you end up with a digestive disturbance. :eek:

SadBunny

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

.... Applaws and Orijen but the wee monkeys wouldn't eat either (they don't seem to like the high meat content ones for some strange reason).

Adding FortiFlora might persuade them: The base ingredient in FortiFlora is animal digest - the very substance that makes dry food so very enticing to cats. The directions say to use 1 package/day - and you can use this much if you want to - but this amount is not usually necessary. You may only need ~1/4 of a package - or less - with part mixed into the food and part sprinkled on top of the food just as you would use salt and pepper on your own food.

Apparently Purina Feline Fortiflora aids a healthy digestive system.

I thought this made interesting background reading.
Pet Digest and Pet Plus ???
I need to investigate these further, but I might buy Pet Plus ... one day ... maybe.

rising_from_the_ashes

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Are you only feeding dry or wet too (my memory is terrible) Have you seen this site?

Royal Canin is much lower meat/ higher grain than Applaws/ Orijen/ Porta Sensible, there are different enzymes needed to digest protein and carbs. Definitely mix the new food in stepwise or you may find you end up with a digestive disturbance. :eek:

They get wet as well, however, it's Whiskas pouches or the wee Gourmet Gold tins:(. I've tried loads of the higher meat ones (Applaws, Purely, HiLife etc) but without success and really don't know what else to try to get them to eat it!

She will eat "human" food - chicken (cooked), fish (cooked), ham, liver (raw - but only a teeny bit) and he howls like mad for any of the above but just looks at it if I put it down and won't touch it (they will both eat tuna).


Thanks for the link:) - I haven't seen that site before (and wish I'd known about it when poor Smudge was going through his "battles") - will have an in depth read as it's something I'm still interested in knowing as much as I can about (and a bit paranoid it happens again):(


Sadbunny - thanks for all the links, off to have a read!



(may be busy for a while).....


It's just so hard to know what's best

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