Cat Food Questions

looby-loo_2

My friend breeds 'posh' cats and also runs a cattery. She calls all dried food 'Gone Cat' as she says, in her experience, this is what happens to the cat when fed dried food. Cattery cats are fed according to owners wishes. She leaves a little out for her moggies as a 'top up' but her posh cats are never allowed it. They have tinned food or chicken if she gets one reduced. Also sardines once a week (Lidl is very cheap) for their bones.

I use tinned food for my three but at Christmas I gave them a mug full of chopped turkey and gravy one morning as a treat. I noticed they were well settled for much longer than on there usual tinned food diet - didn't ask for tea until 5.30!!

Poppycat

I find my cat to be very fussy, doesn't really like dry food much apart from them expensive dry treats at Tesco's. He loves gravy in meat mostly, whihc is hard to source I find in tins, he loved tinned meat gravy with carrots/peas but that company dont make it now.

So I feed him pouches he tends to like gravy ones like Tesco's own brand, Sainburys own brand and also Aldi ones the meat variety. They around £2.00-£2.20 per pack of 12 I think or is it 10?

I also feed him tins of tuna on BOGOF

the_devil_made_me_do_it

ClaireLR wrote: »

They do ahve the pouches as well but like I said half the time they aren't interested in those to much

What do you feed your cats??

I feed my cat a range of cooked meats and pouch cat food, usually felix, as it's been recommended to me, as my cat is diabetic. I'd never go back to dry food under any circumstances. As with the insulin I give twice daily at the moment, I've noticed a tremendous difference in changing my cat's diet. She isn't a youngster either, she's pushing 15 years old. But she seems so much more settled and her fur is great condition.

The vet told me that cats can't digest veg matter or starch/sugars, so I needed to stop feeding her any dried buscuits/food with veg in it and stop the cat milk. It has made a huge difference.

ClaireLR

Cat milk is another thing I give my cats, but only occasionally

My cats are quite young, one is 3 and one is 2. The reason I give them dry food is that they re indoor cats and I work all day (leave house at 8am, get back 6pm) so with dry food they can help themselves as and when they fancy something to eat.

Do you think if I fed them in the morning and at night that would be ok on wet food? wouldnt they be hungry in the day then though? I read somewhere that they should eat small amounts and often so I dont want to stick a whole tin of cat food down in the morning as our one cat would definitely scoff the lot!

What do you think??

the_devil_made_me_do_it

ClaireLR wrote: »

Cat milk is another thing I give my cats, but only occasionally

My cats are quite young, one is 3 and one is 2. The reason I give them dry food is that they re indoor cats and I work all day (leave house at 8am, get back 6pm) so with dry food they can help themselves as and when they fancy something to eat.

Do you think if I fed them in the morning and at night that would be ok on wet food? wouldnt they be hungry in the day then though? I read somewhere that they should eat small amounts and often so I dont want to stick a whole tin of cat food down in the morning as our one cat would definitely scoff the lot!

What do you think??

Well I don't really want to tell you what to do with your cats, however, since they are indoor cats, I would've thought they would need as much as an outdoor roaming cat. You can buy a timed cat feeder, not sure how good they are, never used one.. They are expensive and you may find one cheaper from somewhere else, the link is just to show you an example.

here's a link http://www.petutopia.co.uk/automatic_cat_feeders_7241.php

I'm out at uni all day and tend to feed my cat just before I go out. If she finishes it, I put a bit more out. Usually it's enough till I get home when I feed her again. Then I put more out before I go to bed.

I think you may have to try a routine which suits both the cats and you. Good luck

snugglepuss_2

We feed our cats with the Kirkland Cat Maintenance Formula biscuits from Costco - in our opinion they look like IAMS, and the cats like them better. Works out really cheap too, as a huge sack lasts ages. We also give them cod/coley portions or whiskas so they have both wet and dry food.

I do have to say I was a bit alarmed though when I saw that someone was feeding their cats with fat from their christmas ham - I have always been told by Vets that cats should not be given pork products, as they cannot digest it properly and can make them ill - a bit like dogs and chocolate.

kylieM_2

cod or coley is good for them as its very bland, Fatty (one of my cats) eats it when he gets a bad belly.

Salem (one of my other cats) loves olives, bizzare I dropped one on the floor once, now he dribbles when he see's them as well as Macdonald's chips, domino's pizza topping and potatoes.

And no I don't make a habit of feeding it to him all the time, before you ask

~Chameleon~

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Please don't give cats dried foods.

My cat developed Diabetes mainly due to finding small amounts of dried cat biscuits. My vet totally advised against giving her anymore. They are full of starch and cats can't cope with it. They ain't good at all for cats.

Which dried food were you feeding which caused your cat to develop diabetes?

My cats have been fed on Hill's Science Diet since they were born and have never <touch wood> had any serious health problems in almost 18 years

Montymoo_2

My cats are fed Royal Canin pouches and dried food. Im sure there are cheaper foods out there but due to the dietry needs of our cats (specialist diets) then im happy to pay more

the_devil_made_me_do_it

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Which dried food were you feeding which caused your cat to develop diabetes?

My cats have been fed on Hill's Science Diet since they were born and have never <touch wood> had any serious health problems in almost 18 years

She wasn't fed dried food as main meals, she got a handful every morning til I fed her some wet cat food. A combination of dried food, cat milk and being over weight all contributed to her condition.

Obviously, I can't speak for other cat owners, I can only pass on the information I've learned (through experience).