Spinoff of cat thread: canned vs. dry food...?

[Biciclista]

I grind the chicken in a Maverick grinder -- coarse grind (bones and all) I also leave chunks of breast meat, gizzards and whole hearts for them to chew on.

[zoom-zoom]

Our Kitchenaid mixer has the meat grinding attachment, but I suspect it couldn't handle bones.

[Biciclista]

Uh, Kitchenaid mixers can't handle bones. Ask me how I know? Their customer service was great, they replaced one mixer. When my husband tried to make sausage and the gears started groaning (no bones) he actually got rid of the thing. Too bad, it had been a life time dream for him to own one.

[zoom-zoom]

Uh, Kitchenaid mixers can't handle bones. Ask me how I know? Their customer service was great, they replaced one mixer. When my husband tried to make sausage and the gears started groaning (no bones) he actually got rid of the thing. Too bad, it had been a life time dream for him to own one.

That's kind of what I suspected. Ours (an 11+ year old Heavy Duty mixer, which isn't very heavy duty compared to their more recent models) sometimes labors with cookie dough.

[Titania]

Both of my cats are FIV positive, so we do everything we can to keep their teeth in good shape to reduce the risk of systemic infection. Our cats do get wet food as an occassional treat, but dry food is 99% of their diet.

[indysteel]

Titania, I've read a lot that refutes the idea that dry food promotes oral health. Having used dry food for years, it has done nothing to obviate the need for regular professional cleanings and care. My cats swallow their dry food whole as it is, so I'm not sure what benefit it could provide. In the end, it just seems that quality wet food provides better nutrition and moisture, which ultimately promotes better immunity.

[Aggie_Ama]

I was told dry food is filled with tons of empty calories, cats tend to overeat because they don't get satisfied. My vet also told me they are not big water drinkers at all so they are usually dehydrated. Tortilla is not a big canned food cat, she turns her nose up at it. I may have to put her back on it though because she is overweight and my vet felt canned food would help this issue.

[Norse]

Cats are indeed carnivores - they were not meant to eat grains and dry food contributed to our previously overweight cat being, overweight. They are on a raw food diet and thriving. I have been using the same Northern Tools meat grinder for over two years now with no problems. After much research, this is the recipe I chose to follow and the supplement used: http://www.knowwhatyoufeed.com/alnutrin_for_meat.html. I also add some fish oil to the mix. Our vet was not thrilled when we first told her of the switch to raw food, but about one year later she said, "I have to admit, they really seem to be doing well."

[Titania]

Titania, I've read a lot that refutes the idea that dry food promotes oral health. Having used dry food for years, it has done nothing to obviate the need for regular professional cleanings and care. My cats swallow their dry food whole as it is, so I'm not sure what benefit it could provide. In the end, it just seems that quality wet food provides better nutrition and moisture, which ultimately promotes better immunity.

I'll have to do some digging on this...thanks. One of my cats is on a prescription urinary diet (Royal Canin S/O IIRC), and both eat the same thing. I've done BARF diets before when I had a dog...didn't think about doing it with a cat. Vet said to put Elliott on the prescription diet, so I did.