Wet food for kitties

[Veronica]

After doing some research we switched our kitty food on Saturday. Our kitties have never eaten as much food as the manufacturer says they should. That's part of why I couldn't understand why Tucker would be so fat at such a young age.

Sometimes they seem enthusiastic about the new food. Other times I get the "look".

It could be coincidence, but Tucker seems to already have more energy. He hasn't been into playing with "bug on stick"

in months, but yesterday and this morning, he was all over it. But he is a cat and it could just be a mood.

We're considering making their food. The canned food is about 4 times as expensive at $4.50 a day if they eat the recommended amount as their dry food. Still that is less than what Thom spends on his lunch. We're a little put off though by having to grind the bones into the food though. Grinding bones... just sounds monstrous.

Veronica

[Becky]

Great pic!

Both of my cats are on a mostly-wet diet. Auric gets Prescription Diet CD, which costs a small fortune, but keeps me from having to mop up cat pee due to his chronic UT issues. Flaser gets Nutro Naturals, which I'm not convinced is the best food, but is a reasonably affordable premium brand. I don't know if either of them have lost weight (and they both need to!) since the dry --> wet switch, but they do seem happier.

I'm intrigued by the idea of making my own, but I have no idea where to start, or how much it would cost compared to canned. As an aside, I wish that I could find bigger cans of wet cat food. It seems so wasteful to use those little "hockey puck" cans.

[Biciclista]

chicken bones are just not that hard. Especially if you have the right kind of grinder. I figure I've made money by now on my grinder, it's a Maverick, cost $99.00.
I buy chicken backs and necks, chicken livers, chicken hearts, even chicken gizzards. I make sure that there is at least a pound of liver and heart in each 5 pounds of mix. Sometimes whole chickens are on sale so I take MY favorite parts for us people (thighs and drumsticks) and depending on the day, sometimes the entire rest of the chicken goes to the cats. Yes, they eat chicken breast, at 99 cents a pound. Compare that to commercial catfood!

If you don't like messing with meat, it's not going to work. I don't mind and my cats sure love it.

ps great kitty picture and it's good that you've figured out BEFORE your cat gets obese that dry diet
isn't going to work for him in the long term.

[Veronica]

That's good to know Mimi. We don't mind messing with the meat. Some recipes have talked about partially cooking it. Cans are convenient, but expensive. Our pet store does carry the larger cans, so at least that's a plus.

Veronica

[wackyjacky1]

This link has great info on feeding your cats: http://catinfo.org/

I switched my male cat to canned food (PetGuard) about a year ago. He had UT problems, as well, and the vet had prescribed C/D for him. Since I made the switch, he's had zero problems. I've been amazed by the changes I've seen in him -- more energy, no dandruff, slightly less cranky (he's a feral cat with a mean disposition ). The little one, Erin, has been on PetGuard ever since she started eating solid food.

Yes, it's more expensive (PetGuard is about $2.39 for a 14 oz. can) and you lose the convenience of dry food, but it's worth it to see happy, healthy cats.

I've thought about grinding my own, but they seem to be thriving on their current diet, so I think I'll stick with it for now.

eta: Didn't see Mimi's post. I love the idea of buying a chicken, eating the parts you want, and grinding the rest for the kitties. I may have to give the idea more serious consideration.

[Biciclista]

This link has great info on feeding your cats: http://catinfo.org/

I've thought about grinding my own, but they seem to be thriving on their current diet, so I think I'll stick with it for now.

eta: Didn't see Mimi's post. I love the idea of buying a chicken, eating the parts you want, and grinding the rest for the kitties. I may have to give the idea more serious consideration.

that's a great website you sent us to, thanks!

[GLC1968]

That's an awesome pic!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I don't think Nature intended cats to eat dry pellet food. When that's all they get, I suspect it starts causing urinary/kidney problems because they are not getting enough water in their diet.

[Veronica]

That's an awesome pic!

Thanks! It's from about 6 months ago. He's put on weight since then, maybe a pound. He's definitely got a belly and his back is getting pudgy now.

The vet suggested a month on weight reduction dry and if that didn't work, going to wet food. He's been two weeks on weight reduction and his weight hadn't really changed. What really convinced me is that he is NOT a big eater. He should not be fat on what he eats.

Veronica