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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2006Couple Questions Regarding Canned Food
Hi I have a couple canned food questions. 1: Is there a reasonably reliable source somewhere on line that provides an impartial comparison of nutrient levels in the various brands and flavors? The can listings on some brands are a bit difficult for me to interpret. 2. What is a reasonable quantity of canned food to feed an adult cat. The recommendations on the cans range from one 5 ounce can per 5 lbs body weight to one can per 9 lbs. If I fed Bubba one can per 5 lbs Bubba weight he'd be getting 5 cans or 25 oz/ 1.5 Lbs of food a day which seems like *way* too much. I'm sure he'd love to eat that much food, but he'd wind up weighing as much as a real lion instead of a couch lion before long... He is currently allowing me to feed him a bit of Royal Canin Maine Coon kibble in addition to a variety of premium canned foods in order for me to learn his preferences of brands and flavors. I would like to be able to choose the types that will provide him good nutrition. Thanks in Advance > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > flavors. I would like to be able to choose the types that will > provide him good nutrition. Claude, I am sure you will get some good responses, but if not, please use Google on this. We have covered this ad nauseum. Monthly. > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Bubba one can per 5 lbs Bubba weight he'd be getting 5 cans > or 25 oz/ 1.5 Lbs of food a day which seems like *way* too much. sounds like you're giving the best money can buy, you should find some assurance in that.. I see that name alot among fancy cat people second thing.. have you considered free feeding? just give one can per cat in the morning after that can is eaten...per cat... (and mine eat from the same oval broiler plate)... wait a little while.. till round dinner time.. give them one maybe 2 cans... keep some kibble out.. meter it.. you don't want the wet food to be down too long.. tastes bad if you find there is still wet food on the plate when you go back... just back up on the dose a little... -- one lady fed her cat with a spoon, her cat was throwing up.. so she fed him little bites.. so he wouldn't throw up.. the cat is full! let them get hungry, I get hungry sometimes.. who says a cat can't miss a meal getting hungry has very healthy benefits the body can work on cleansing, not just digesting tastebuds can rejuvinate stomachs can shrink unless you see skin and bones and faintness... hunger can be healthy besides.. keep some kibble out.. at a minimum, you know they are not hungry, but simply prefer the wet food. Later >> Hi >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > >second thing.. have you considered free feeding? To Bubba, "free feeding" would equal 30Lbs before the end of the year. >just give one can per cat in the morning > [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > >Later I've been putting out a measured ration of kibble in the morning and giving a half can in the late afternoon and the other half in the evening. I'm hoping that I can get him down to ~20 Lbs eventually. I'm not sure more than one can a day is necessary, but I'm not totally convinced of that. He generally eats the half can in an hour or so before it has a chance to get nasty. Claude My Maine Coon weighs 11 pounds - I think he must be small boned for a Maine Coon - he isn't thin. I feed him one 3 oz. can of Fancy Feast in the morning and one can at night. He gets about a tablespoon of Royal Canin sprinkled on top. This seems to maintain his weight at 11 pounds and he doesn't beg for food, etc. I have noticed that Maine Coons will eat just as much as you will give them. Which is why most of them are over weight. They do seems to put on weight fast! He is an inside cat but we do play a lot and he runs up and down the basement stairs, etc. > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Thanks in Advance >Claude > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >over weight. They do seems to put on weight fast! He is an inside cat >but we do play a lot and he runs up and down the basement stairs, etc. Bubba's big. He weighed 22 lbs a year ago and he's pushing 25 after a year on roughly 10% less than the recommended daily ration of Royal Canin MC His feet will cover a metal dollar and he's ~32" from nose to the end of his tail. He refuses to go outside and I try to play with him for a bit every day to get him some exercise but he's fairly sedate. He's not quite obese, but I can't feel his ribs either so I don't want to overfeed him. 3 or 5 5 oz cans seems like a bit much... >> Hi >> [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] >> >> Thanks in Advance I think you are correct. Three 5 oz. cans is too much. And then there is the theory about eating less quality food gives more waste, etc. My cat maintains on 6 oz. a day. Since yours is bigger, why don't you try one 5 oz. can a day [half in the morning and half at night] and see if you can get him to lose weight. Or witch to Fancy Feast and give one can twice a day. I wouldn't give too much of the Royal Canin - I only use 1 tablespoon a day. I swear these Maine Coons gain weight easier than a middle age woman! They just look at food and put on the lbs.!!! > >Claude > > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > >> > >> Thanks in Advance >I think you are correct. Three 5 oz. cans is too much. And then there >is the theory about eating less quality food gives more waste, etc. My [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >use 1 tablespoon a day. I swear these Maine Coons gain weight easier >than a middle age woman! They just look at food and put on the lbs.!!! I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two portions, afternoon and evening. I'm trying to find out which brands and flavors he likes. I'll post a report when we've tried a few. I need to search out an impartial nutritional comparison so I can not bother with the bad stuff. I know to avoid ones with grains and byproducts as the main ingredients, but I haven't been able to find a semi-simple chart that compares the actual nutritional components. >> >Claude >> > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >> >> >> >> Thanks in Advance <...> > I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two > portions, afternoon and evening. I'm trying to find out which brands and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > byproducts as the main ingredients, but I haven't been able to find a > semi-simple chart that compares the actual nutritional components. The thing is, the ingredients used may vary from lot-to-lot, depending on availability and cost. The manufacturers are permitted considerable latitude on the actual ingredients used by the FDA. The food should comply with the feeding standard and nutritional %s on the label and you should be able to Google up those numbers/requirements. As a start, here is the FDA webpage: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petlabel.htm Higher cost is not necessarily "better". I thought I'd try a pack of the new Purina "Naturals" until I read the label and saw that it is only for adult cats. Literally decades ago, Consumer Reports did an actual feeding comparison of cat foods, using kittens. It had a bad outcome in that some of the kittens developed such a nutritional deficit that they died. The "lesson learned" for me was to feed a variety of types and flavors of food, from different manufacturers. <...> ><...> >> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >should be able to Google up those numbers/requirements. As a start, here >is the FDA webpage: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/petlabel.htm I understand how to read the labels. What I'm looking for is some sort of chart that says: "Brand A, Flavor B has 22% protein, 42 grams phosphorus/can" "Brand A, Flavor D has 2% protein, 33 grams phosphorus/can" etc.. I just might be missing it, but phosphorus levels in particular seem to be missing from the labels. Perhaps I need a stronger magnifying glass. >Higher cost is not necessarily "better". I thought I'd try a pack of the >new Purina "Naturals" until I read the label and saw that it is only for [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > ><...> I'm not really shopping by cost alone, and I am trying to check out as many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the house brands. >>On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:10:47 +0000, Claude V. Lucas wrote: <...> >>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > I understand how to read the labels. Good for you. I pretty much know the chapters, but not the verses. <g> > What I'm looking for is some sort of chart that says: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I just might be missing it, but phosphorus levels in particular seem to > be missing from the labels. Why would manufacturers include that - unless they're promoting hi/lo phosphorus - if its not required? Likewise, they're generally only going to specify the minimum percentage of (crude) protein. The point I was trying to make is that the analysis on any "chart" is going to be a snapshot of one particular lot of cat food. If you're looking for a cat food that has high or low phosphorus content, you could get probable relative values by (1) sticking to the 95% meat varieties and (2) looking up the "natural" phosphorus content of the meat in a book or chart of human nutritional data. For example, if you want low phosphorus, avoid Liver Cat Food. > Perhaps I need a stronger magnifying glass. > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the > house brands. >>>On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:10:47 +0000, Claude V. Lucas wrote: <...> >>>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] >phosphorus - if its not required? Likewise, they're generally only going >to specify the minimum percentage of (crude) protein. I'm not necessarily looking for *manufacturer's* generated data. It is almost guaranteed to be biased... Evidently higher phosphorus levels have been associated with health problems, specifically kidney failures. I'd like to avoid high-phosphorus foods as much as possible as early as possible to reduce the likelihood of problems when Bubba gets older. I found this chart http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm but it hasn't been updated since 2003. That's why I asked in here for additional info. >The point I was trying to make is that the analysis on any "chart" is >going to be a snapshot of one particular lot of cat food. Or an average... >If you're looking for a cat food that has high or low phosphorus content, >you could get probable relative values by (1) sticking to the 95% meat >varieties and (2) looking up the "natural" phosphorus content of the >meat in a book or chart of human nutritional data. For example, if you >want low phosphorus, avoid Liver Cat Food. I'm too lazy for that. I'm hoping that somebody else already did something similar and is willing to share. >> Perhaps I need a stronger magnifying glass. >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the >> house brands. >>>>On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:10:47 +0000, Claude V. Lucas wrote: <...> >>>>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] >but it hasn't been updated since 2003. That's why >I asked in here for additional info. Whoops... Updated 2005 at http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canned.htm >>>>On Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:10:47 +0000, Claude V. Lucas wrote: <...> >>>>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > high-phosphorus foods as much as possible as early as possible to > reduce the likelihood of problems when Bubba gets older. It may be one of those instances where there is correlation but not causation. Meat and fish have relatively high phosphorus content, but they're also high in protein. > I found this chart > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >>> many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the >>> house brands. http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=comp-wiz&animal=Cat choose the products you want on the chart and it will provide the info. >><...> >>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the > house brands.  SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=comp-wiz&animal=Cat >choose the products you want on the chart and it will provide the info. Thanks, I'll have a look at that... >>><...> >>>> I've been giving him one 5 oz can of the good quality split into two [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >> many different brands as there are in PetSmart and Petco including the >> house brands. Tiger (Maine Coon?) used to look fat until he was shaved three weeks ago. Now he looks normal. He and Amber share a 5.5 ounce can of Wellness chicken about 5;30 AM and another about 5 PM. (I say share but Tiger (the hog) eats about two thirds of it because Amber likes to eat in small segments). They both get a small handful of dry at Noon (if I'm home) and again at bedtime. ---MIKE--- >>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire >> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580') >Tiger (Maine Coon?) used to look fat until he was shaved three weeks >ago. Now he looks normal. He and Amber share a 5.5 ounce can of >Wellness chicken about 5;30 AM and another about 5 PM. (I say share but >Tiger (the hog) eats about two thirds of it because Amber likes to eat >in small segments). They both get a small handful of dry at Noon (if >I'm home) and again at bedtime. Bubba would probably look more slender without the hair, but he's still big. Tiger is very big - 22.3 pounds on the vet's scale. ---MIKE--- >>In the White Mountains of New Hampshire >> (44° 15' N - Elevation 1580') "Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message news:44cbf5c6$0$34532> > Is there a reasonably reliable source somewhere on line that > provides an impartial comparison of nutrient levels in the > various brands and flavors? The can listings on some brands > are a bit difficult for me to interpret. Is this any help?? http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm SignatureToni http://www.cearbhaill.com/kitties.htm >"Claude V. Lucas" <claudel@sonic.net> wrote in message >news:44cbf5c6$0$34532> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Is this any help?? >http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm That one's great and has a link to an updated version. I already saw it, but thanks anyway.... I'd like to know if there are any similar charts so I can compare. > I'd like to know if there are any similar charts so I can compare. just give your cat two joints, then give him two more that's what I always do besides what is there to compare it's all horse dick and cow nuts man chill! you're enthusiasm is killing me > >Is this any help?? > >http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm just kidding Claude V Lucas enthuze away there is defintely a difference in foods lately i've been feeding my whatever meat I cook by this, they forgo the cans of food and wait for dinner they are like family now...(my cats I mean) once I start cooking they get good as gold and get happy they fight each other, they lay around all pretty they think I am a god I usually season with a few herbs, vewy widdle salt they like all kinds of meat their favorite is lamb they are even taking to eating veggies but this morning my youngest helped me eat a bag of cheddar ruffles (well.. one chip anyway.. so cute) human food is not too good for your cat dude, smoke another one and blow them a stinger! >> >Is this any help?? >> >http://webpages.charter.net/katkarma/canfood.htm [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > but this morning my youngest helped me eat a bag of cheddar ruffles > (well.. one chip anyway.. so cute) SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > human food is not too good for your cat dude, smoke another one and blow > them a stinger! well that depends on what it is lamb, beef, pork, chicen I mean, that IS what you are buying in the cat food can right? the cat food cans boast.. "MORE CHICKEN CHUNKS, MORE FISH CHUNKS" etc Megan makes her own cat food, she's got a manger for her cats >> human food is not too good for your cat dude, smoke another one and blow >> them a stinger! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I mean, that IS what you are buying in the cat food can right? Actually, no. I'm buying a balanced food for cats. Particularly compared to premium 3oz cans like Fancy Feast, buying meat would cost less. Yes, budget cat food does have too high a percentage of byproducts, but byproducts are part of a "natural" cat diet, as are the bones and whatever the prey animal has in its digestive tract. But, in spite of knowing that, I do admit to "sharing" sometimes. <g> > the cat food cans boast.. "MORE CHICKEN CHUNKS, MORE FISH CHUNKS" etc > > Megan makes her own cat food, she's got a manger for her cats http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/tp/tpcannedadult.htm I use the #1 choice, natural balance, it is not expensive, and my cats love it more than any other I have tried! So, I get happy cats and know they are getting excellent nutrition. SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/tp/tpcannedadult.htm > >I use the #1 choice, natural balance, it is not expensive, and my cats love >it more than any other I have tried! >So, I get happy cats and know they are getting excellent nutrition. Thanks for that one too. I've been buying one can of a bunch of different kinds to see what Bubba likes and he's liked the Natural Balance so it's gonna go on the "buy more" list... I just noticed that it has 1.60 of phosphorus, which was high on the list, but I emailed the mfg for an update to the 2003 list. I will continue to use it regardless, mixed with Innova Dry and the occasional can of Wellness and their FAVORITE: Innova EVO canned cat and kitten, they go absolutely crazy for that! Chris >>http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/tp/tpcannedadult.htm >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > what Bubba likes and he's liked the Natural Balance so it's > gonna go on the "buy more" list... SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com Calculations for Canned Cat Formula on a Dry Matter bases: Protein: 40.9% Fat: 22.7% Phosphorus: 1.45% - 1.63% Sodium: 0.45% > http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/tp/tpcannedadult.htm > > I use the #1 choice, natural balance, it is not expensive, and my cats > love it more than any other I have tried! > So, I get happy cats and know they are getting excellent nutrition. SignaturePosted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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