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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / March 2005Castor & Pollux dry food?
I've asked many questions about Moses, our IBD cat, so let's give Bartholemew, our quite healthy orange tabby, equal time. I mentioned that I'd gotten some samples of various high quality cat food from an online retailer. Some was canned, which was pretty much for Moses because of his problem, but there was also some dry for Bartholemew, who eats mostly canned but likes a little dry and seems to do well with the mix which, again, is about 85/15 canned to dry. I tried the last sample today, so I have an idea of what he liked the best. First off, he absolutely turned his nose up at Felidae. He seemed to like the Royal Canin OK. He also liked the California Natural, although not as much as the Royal Canin. But the one he obviously liked the best, without question, was the first one I tried, Castor & Pollux Organix. Does anyone here have any experience with this brand, and how would you rate it? Here is the nutritional and ingredients breakdown for all the analysts out there: GUARANTEED ANALYSIS: Crude Protein min. 31.00% Crude Fat min. 16.00% Crude Fiber max. 3.00% Moisture max. 10.00% Ash max. 7.00% Magnesium max. 0.099% Taurine min. 0.125% Calcium min. 1.00% Phosphorus min. 0.90% Omega 6 Fatty Acid+ min. 3.10% Omega 3 Fatty Acid+ min. 0.80% INGREDIENTS: Organic Chicken, Herring Meal, Organic Peas, Organic Soybean Meal, Organic Barley, Organic Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tochopherols, Rosemary, and Citric Acid), Organic Extruded Soybean Seeds, Natural Liver Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Organic Flaxseed, Salmon Meal, Salt, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ascorbic Acid+, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamin Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Cobalt Proteinate, Biotin, Dried Fermentation Products of Saccharomyces Cerevisia, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Aspergillus Niger, Enterococcus Faecum, Trichoderma Longbrachiatum, and Bacillus Subtilis (sources of direct fed microbials and digestive enzymes). Is this decent stuff, for dry food, or not? > But the one he obviously liked the best, without question, was the first > one > I tried, Castor & Pollux Organix. My cats are on Hill's C/D as one of them has had flutd. They get that about 90% of the time. But I also get them other foods, checking the phosphorous and magnesium, as "treats". The latest treat I've got them is C&P, and quite frankly, I have never seen them this excited about something out of a bag. They absolutely love it. Usually, to ensure they are getting enough fluid, they have cat milk 3 or so times a week, but I've also started putting water in with their dry, so they drink that first before they get to the crunchy bits (and do so quite willingly). And yes, they do have water available at all times. I do have to say, though. C&P is very expensive here in NZ. Basically it's twice the price it is in the US, going by internet prices. > My cats are on Hill's C/D as one of them has had flutd. They get that about > 90% of the time. But I also get them other foods, checking the phosphorous [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > I do have to say, though. C&P is very expensive here in NZ. Basically it's > twice the price it is in the US, going by internet prices. Is it safe to give cat milk to a cat that has FLUTD? I thought not. I hope I am wrong, because Mingy LOVES it.  SignatureJean B. > Is it safe to give cat milk to a cat that has FLUTD? I thought not. I > hope I am wrong, because Mingy LOVES it. He's been having it for a couple of years and there's been no recurrence of flutd. We are talking milk here that's had the lactose removed (but I'm not sure if that affects flutd at all). And the reality is that, like your Mingy, he LOVES it. He will drink it before eating his solid food. Then if the other cat hasn't drunk all his, he'll go over and finish that off too. Then he might have something to eat. The reality is that it gets *way* more fluid into him than simply leaving him ample supplies of water ever did. And that has to be good. >> My cats are on Hill's C/D as one of them has had flutd. They get that about >> 90% of the time. But I also get them other foods, checking the phosphorous [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Is it safe to give cat milk to a cat that has FLUTD? I thought > not. I hope I am wrong, because Mingy LOVES it. I have never heard anything against milk for FLUTD. Only if the kitties are lactose intolerant and it causes diarreah. >>>My cats are on Hill's C/D as one of them has had flutd. They get that about >>>90% of the time. But I also get them other foods, checking the phosphorous [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I have never heard anything against milk for FLUTD. Only if the kitties are > lactose intolerant and it causes diarreah. I thought when I asked earlier, folks said it was a no-no. It would be great if Mingy could have that, although I do have to say he is drinking a lot more than he was. Lots of that is because he seems to like having a cup in my bedroom--lazy thing that he is, he can just hop off the bed and take a nice drink and then hop back up to continue his napping/basking/whatever. He also esp. likes his new DrinkWell fountain. The other one is not as intriguing, I gather, although he sometimes will drink from it too. It is currently out of commission for a cleaning though. SignatureJean B. Gregory, You really don't have enough information to tell. The nutrient levels described are in minimums and maximums so you have no idea what levels really exist in the food. I note they claim a MIN of 1.0% calcium which when converted over to dry matter basis would be 1.1% - marginally excessive for an adult cat. Maximum should be 1.0%. But the problem is that value is the MINIMUM level. It could contain 1.0% or 5.0%, you really don't know. The same issue applies to phosphorus maximum is 0.9% on a dry matter basis. They are claiming a MINIMUM of 0.9% which when converted to DMB levels is again a bit more than it should contain. But does the food really have 1% phos (dry matter) or does it have 2-3-4-5% phos - you really don't know. Ask them to provide dry matter basis actual values for the nutrients in the food, not just guaranteed minimums and maximums. |
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