food question

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klbr88 - 22 Jun 2006 04:52 GMT

Recently got 2 cats, brother & sister, 2 yrs old. Feed them Nutro max cat
dry food - sometimes give wet which of course the love. Question: how
often should I give the wet? Some people say daily, some say weekends.
Should I give it seperately or mixed with the dry? Any suggestions would be
appreciated. Thanks

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Kiran - 22 Jun 2006 13:46 GMT

: Recently got 2 cats, brother & sister, 2 yrs old. Feed them Nutro max cat
: dry food - sometimes give wet which of course the love. Question: how
: often should I give the wet? Some people say daily, some say weekends.
: Should I give it seperately or mixed with the dry? Any suggestions would be
: appreciated. Thanks

If best nutrition was the only consideration, 100% canned. However, it
is good for your cats to eat some dry, mainly so they will eat it when
they have to, e.g., when you can't be there at their feeding times and
either you or someone else must leave food out in advance.

So, at least 50% and upto 90% of calories should be from canned food.
(If you feed twice daily, there are 14 meals per week; of those 7-10
should be canned.)

There is no use physically mixing the two kinds (your cats will
probably refuse to eat the mixture!), but you can serve them side by
side if you wish although I ddon't see the point. Another approach is
to use dry for occasional treats. Whatever works for you.

I am not in favor of free-feeding (leaving food out 24/7) but some
people do it. I think 2-3 meals per day, at set times, are best for
their bodies

Look for high quality protein source (first ingredient should be a
named meat rather than "byproducts" or "meal" or "dinner"); low carbs
(grains); low phosphorous. Seafood no more than 1-2 meals a week. Beef,
lamb etc are also "unnatural" foods for cats and IMO should be limited
to occasional treats.

There is tons of discussion on this issue. Google around. If you have
specific questions, just ask.

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starphanie77 - 23 Jun 2006 02:49 GMT

I was told not to feed your pet wet food all the time, because they are
fattier and have more preservatives in them to keep them good in the can. I
usually give my cats canned food as a treat a few times a week.

>Recently got 2 cats, brother & sister, 2 yrs old. Feed them Nutro max cat
>dry food - sometimes give wet which of course the love. Question: how
>often should I give the wet? Some people say daily, some say weekends.
>Should I give it seperately or mixed with the dry? Any suggestions would be
>appreciated. Thanks

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Kiran - 23 Jun 2006 12:55 GMT

: I was told not to feed your pet wet food all the time, because they are
: fattier and have more preservatives in them to keep them good in the can. I
: usually give my cats canned food as a treat a few times a week.

Well, you have to watch total calories but that is true of all foods as
well treats. Some cats do a good job of portion control themselves,
others need discipline. Most manufacturers will tell you how many
calories are there in their wet or dry product.

Food exposed to air (dry) should spoil faster than the sealed type
(wet). If it doesn't, that's not necessarily a good thing. It means
even microbes don't want to eat it. Real food spoils.

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Judy - 23 Jun 2006 03:01 GMT

> Recently got 2 cats, brother & sister, 2 yrs old. Feed them Nutro max cat
> dry food - sometimes give wet which of course the love. Question: how
> often should I give the wet? Some people say daily, some say weekends.
> Should I give it seperately or mixed with the dry? Any suggestions would
> be appreciated. Thanks

I can only suggest that you do some experimenting to determine a method of
feeding that works well for your cats. Like us humans, cats are individuals
and what works for one might not work for another.

My Matilda is healthy and happy receiving 1/2 cup of dry and one 3.5oz tin
of wet per day. My brothers cat does equally well on free feed dry and 1
tsp. of wet and the cats of my best friend are quite happy with their timed
feedings of dry food only.

Hope this helps.

Judy

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nospam - 23 Jun 2006 03:58 GMT

I was told the that cats need both. The wet food has the moisture needed.
The dry is better for their teeth.

>> Recently got 2 cats, brother & sister, 2 yrs old. Feed them Nutro max
>> cat dry food - sometimes give wet which of course the love. Question:
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Judy

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Judy - 23 Jun 2006 04:26 GMT

When I first decided to adopt a cat, I was told things as well. But seeing
as that all cats are different, I took this into consideration and so did my
family and friends.

As I said below, what works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another.

>I was told the that cats need both. The wet food has the moisture needed.
>The dry is better for their teeth.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>>
>> Judy

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