Cat Food Recommendations ?

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Maple Tree - 01 Sep 2007 02:51 GMT

Hi,

Is there a website the rates the various cat foods available ?

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Ted Davis - 01 Sep 2007 17:48 GMT

> Hi,
>
> Is there a website the rates the various cat foods available ?

What meaning could a rating have? Different cats react differently to
different foods - the best foods for your cat(s) are the ones that
your cats like but don't overeat, and on which they thrive. It is wise to
avoid wheat products found mostly in gravy type canned foods, and it is
generally considered best to favor dry food which has an ingredients list
that has meat products early in the list.

It is well to keep in mind that some of the most expensive and heavily
advertised brands are formulated to appeal to humans first and be suitable
for cats second.

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T.E.D. (tdavis@umr.edu)

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Upscale - 01 Sep 2007 17:57 GMT

"Ted Davis" <tdavis@umr.edu> wrote in message

> your cats like but don't overeat, and on which they thrive. It is wise to
> avoid wheat products found mostly in gravy type canned foods, and it is
> generally considered best to favor dry food which has an ingredients list
> that has meat products early in the list.

Agreed! My Deetoo will only eat Iams dry cat chow and water. Sure, she's all
over me when I'm eating something in the kitchen, but at that point she's
only in mooching mode. If I give her some of whatever I'm eating, she might
take a few licks or little bites of it, but then she will leave it and come
back to me to try and mooch some more. Only downside to this is I can't
bring home some special treat for her to eat because from experience, I know
she won't eat it and it will just be waste of money.
Makes for real easy feeding.

This cat at 2 1/2 years old is the least troublesome pet I've ever had.
Never had a hairball that I know of, never once not used the litter box even
when I've been a little negligent on changing her litter. I've been real
lucky with this little lady.

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philo - 01 Sep 2007 21:16 GMT

> Hi,
>
> Is there a website the rates the various cat foods available ?

I've had many cats over the past 40 years or more and have observed quite a
bit.

I've found that it's really best that they have a combination of both dry
and moist food.

Regardless of what the pet food manufacturers say...when cats get older they
just plain do not get all the nutrition
they need from dry food alone...
OTOH: If they are fed moist food exclusively... especially when older...they
have a real chance of tooth decay...
and dry food helps their teeth stay healthy.

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MaryL - 02 Sep 2007 07:28 GMT

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> have a real chance of tooth decay...
> and dry food helps their teeth stay healthy.

Stick with premium/good quality canned food. This will be much better for
your cat's health, even though it may take some time for them to accept it
(just as we do not always want to accept food that is "healthy" for us).
There is far less incidence of diseases such as diabetes among cats that
ingest a quality moist diet. Dry food has carbs that are not needed, and it
does not help with teeth or gums. That was once the theory but is now
outdated. Think of this, for example: Do you think chewing pretzels would
be of any benefit to your own teeth? Moreover, cats (unlike humans) do not
chew; they "crunch."

MaryL

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philo - 02 Sep 2007 13:10 GMT

> >> Hi,
> >>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> MaryL

Well you may be right about the dry food not really helping the teeth.
I do know that the last elderly cat I had had good teeth until I fed him
canned food only...
but possibly that would have happened anyway.

But I know for absolute certain that a diet of only dry food will shorten a
cat's life.
I;ve had a few cats that had eaten mostly dry food all their lives come very
close to death...
but when switched to a good quality canned food...made amazing recoveries
and lived well for several more years.

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MaryL - 02 Sep 2007 07:34 GMT

> Hi,
>
> Is there a website the rates the various cat foods available ?

This page does not include recommendations, but has a table of nutritional
information for a wide variety of canned foods (just scroll down the page).
I use several varieties of Wellness canned for my twosome.

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'<
Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf
Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e
Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7

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Maple Tree - 02 Sep 2007 11:42 GMT

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> MaryL

Did u ever consider going to BARF ? If not, why ?

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MaryL - 02 Sep 2007 16:21 GMT

>>> Hi,
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Did u ever consider going to BARF ? If not, why ?

Cats have specific nutritional needs. Many people have had success with
BARF, but those using this diet must be careful to follow a good dietary
regimen (and the time and energy needed for preparation). I really feel
safer using a premium canned food that I can be sure meets nutritional
requirements that I might neglect in my own preparation. I know, for
example, that I have frequently neglected good nutrition in my *own* menus!

MaryL

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saxrocco - 02 Sep 2007 14:58 GMT

what lovely cats MaryL...Duffy and Holly :-)
From how Duffy was to to how he is now is great. Bet you are glad you
adopted him to make him how he is today all content and well looked after and
he has good company too in Holly :-)

take care
Clare x

>> Hi,
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e
>Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7

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