Reply #12: low carb, high protein wet food [View All]

[Gingersnap]

Congratulations on the kittens. Unfortunately, the widespread belief that "high quality" dry food is better for cats than canned food is being overturned by more studies. Cats are natural carnivores (their wild diet contains no grains), and they have fewer health problems with a diet that is low in carbohydrates and grains (sort of like the theory behind the "atkins" diet with humans, although much less controversial for cats). All dry foods are higher in carbs than wet foods (although some wet food may also have grain). Our 13 year old cat has diabetes (fed science diet dry food his entire life), which is becoming increasingly common in cats that have been fed high carb diets. We now feed all our cats Wellness canned food, which has "human grade" ingredients and does not contain grains. If you can afford it, and your cats will eat it, that's what I'd recommend. Fancy Feast also makes low carb canned food.

I don't think you have to worry about "residue" unless the cats have kidney problems or IBD, that shouldn't be an issue with kittens.