What dry food do you feed your cat(s)?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

My Monty and Simba are almost 10 years old and are strictly indoor cats, and Monty is overweight. Simba has been barfing a couple of times a day for the past two days, and he even barfed up some treats (Pounce Tartar Control) after I jinxed him and commented that he never barfs up his treats. There's no hair in the barf, and I give them hairball goo fairly regularly and try to comb them often. He's drinking the normal amount of water and seems to feel fine. I'm feeding the guys Science Diet Hairball and Weight Control, and I wonder if Simba's allergic to it. I mixed it with their previous food for days, so he was eased into it. I'd like to find some natural food without dyes and preservatives to see if that could be causing the problem. Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide!

[Lorien]

1. See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=243&topic_id=4388&mesg_id=4388

I feed my cats Organix, Artemis Fresh Mix, and Innova Evo for dry food-plus freeze dried Prairie Nature's Variety. My 16 year old cat Miro vomited daily on "premium" commercial foods before my pet sitter opened my eyes about holistic, human grade pet foods vs. the commercial stuff (more info at the link above) now he's puke free, happy, and has much more energy.

Hope it helps!

:hi:

[Orsino]

2. Wysong Urinary

We're just moving them off Waltham S/O.

[sleepyhead]

3. Canned food is much better for them.

Cats are naturally carnivores (sharp shearing teeth, short digestive tracts that are not made to digest carbs) and function better on food that is closer to their natural diet. Dry food is 40% carbs and not as digestible for cats as canned food which is mostly protein and fat. The excess carbs also contribute to weight gain and (in some cases) type II diabetes. Canned food is also helpful because it contains more moisture, which increases the fluid intake and in turn contributes to kidney health.

Two cats should split a 6-oz. can in the morning, and another 6-oz. can at night. Fresh water should be left out for them at all times. Your overweight cat will slim down (my own cat Wilbur went from 23 lb to a svelte 16 lb on this diet) and it's better, and more satisfying to them, than even very calorie-restricted dry food. The other cat will maintain its weight and be fine (he may well be having a reaction to the dry food - that happens often and these guys clear up fast after changing to canned food). Make sure it's a high-quality food - you may need to do some browsing at your local pet store. I won't enter the brand name debate here, but my own cats eat Science Diet and lots of my clients (and their cats) are partial to either Wellness or Wysong.

[Odonata]

4. Although, cats with sensitive stomaches

sometimes vomit more frequently after eating wet food than dry. I found that my kitty, who had acid reflux issues, did best on a dry food for sensitive stomaches supplemented with boiled chicken breast. This worked especially well if I fed her in small increments, several times a day. But, your kitty doesn't sound like she has acid reflux, just isn't adjusting well to the new food.

[calico1]

5. Don't give your cats Pounce.

My vet told us they make cats puke and he was right. Besides its junk food. As for food I give mine Wellness, Evolve or Chicken Soup for the Cats Soul. I think the cheaper foods have stuff in them that make cats eat more, much like the junk food we eat. Try a good quality food. You will have to probably go to a smaller pet store, not a chain. BTW, I don't think Science Diet is very good.

[Samurai_Writer]

6. Purina One Senior Formula

I have a 14 year old cat, and he does very well on this. I mix it with some Whiskas Choice Cuts, because he's hyperthyroid and I'm trying to fatten him up. Also, his teeth aren't as good as they used to be, so mixing the dry with a little wet helps. He rarely has hairballs, and he is a constant groomer. He's the Felix Unger of cats, I swear.

From April's photography contest, here's Smoke:

[Caoimhe]

7. Something I was told

Something I was told when I lost my cat Crisco a few months ago was that his taurine levels were dangerously low. It probably was from the food we were giving him. Read the labels and look for taurine-added foods, because cats don't produce it as fast as they use it and studies have shown that cats with taurine deficiencies often have ulcers of the eye and become blind, and have weakening of the heart muscle, the lungs, the liver, etc.

I had another kitty die the same day (from a different thing) and her blood levels also showed very low taurine. I have changed the diet and am planning on taking another (healthy) kitty in for a blood test to see what they are at. Just something to think about.

[Kashka-Kat]

8. purina 1 + canned better quality food

about 1/2 & 1/2, some dry and some canned.. as mentioned above low carb is better for cats (obligate carnivores-- in the wild the only grains they would get would be in the stomachs of their prey). I lost a previous cat to diabetes, and my current cat has really slimmed down on her kitty atkins- diet!

[bullwinkle428]

9. Currently feeding them Natural Balance,

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul, and Royal Canin. I think that moist food probably would be the optimal diet, but unfortunately, one of the cats is an eating machine, and "Mom" isn't disciplined enough to control their portions strictly to prevent "the fat one" from gaining weight. They were raised to free-feed on dry food, and at ages 8 and 6 years old, they're probably too set in their ways anyway.