Cat food

Pythagorean

I feed my cat Felix Senior and Purina dried food. She is fussy enough, but I don't see the point on spending megabucks on these fancy foods. Feral cats live off mice, rats, and birds, and God knows what else, they seem to do ok. Commercial cat foods are prepared with scientific knowledge of a felines dietary needs. Remember cats need Taurine, so if you fed a cat nothing but raw meat, it could die, as it would not get this Taurine.

Foweva Awone

I think the issue is grain content, cheaper brands use grain as filler, which is nutritionally empty. Whereas the more expensive brands contain mostly meat. Cats are good at regulating their food intake, so will probably eat less of the expensive food as their needs are being met with lower quantities.

Cats fed on the likes of Whiskas will still eat enough to meet their nutritional needs, however you're not really saving much money as you're buying more of it, and you're making their digestive systems work harder to digest the unnecessary fillers.

Dry food only is fine for cats as long as they're drinking plenty of water, and it's much less messy and smelly!

Graces7

Pythagorean wrote: »

I feed my cat Felix Senior and Purina dried food. She is fussy enough, but I don't see the point on spending megabucks on these fancy foods. Feral cats live off mice, rats, and birds, and God knows what else, they seem to do ok. Commercial cat foods are prepared with scientific knowledge of a felines dietary needs. Remember cats need Taurine, so if you fed a cat nothing but raw meat, it could die, as it would not get this Taurine.

Please do not worry on this and see

https://pets.thenest.com/taurine-sources-cats-6642.html

meat is fine.

Graces7

Now I am fascinated!

Looking at the ingredients of the brand I use most ie supervalu

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/pet-food-accessories-cat-supervalu-select-chunks-chicken-in-jelly-400-grams-/p-1003871002

And then at FELIX

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/pet-food-accessories-cat-felix-agail-delicious-mixed-in-jelly-1-2-kilogram-/p-1020770004

I use supervalu most as they are good and deliver and the price.

Foweva Awone

Graces7 wrote: »

Now I am fascinated!

Looking at the ingredients of the brand I use most ie supervalu

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/pet-food-accessories-cat-supervalu-select-chunks-chicken-in-jelly-400-grams-/p-1003871002

And then at FELIX

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/pet-food-accessories-cat-felix-agail-delicious-mixed-in-jelly-1-2-kilogram-/p-1020770004

I use supervalu most as they are good and deliver and the price.

Exactly - under 10% chicken in both of those cheap brands, whereas looking at the info on the higher priced brand I use (Meowing Heads), it's 47% chicken and 12% fish and 11% egg - ie far far less filler. So you can see how you're not really saving as much money as you'd think with those cheaper brands.

tedpan

I use zooplus for my cats, top quality products for far cheaper than the shops. They eat a mixture of royal canin Maine coon dry food and they love this wet food..

https://www.zooplus.ie/shop/cats/canned_cat_food_pouches/miamor/miamor_pouches/127157

tedpan

Forgot to say, I have 3 ragdolls and a Maine coon/British Shorthair cross. Large cats

Nody

acequion wrote: »

Why is there so much controversy about supermarket brands? While I get that some people don't seem to rate it much and prefer prescription brands like Zooplus etc, there is no doubt that supermarket brands like Whiskas and Felix have the market and there's also no doubt that cats,like humans,are living longer and not just the ones on the Zooplus diets.

Because Supermarket foods such as Felix, Whiskas etc. only need to contain 4% meat to be allowed to be called chicken etc. For cats who are carnivores, not omnivores, the replacement with cheap veggie protein instead means the food is not interesting for them to eat. Hence to get cats to eat they then have to artificially change the smell of the food and that's why you often see cats licking up the sauce only and hence not getting the proper nutrition's while eating essentially junk food which is no were near what they are suppose to eat. In several cats you can also notice the difference once you change properly in the smell of their poo for example; supermarket foods have a tendency to be a source of some of the worst poo smells you'll get. Oh and feel free to check up this article in regards to carbs; Whiskas etc. tend to be full of them (it's cheap) but cats don't really need carbs; example calculations are here.

I've owned several cats, all fed on supermarket food and all have lived into their teens. My present cat is 7 and as fit as a fiddle. I feed her mainly Felix and Whiskas dry food. I love my cat to bits and want to give her the best but I'm always extremely busy so shopping for her while shopping for myself at the supermarket is convenient.

You can put in an order on Zooplus once a month and get everything shipped home. If you want to push it you could easily go for a quarter+ between reorders to be fair; it's not time consuming but the quality of the food will be several steps up.

Pythagorean wrote: »

I feed my cat Felix Senior and Purina dried food. She is fussy enough, but I don't see the point on spending megabucks on these fancy foods. Feral cats live off mice, rats, and birds, and God knows what else, they seem to do ok. Commercial cat foods are prepared with scientific knowledge of a felines dietary needs. Remember cats need Taurine, so if you fed a cat nothing but raw meat, it could die, as it would not get this Taurine.

Yet commercial cat foods have spread for example salmonella at multiple occasions and have also been known to poison animals both due to poor routines. Trusting them because "they got scientific knowledge" does nothing when the main driver of the company is to maximize profits by providing the ****tiest product possible to eek over the minimum requirements (set by the pet food companies themselves!) to save money. I strongly recommend anyone who wants to trust said companies to look at the documentary Pet fooled, available on netflix and alternative sources. Before someone says "talk with your vet" the fact that for example Royal Canin is actually doing part of the training sessions on nutrition is in itself horrible; think if the cigarette companies got to teach how to detect the sources of lung cancer from smoking to doctors and what steps to take and the outrage that would bring.

Now if someone is going through a tight patch feeding Lidl etc. may be the only option but in most cases you can find better quality food online for close or cheaper prices and this post by ShaShaBear on what happened when they changed from Lidl to ToTW dry food for their dog will always remain in my mind.

Graces7

Nody wrote: »

Because Supermarket foods such as Felix, Whiskas etc. only need to contain 4% meat to be allowed to be called chicken etc. For cats who are carnivores, not omnivores, the replacement with cheap veggie protein instead means the food is not interesting for them to eat. Hence to get cats to eat they then have to artificially change the smell of the food and that's why you often see cats licking up the sauce only and hence not getting the proper nutrition's while eating essentially junk food which is no were near what they are suppose to eat. In several cats you can also notice the difference once you change properly in the smell of their poo for example; supermarket foods have a tendency to be a source of some of the worst poo smells you'll get. Oh and feel free to check up this article in regards to carbs; Whiskas etc. tend to be full of them (it's cheap) but cats don't really need carbs; example calculations are here.

You can put in an order on Zooplus once a month and get everything shipped home. If you want to push it you could easily go for a quarter+ between reorders to be fair; it's not time consuming but the quality of the food will be several steps up.

Yet commercial cat foods have spread for example salmonella at multiple occasions and have also been known to poison animals both due to poor routines. Trusting them because "they got scientific knowledge" does nothing when the main driver of the company is to maximize profits by providing the ****tiest product possible to eek over the minimum requirements (set by the pet food companies themselves!) to save money. I strongly recommend anyone who wants to trust said companies to look at the documentary Pet fooled, available on netflix and alternative sources. Before someone says "talk with your vet" the fact that for example Royal Canin is actually doing part of the training sessions on nutrition is in itself horrible; think if the cigarette companies got to teach how to detect the sources of lung cancer from smoking to doctors and what steps to take and the outrage that would bring.

While I respect your views I disagree basically with your tenets and evaluations. This was so maybe many years ago but not these days .

In all my decades of breeding, showing, rescuing I have never experienced what I have bolded. Never any health issues. Or any odd smells etc...

So I stay with what I and my cats know and trust. Happily and with their health in heart.

Cost matters too. Of course it matters. LIDL and ALDI are great prices and good food. As i said, when te German firms came in, many things changed as their standards are very high and they have excellent vets and nutritionists
And it is not like the appalling situation in the US.

Never been disappointed or concerned. And immediate outlay is a factor also.

Nody

Graces7 wrote: »

While I respect your views I disagree basically with your tenets and evaluations. This was so maybe many years ago but not these days .

Yup, clearly not happening any more...

Pythagorean

Graces7 wrote: »

Please do not worry on this and see

https://pets.thenest.com/taurine-sources-cats-6642.html

meat is fine.

Had a look at that site, interesting, thanks

Graces7

Nody wrote: »

Yup, clearly not happening any more...

DOG food?

Foweva Awone

Grace just wondering about the raw chicken fillets. Is that not a huge hygiene risk - your cats are indoor cats, right? So they've their faces and their paws in the raw chicken, then spreading the germs all over your floor, counters, furniture, bed etc? Just something to be wary of.

Graces7

Foweva Awone wrote: »

Grace just wondering about the raw chicken fillets. Is that not a huge hygiene risk - your cats are indoor cats, right? So they've their faces and their paws in the raw chicken, then spreading the germs all over your floor, counters, furniture, bed etc? Just something to be wary of.

Please never worry. I am safe.

I do not eat chicken! Occasionally soup made with bones, well boiled. ( was not me re the fillets but I would have done the same !)

What germs? The chicken they eat is what I would buy for me.

NB my cats have free run inside and out. Never a worry.

tedpan

Graces7 wrote:

What germs? The chicken they eat is what I would buy for me.

I don't think that was their point..

Anyway, I'm sure it's fine. Animals eat raw in the wild.

Graces7

tedpan wrote: »

I don't think that was their point..

Anyway, I'm sure it's fine. Animals eat raw in the wild.

raw is excellent always. For the cats Mine get raw chicken every day... well next week turkey!

acequion

Nody wrote: »

Because Supermarket foods such as Felix, Whiskas etc. only need to contain 4% meat to be allowed to be called chicken etc. For cats who are carnivores, not omnivores, the replacement with cheap veggie protein instead means the food is not interesting for them to eat. Hence to get cats to eat they then have to artificially change the smell of the food and that's why you often see cats licking up the sauce only and hence not getting the proper nutrition's while eating essentially junk food which is no were near what they are suppose to eat. In several cats you can also notice the difference once you change properly in the smell of their poo for example; supermarket foods have a tendency to be a source of some of the worst poo smells you'll get. Oh and feel free to check up this article in regards to carbs; Whiskas etc. tend to be full of them (it's cheap) but cats don't really need carbs; example calculations are here.

You can put in an order on Zooplus once a month and get everything shipped home. If you want to push it you could easily go for a quarter+ between reorders to be fair; it's not time consuming but the quality of the food will be several steps up.

Yet commercial cat foods have spread for example salmonella at multiple occasions and have also been known to poison animals both due to poor routines. Trusting them because "they got scientific knowledge" does nothing when the main driver of the company is to maximize profits by providing the ****tiest product possible to eek over the minimum requirements (set by the pet food companies themselves!) to save money. I strongly recommend anyone who wants to trust said companies to look at the documentary Pet fooled, available on netflix and alternative sources. Before someone says "talk with your vet" the fact that for example Royal Canin is actually doing part of the training sessions on nutrition is in itself horrible; think if the cigarette companies got to teach how to detect the sources of lung cancer from smoking to doctors and what steps to take and the outrage that would bring.

Now if someone is going through a tight patch feeding Lidl etc. may be the only option but in most cases you can find better quality food online for close or cheaper prices and this post by ShaShaBear on what happened when they changed from Lidl to ToTW dry food for their dog will always remain in my mind.

Thanks for that very informative post. I wasn't aware of all the fillers in supermarket brands or the low meat percentage and now I'm feeling conflicted. As another poster pointed out, cost is an issue and while you might save money on large orders when buying in bulk, I mainly shop in Supervalue and Dunnes and I like to avail of the money back vouchers ie €10 euro off a €50 spend etc. As I mostly live alone, the cat food makes up a nice part of my weekly grocery shop, enabling me to spend enough to get the reductions. Every little helps guys!

Also I looked at Zooplus.ie and was surprised the see a lot of the much maligned supermarket brands there, so how would I know what to order? And can you order a variety of flavours like you get when you buy a a box of 12 Felix pouches?

I am very open to new ideas about cat feeding so am certainly considering the better quality food. But I have a last question. While you did mention the vets you don't make it clear why vets are not advising against supermarket food. I travel some distance to have my cat treated by the widely reputed best vet in this overall region and he's never said anything against my cat's diet of wet and dry supermarket food. So why are they not on board with this?

tedpan

acequion wrote:

Also I looked at Zooplus.ie and was surprised the see a lot of the much maligned supermarket brands there, so how would I know what to order? And can you order a variety of flavours like you get when you buy a a box of 12 Felix pouches?

Zooplus displays the ingredients and the percentage of each. If the brand doesn't disclose, I'd avoid..

acequion

tedpan wrote: »

Zooplus displays the ingredients and the percentage of each. If the brand doesn't disclose, I'd avoid..

Can you only buy this stuff online? What about pet or veterinary stores? Or what about Petmania? I'd love to be able to pick up a few sachets of one of those quality brands and try them out.

tedpan

acequion wrote:

Can you only buy this stuff online? What about pet or veterinary stores? Or what about Petmania? I'd love to be able to pick up a few sachets of one of those quality brands and try them out.

It's online only. You could ask the store to order it in for you although when I've spoken to pet shops they've said zooplus' sell price is lower than their buy price, so it will probably be more expensive.

Foweva Awone

Graces7 wrote: »

Please never worry. I am safe.

I do not eat chicken! Occasionally soup made with bones, well boiled. ( was not me re the fillets but I would have done the same !)

What germs? The chicken they eat is what I would buy for me.

NB my cats have free run inside and out. Never a worry.

Right my point was, there is a risk when handling any raw chicken, that it may carry germs or viruses. The vast majority of these germs are destroyed during the cooking process. But these germs are the reason we are always told to be so careful when handling raw poultry, use separate knives and chopping boards, wash our hands well, etc, to prevent us inadvertently spreading the germs over surfaces where we might end up ingesting them and getting sick.

Can you see that, in your case, with the cats putting their faces and paws into the raw chicken and then having free run of your home, there is a high chance you are putting yourself at risk of food poisoning. Which is really very unpleasant.

It's just something you should be aware of. Of course it's your decision if you're willing to take those risks, just don't be ignorant to the dangers you're exposing yourself to.

Lady Haywire

I've only recently moved fully to Zooplus but with postal orders delayed recently I ran out of food before the box came so had to get a box of the Centra/supervalu chunks in jelly. I got it around 6pm Sunday evening & between two cats they ate nine sachets since then, with ad lib dry :eek:
They're particularly fond of the small 190g Bonzita cartons (easy to wash, recyclable cartons, yay!) which vary from 91-93% meat and they won't go through half the amount of food as the filler-stuffed supermarket stuff. Now they thrived on it for years but with wastage & the amount they got through, it doesn't work out as cheap as the parcel delivered straight to the door.
Now I do get felix for them as well because they adore it but it's definitely saving me money to get a meat heavy food into them along with the 'junk' one!

StillThinking

The only thing my cat is guaranteed to eat is go cat dry chicken and duck, I have tried him on every cat food going, wet and dry, I have tried him on raw meat, cooked meat and every thing going in-between. He's 7 now, has a beautiful coat and is as healthy as any cat I've ever had. I've given up feeling guilty for feeding him a cheaper food, he's happy, my vet is happy so I'm happy!

Sheepdish1

I fed mine Royle Canine, Vet Pro but was working out expensive per month, mine was gastro food so was working out e28 for a bag. I found I always ran out when vets was closed too I found she loved the food but was being given bigger portions by people so it was going even quicker than it should:D

I tried a couple of dry very cheap supermarket foods over the years and found my animals seemed quiet hungry on them. I also don't like the packaging waste element of using the wet food that are sold in pouches, tins etc from an environmental point of view so rather not use them. I have always thought the wet food is quite watery too.

The one I have settled on in Purina Go Cat, its very affordable and can be bought in supermarkets which is handy for me

I also use chicken/ ham as a rewards to treat her when training her,(I have my cat trained to come to certain noises and crate trained which probably sounds daft but it works for us )

spr1nt3r

Anyone wants Applaws food, seen some on Adverts for free:
https://www.adverts.ie/cat-accessories/15kg-applaws-chicken-applaws-chicken-lamb/16785965

Alun

spr1nt3r wrote: »

Anyone wants Applaws food, seen some on Adverts for free:
https://www.adverts.ie/cat-accessories/15kg-applaws-chicken-applaws-chicken-lamb/16785965

Who buys huge 7.5kg bags of new untested food for a cat? Rookie mistake!

spr1nt3r

Alun wrote: »

Who buys huge 7.5kg bags of new untested food for a cat? Rookie mistake!

True that. Strange thing is how come it's still not gone

Foweva Awone

spr1nt3r wrote: »

True that. Strange thing is how come it's still not gone

It is now! Thanks so much for the link!

metaoblivia

I haven't gone raw with my cats yet, but I feed them what I my research tells me is quality dry and wet food. They were on Blue Buffalo for both until a few months ago. One of my cats (I have 2) has a sensitive stomach and also tends to eat too quickly, which led to her dry food coming back up. It started happening more frequently, so I switched to Orijen dry food. They don't seem to like it as much as the Blue Buffalo, but the stomach problems stopped immediately.

They still eat the Blue Buffalo canned food which they absolutely love and inhale down almost as soon as it touches their plate. I'm considering moving them exclusively to wet food, especially if I see stomach issues starting up again (only the dry food comes back up, never the wet). However, my other cat loves his dry food and cries if his bowl is ever empty of it.

acequion

Any opinions on Miamor?

My little one has been diagnosed with alopecia so it's time to get her on to something better quality to boost her coat. But she's picky and Miamor seems similar to Felix while being better quality. But I need to research it.