Cat Food Advice plz

[kelbel]

Does anyone know what to look for in a cat food. I know cats need more protein than dogs. I feed my cat Felidae (made by Canidae). My sister just found a kitten that they will probably keep. They have very little money and her husband is super cheap. What is a decent brand of cat food that is fairly inexpensive?

 

[Mordy]

you can't really compare foods by simply looking at the price tag. one food may be cheaper, but if you need to feed twice as much of it as of a better quality brand, you will still be paying more.

have a look at this, it might make things a little more clear:
http://www.mordanna.com/dogfood/index.php?page=money

 

[kelbel]

Mordy
Thanks for your reply. I have already read through your website and I really appreciate all the work you put into it. My sister lives in a very small town. I've been searching the internet and the closest store that sells any decent foods is an hour away. I can't see my brother in law driving that far to get food for a stray cat. The poor kitty might end up eating something from the grocery store . I'm just wondering if the same brands that make better dog food also make good cat food.

 

[Mordy]

I'm just wondering if the same brands that make better dog food also make good cat food.

yep, generally that does hold true.

did you also check health food stores and farm/feed stores? many of them also sell the better quality food.

if they decide to buy grocery store stuff, it would be very beneficial if it was canned food only, no dry food.

 

[kelbel]

There are no health food stores in their town. The only feed store I could find there had Iams and Science diet on their web site . I don't know if they have better foods but I'll tell my sister to go check and what to look for. Right now they are feeding her Purina kitten chow dry and canned. I will switch her to better food when they visit for Christmas and send her home with a big bag.

ETA: Even if they feed her purina, she's better off in their warm apartment than out in the cold fending for herself.

 

[vanillasugar]

I know at my store at least, Felidae is the best food at the best value. It's what I point out to people on a restricted buget who want to feed a better food. It's half the price of Wellness, and in my opinion, a better product than most

I actually bought my parents a 20lb bag for Christmas, as my dad is also SUPER cheap and they feed their cats garbage food. I figure if they use the one bag and see how much of a difference it makes, then my dad won't be so fussy about buying it.

Keep in mind, cats are obligate carnivores, so they don't need/can't process grains or other carbs as easily as some pet food companies tend to think. The best thing to do would be to find a food that has lots of MEAT protein and minimal grains, high protein, low carbs. And despite popular opinion, wet food is much better for their health than dry is. It should be a part of their daily diet if at all possible.

 

[joce]

Awww! she looks so much like my kitty that just passed away. I hope she gets spoiled no matter what they feed her

 

[Sirius]

She looks like my Darwin

 

[Gallien Jacks]

Perhaps you could list all the foods available to you and then everyone can help you pick

 

[Sheba]

She looks like my Darwin

A bit like my tiggy

Well, kelbel, we feed our cats DAD's, but at my dad's house Max just eats the dogs food!

 

[Pomp]

My brother has a cat and feeds her Nutro Complete Care.

Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Rice Flour, Natural Flavors, Rice Protein Concentrate, Herring Meal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Vegetable Fiber (Carrots, Celery, Beets, Parsley, Lettuce, Water Cress, Spinach), Oat Fiber, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride, Menhaden Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Choline Chloride, Dried Egg Product, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Dried Chicory Root, Cranberry Powder, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Calcium Iodate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid.

How would you rate this product? I'm thinking of recommending he switch to:

http://www.bluebuff.com/products/cats_adult.shtml

Better health starts with superior nutrition, so our new BLUE Spa Select Formula uses only the freshest, human grade deboned chicken, whole grains, vegetables and fruit in all our foods. Compare our top 10 ingredients with any super premium, healthy brand and you'll see that BLUE's nutritional delivery is unsurpassed.

1. Deboned Chicken
2. Chicken Meal
3. Whole Ground Brown Rice
4. Whole Ground Barley
5. Oatmeal
6. Rye
7. Chicken Fat
8. Menhaden Fish Meal
9. Whole Cranberries
10. Whole Sweet Potatoes


BLUE's crunchy nutritional nuggets provide all the high-quality protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids and beneficial fiber that your cat needs every day.


Our unique LifeSource Bits are formulated and processed to do exactly what their name implies. A precise blend of nutrients and antioxidants selected to strengthen your cat's immune system, help offset the negative impact of environmental toxins and provide support for specific life stage requirements.

LifeSource Bits are COLD formed to maintain the full potency of all ingredients. Other brands-even the super premiums, process all their ingredients with HEAT up to 280 degrees which means their added vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients can lose up to 75% of their potency.

Each LifeSource Bit contains specific nutrients to help support your cat's growth in four key areas:


Healthy Skin & Coat
Cellular & Tissue Health
Healthy Urinary Tract
Healthy Eyes & Heart








Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Whole Ground Brown Rice, Whole Ground Barley, Oatmeal, Rye, Chicken Fat (preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Citric Acid and Rosemary Extract), Menhaden Fish Meal, Whole Cranberries, Whole Sweet Potatoes, Whole Carrots, Alfalfa, Ground Flax Seed, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil (preserved with Natural Mixed Tocopherols), Sea Salt, Barley Grass, Whole Eggs, Dried Whey, Natural Flavor, Calcium Phosphate, Taurine, Dried Kelp, Lecithin, Parsley, Spirulina, Glucosamine, Yucca Schidigera, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Bacillus Subtilis, Bifidobacterium Thermophilum, Bifidobacterium Longum, Enterococcus Faecium, Choline Chloride, Turmeric, Zinc Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc), Iron Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron), Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese), Copper Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper), Beta Carotene, Potassium Amino Acid Complex (source of Chelated Potassium), Natural Color, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Ascorbate (source of Vitamin C), Calcium Pentothenate, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Cobalt Proteinate (source of Chelated Cobalt), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite (source of Vitamin K activity), Sodium Selenite.

 

[AusCatDogs_4Ever]

Try to get a food with little, or no magnesium. "Purina Happy Cat" almost killed my mothers cat (Toby) because it had too much magnesium, he had to go the the vet and get his stomach flushed, he was put on IV and he didnt eat for 2 weeks, we had to force feed him. He is doing fine now, he is back to his old self again!

Also food with coloring in it is bad for them, the color is just to attract the owner to buy it, and don't buy cheap food either becaue they are usually low in nutrition!

Here is a pic!

 

[Mordy]

Nutro and Purina suck (the cat food even moreso than the dog food), and dog food does not provide enough nutrients for cats.