Just curious... your food choice?

Claiken · 08-16-2011, 09:13 PM

If you lacked the physical capabilities to feed your pets raw... which purchasable food would you choose? (or, do you choose?) Keeping possible UTIs in mind (to avoid them).

Like, i know theres lousy grocery store brands, but then theres probably some better options like at petsmart, im thinking the secondary choices to raw would be found there, right? and then theres vet diets, but those seem to get mixed reviews as far as actual nutrition is concerned.

Just wondering.

yellowdaisies · 08-16-2011, 09:30 PM

You'll probably have better luck finding good brands at Petco than at Petsmart...and I have even better luck finding good brands for a great price at my local independent pet store.

Our two eat a combination of wet and dry. Spencer is VERY picky, so our cats eat different foods.

Spencer:
dry - Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul
wet - Wellness turkey and chicken, Merrick Before Grain quail, turkey, chicken (although lately he's been in an anti-BG phase)

Lily:
dry - Merrick Before Grain chicken
wet - Wellness pouch food (all varieties, but I try to have mostly grain free varieties), Wellness canned food (the new, textured kind as well as the traditional kind), Merrick Before Grain canned food, sometimes Weruva (the most expensive, so we feed it the least.)

So for brands, we mostly stick to Wellness and Merrick Before Grain, with Spencer's Chicken Soup and Lily's Weruva thrown in. We have tried some others, but I'm sure more people will chime in with more suggestions soon.

MowMow · 08-16-2011, 09:40 PM

I'm on a tight budget but MowMow has allergies to grain and chicken so I can't buy most petsmart/petco brands.

I alternate By Nature Beef/beef liver, California Natural Venison/Brown rice, Evo 95% beef and if I can afford it Evo 95% Duck. I throw in a can of By Nature Turkey/Turkey liver ever few weeks but he itches if I use it too often.

dweamgoil · 08-16-2011, 10:57 PM

I feed half raw (but taking that out of the equation), I also feed wet. I don't feed kibble anymore. I buy Weruva chicken, no grain varieties.

catinthemirror · 08-17-2011, 12:34 AM

My cats are eating half raw and half canned too (actually more like 60% raw

). They get Weruva chicken varieties, some TikiCat, and Ziwipeak - although Ziwipeak is sooooo expensive around here, I really like the company.. and my cats really like eating it. I've heard good things about Wellness but my cats both wouldn't eat it. Since I do feed raw I like to stick to canned food with some 'real food' texture anyway, to keep them from getting lazy about chewing their food.

Claiken · 08-17-2011, 01:22 AM

So, how do you know if the merrick was made before grain??? Thats the wet that im currently feeding (they are also on half dry half wet.) But as far as i know, its just 'merrick'. Right now theyre eating the chicken kind. chicken, gravy, vegetable medley are the pictures on the side. havent read the full ingredient list though.

Right now they are on urinary SO for dry, for UTI prevention. But, ive heard theyve changed their recipe since they started on it (although the kibbles look the same, so i didnt notice). But i know theres things in that like 'chicken meal'... i swear something even said 'by product meal'. and the longer they eat it, the more generally unwell ive been feeling about it. I dont know if i should talk to my vet about other options? Honestly they dont even make money from them eating that food as they dont sell it there, so i know its not that theyre thinking about their wallets, because it doesnt affect sales even.

The factor that makes me not want to switch *touching wood* is that weve had no other urinary health issues. so technically, it is doing what its supposed to as well.

Just not sure what to do. They do enjoy the merrick though. i wonder if they sell that before grain kind here. or if its one in the same. but i dont think so because one flavour had rice, which is technically a grain, i think lol. ETA: just checked out merricks site... the grain free one also has "chicken meal". so is that in fact a good ingredient?? SO confused...

yellowdaisies · 08-17-2011, 02:35 PM

Before Grain is a different line from regular Merrick. It's their grain free line and it's pricier. They even have a different website for BG: Before Grain The cat BG varieties have white packaging (dog varieties have black), and the canned foods are numbered 1 -6 for the different flavors. There are 3 varieties of dry.

I don't know what chicken meal is, but I don't think it's the same as by product meal. I've been told to stay away from anything "by product," and BG's wet and dry doesn't include by products. From the ingredients list, it looks like chicken meal is only an ingredient in BG's dry food, not the canned food.

My cats are just about a year old and haven't had any urinary issues yet, so I don't know how to answer your questions about that - others on this forum are much more experienced.

Abbie · 08-17-2011, 05:50 PM

I like in England, so we have a terrible choice of grain-free, high quality food. Practically all of it is chicken, which is typical when you have a cat with a chicken allergy. She's also allergic to rabbit, all grains except rice, lamb and some fish varieties.

Given the options, I've only found three foods Evie can eat with no problems. One is duck and pheasant, one is tuna (fish, I know, I know... but every once in a while, it certainly beats chronic diarrhoea) and pure beef.

She's best on the beef. Unfortunately, whilst it is 100% beef, it does contain 'by products'. However, on the can it says "Prepared using FRESH meat only", so I just hope it's okay.

Poor little Mitzi is fine with all foods (although chicken makes her a bit 'runny' and she doesn't like fish, or rabbit), but she gets stuck with the same food as Evie, as Evie is a hoover cat- eating everything in sight.

furryfriends251 · 08-17-2011, 06:26 PM

Nightmare won't eat raw, else he would be on that instead. Here is what he gets instead (it is all canned food):

Wellness Turkey
Wellness Chicken
Wellness Beef & Chicken
Before Grain Beef
Before Grain Quail & Chicken
Before Grain Turkey
Before Grain Tuna
Before Grain Salmon
Merrick Surf & Turf

purpleprincess22 · 08-17-2011, 06:45 PM

I also give my kittens Wellness and Merrick's Before Grain. I have also added Dave's Cat Food, By Nature, and the Fancy Feast Classic into their diet. Dave's and By Nature are grain free, but cheaper than Wellness and Merrick's. The Fancy Feast Classic is grain free and cheap, but has by products.

For dry, I give Orijen and Wellness Core (both are grain free). I try to limit the dry food, but since I work all day, I leave a tiny amount of dry food out.

08-16-2011, 09:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Claiken Cool Cat Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,105	Just curious... your food choice? If you lacked the physical capabilities to feed your pets raw... which purchasable food would you choose? (or, do you choose?) Keeping possible UTIs in mind (to avoid them). Like, i know theres lousy grocery store brands, but then theres probably some better options like at petsmart, im thinking the secondary choices to raw would be found there, right? and then theres vet diets, but those seem to get mixed reviews as far as actual nutrition is concerned. Just wondering.

08-16-2011, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
yellowdaisies Tom Cat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California Posts: 368	You'll probably have better luck finding good brands at Petco than at Petsmart...and I have even better luck finding good brands for a great price at my local independent pet store. Our two eat a combination of wet and dry. Spencer is VERY picky, so our cats eat different foods. Spencer: dry - Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul wet - Wellness turkey and chicken, Merrick Before Grain quail, turkey, chicken (although lately he's been in an anti-BG phase) Lily: dry - Merrick Before Grain chicken wet - Wellness pouch food (all varieties, but I try to have mostly grain free varieties), Wellness canned food (the new, textured kind as well as the traditional kind), Merrick Before Grain canned food, sometimes Weruva (the most expensive, so we feed it the least.) So for brands, we mostly stick to Wellness and Merrick Before Grain, with Spencer's Chicken Soup and Lily's Weruva thrown in. We have tried some others, but I'm sure more people will chime in with more suggestions soon. __________________ Spencer and Katie and Lily, always in our hearts

08-16-2011, 09:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
MowMow Premier Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 5,653	I'm on a tight budget but MowMow has allergies to grain and chicken so I can't buy most petsmart/petco brands. I alternate By Nature Beef/beef liver, California Natural Venison/Brown rice, Evo 95% beef and if I can afford it Evo 95% Duck. I throw in a can of By Nature Turkey/Turkey liver ever few weeks but he itches if I use it too often. __________________

08-16-2011, 10:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
dweamgoil Cat Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New York Posts: 1,861	I feed half raw (but taking that out of the equation), I also feed wet. I don't feed kibble anymore. I buy Weruva chicken, no grain varieties. __________________ DweamGoiL

08-17-2011, 01:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
Claiken Cool Cat Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,105	So, how do you know if the merrick was made before grain??? Thats the wet that im currently feeding (they are also on half dry half wet.) But as far as i know, its just 'merrick'. Right now theyre eating the chicken kind. chicken, gravy, vegetable medley are the pictures on the side. havent read the full ingredient list though. Right now they are on urinary SO for dry, for UTI prevention. But, ive heard theyve changed their recipe since they started on it (although the kibbles look the same, so i didnt notice). But i know theres things in that like 'chicken meal'... i swear something even said 'by product meal'. and the longer they eat it, the more generally unwell ive been feeling about it. I dont know if i should talk to my vet about other options? Honestly they dont even make money from them eating that food as they dont sell it there, so i know its not that theyre thinking about their wallets, because it doesnt affect sales even. The factor that makes me not want to switch touching wood is that weve had no other urinary health issues. so technically, it is doing what its supposed to as well. Just not sure what to do. They do enjoy the merrick though. i wonder if they sell that before grain kind here. or if its one in the same. but i dont think so because one flavour had rice, which is technically a grain, i think lol. ETA: just checked out merricks site... the grain free one also has "chicken meal". so is that in fact a good ingredient?? SO confused... Last edited by Claiken; 08-17-2011 at 01:25 AM.

08-17-2011, 12:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
catinthemirror Cat Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 242	My cats are eating half raw and half canned too (actually more like 60% raw ). They get Weruva chicken varieties, some TikiCat, and Ziwipeak - although Ziwipeak is sooooo expensive around here, I really like the company.. and my cats really like eating it. I've heard good things about Wellness but my cats both wouldn't eat it. Since I do feed raw I like to stick to canned food with some 'real food' texture anyway, to keep them from getting lazy about chewing their food.

08-17-2011, 02:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
yellowdaisies Tom Cat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California Posts: 368	Before Grain is a different line from regular Merrick. It's their grain free line and it's pricier. They even have a different website for BG: Before Grain The cat BG varieties have white packaging (dog varieties have black), and the canned foods are numbered 1 -6 for the different flavors. There are 3 varieties of dry. I don't know what chicken meal is, but I don't think it's the same as by product meal. I've been told to stay away from anything "by product," and BG's wet and dry doesn't include by products. From the ingredients list, it looks like chicken meal is only an ingredient in BG's dry food, not the canned food. My cats are just about a year old and haven't had any urinary issues yet, so I don't know how to answer your questions about that - others on this forum are much more experienced. __________________ Spencer and Katie and Lily, always in our hearts

08-17-2011, 05:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Abbie Senior Cat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Norwich, England Posts: 867	I like in England, so we have a terrible choice of grain-free, high quality food. Practically all of it is chicken, which is typical when you have a cat with a chicken allergy. She's also allergic to rabbit, all grains except rice, lamb and some fish varieties. Given the options, I've only found three foods Evie can eat with no problems. One is duck and pheasant, one is tuna (fish, I know, I know... but every once in a while, it certainly beats chronic diarrhoea) and pure beef. She's best on the beef. Unfortunately, whilst it is 100% beef, it does contain 'by products'. However, on the can it says "Prepared using FRESH meat only", so I just hope it's okay. Poor little Mitzi is fine with all foods (although chicken makes her a bit 'runny' and she doesn't like fish, or rabbit), but she gets stuck with the same food as Evie, as Evie is a hoover cat- eating everything in sight.

08-17-2011, 06:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
furryfriends251 Cool Cat Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 937	Nightmare won't eat raw, else he would be on that instead. Here is what he gets instead (it is all canned food): Wellness Turkey Wellness Chicken Wellness Beef & Chicken Before Grain Beef Before Grain Quail & Chicken Before Grain Turkey Before Grain Tuna Before Grain Salmon Merrick Surf & Turf

08-17-2011, 06:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
purpleprincess22 Jr. Cat Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PA Posts: 59	I also give my kittens Wellness and Merrick's Before Grain. I have also added Dave's Cat Food, By Nature, and the Fancy Feast Classic into their diet. Dave's and By Nature are grain free, but cheaper than Wellness and Merrick's. The Fancy Feast Classic is grain free and cheap, but has by products. For dry, I give Orijen and Wellness Core (both are grain free). I try to limit the dry food, but since I work all day, I leave a tiny amount of dry food out.

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