Blue Buffalo is a brand that offers low carbs and plenty of protein to help regulate blood sugar levels in cats. It receives a C+ grade for affordability and quality. The best diabetic cat food is Royal Canin Feline Glycobalance Morsels In Gravy, designed specifically by the brand to manage blood. Blue Buffalo also provides omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to encourage healthier skin and coat, which can be affected by diabetes.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Cat Food is high in protein but contains around 25 carbohydrates, making it suitable for cats with their specific needs. Crave Grain Free High Protein Wet Cat Food is the top-rated diabetic cat food. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a better choice than Fancy Feast for diabetic cats due to its low carbohydrate/high-protein profile.
Crave Grain Free High Protein Wet Cat Food is the best overall option for diabetic cats. Blue Buffalo Wilderness is low in carbohydrates and high in protein, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals. However, it is not the best choice for diabetic cats as it contains white and sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and barley.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is considered “bad” for cats due to its low-quality ingredients and by-products. Many diabetic cats improve significantly once they transition to a low-carbohydrate diet, with some stopping insulin altogether or requiring additional support. To ensure healthy growth and playful energy, it is important to understand your cat’s specific nutritional requirements and how to ensure healthy growth and playfulness.
📹 Dangers of Dry Cat Food
In this eye-opening video, Dr. Andrew Jones dives into the alarming truths about dry cat food and why you should think twice …
Which diabetic cat food is best?
Diabetes is a growing issue in both humans and cats, with most cases being similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans. Weight management and diet play a significant role in the development and control of the disease. Understanding the relationship between food, blood sugar levels, and the hormone insulin is crucial. Insulin is produced by special cells in the pancreas and is secreted into the bloodstream when blood sugar levels rise. When cats have Type 2 diabetes, their cells no longer respond adequately to insulin, leading to chronically high blood sugar levels.
The pancreas produces more insulin, but eventually, the organ wears out, and the cat will need insulin injections to survive. It is essential to choose the best food for a cat with diabetes to ensure their health and well-being.
Why does my vet not recommend Blue Buffalo?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified Blue Buffalo and 15 other dog food brands as potential contributors to canine congestive heart failure. This is based on the fact that they are among the 16 brands that the FDA has identified as being associated with this condition.
Should diabetic cats only eat wet food?
Cats with diabetes should be fed wet foods, which are lower in carbohydrates and contain more water than kibble. They need water for hydration and urinary tract health. Transitioning a kibble-addicted cat to wet food requires time and careful consideration of carbohydrates, fat, and protein content. The diet should consist of animal-based protein and fats, with 50 or more calories coming from animal-based protein and 20 to 40 from fat. Carbohydrates should be less than 10, but lower is always better.
Not all wet cat food is the same, and gravy-based wet foods may contain a lot of sugar, which cats may become addicted to. Many cat owners notice their cats prefer gravy-based wet foods over pate wet foods. Overall, choosing the right diet for your diabetic cat is crucial for their overall health and well-being.
Is Blue Buffalo good for cats with kidney problems?
Blue Buffalo’s KS Kidney Support and K+M Kidney + Mobility Support are pet food formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists to manage kidney disease in dogs and cats. These products contain controlled protein, phosphorus, sodium, omega-3 fatty acids, L-carnitine, and chondroprotectants. Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures confirm that they provide complete and balanced nutrition.
How can I feed my diabetic cat without insulin?
Switching to a low-carb diet can reduce insulin requirements, increase remission chances, and make insulin dose regulation easier. It is crucial for cats to eat reliably in the morning and evening at insulin injection time, and not to free-feed. Control over when cats are hungry is essential, as failure to eat when insulin injection time can lead to significant problems. A bottle of Karo® Syrup and “special food” (low-carbohydrate items, meat, cottage cheese, etc.) can be used to tempt cats to eat when they don’t want to, such as low-carbohydrate foods, meat, cottage cheese, or other cheese. This approach can help manage diabetes without insulin.
How can I lower my cats diabetes?
Injectable insulin is the standard treatment for feline diabetes in cats, with various types available such as lente insulin, ProZinc, and glargine insulin. Owners should discuss the pros and cons of each type with their veterinarian and ensure they use the appropriate syringe for their cat’s insulin. Insulin injections are given subcutaneously every 12 hours, and cats tend to tolerate them well due to their small needle size. Ideally, injections should be spaced 12 hours apart, but varying injection times by 1-2 hours when needed can be beneficial.
A low-carbohydrate diet can improve blood sugar regulation in diabetic cats. Prescription food options are available in both wet and dry food forms, but a wet-food only diet may be beneficial for many cats. For overweight cats diagnosed with diabetes, slow, controlled weight loss under close veterinarian monitoring is crucial for better control over blood glucose levels.
What is the best treatment for diabetic cats?
Injectable insulin is the standard treatment for feline diabetes in cats, with various types available such as lente insulin, ProZinc, and glargine insulin. Owners should discuss the pros and cons of each type with their veterinarian and ensure they use the appropriate syringe for their cat’s insulin. Insulin injections are given subcutaneously every 12 hours, and cats tend to tolerate them well due to their small needle size. Ideally, injections should be spaced 12 hours apart, but varying injection times by 1-2 hours when needed can be beneficial.
A low-carbohydrate diet can improve blood sugar regulation in diabetic cats. Prescription food options are available in both wet and dry food forms, but a wet-food only diet may be beneficial for many cats. For overweight cats diagnosed with diabetes, slow, controlled weight loss under close veterinarian monitoring is crucial for better control over blood glucose levels.
What should I feed a diabetic cat?
Cats with diabetes require a consistent, fat-restricted diet that contains high-quality, highly digestible protein sources like eggs or meat, with the correct caloric value to achieve optimal body weight. High-protein, low-carbohydrate foods are ideal for many cats with diabetes, typically with less than 10 total calories as carbohydrates. If feeding dry food, a prescription diet formulated for cats with diabetes should be fed, but non-prescription canned cat foods can also be used.
Stabilization on a non-prescription diet is easier with complete, moist food. Clean drinking water should be available at all times, and a reduction in excessive water consumption indicates successful management of diabetes mellitus.
Do vets recommend blue buffalo for cats?
Wag!, a US pet food company, recommends Blue Buffalo cat food to clients due to its high-quality natural ingredients and wet and dry recipes. The company offers a variety of life stages and protein sources to cater to different tastes. Pet nutrition expert Dr. Georgia Jeremiah also recommends Blue Buffalo cat food. Wag! conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate its recommendations. The company may receive a commission on the links provided. The company’s history includes recalls and recalls, and the company’s products are supported by affiliate pet partners.
Is dry food bad for diabetic cats?
Cats should be on a low-carbohydrate diet, as dry foods contain too much carbs for diabetic cats. A list of suitable cat foods with 7 carbs or less can be used. Switching to a low-carb diet can reduce insulin needs, increase the chances of remission, make insulin dose regulation easier, and potentially manage diabetes without insulin. It is crucial to ensure your cat eats reliably in the morning and evening at insulin injection time, and not allow them to free-feed.
Control over when your cat is hungry is essential. While you can feed them snacks during the day and ensure they eat dinner reliably, not eating when insulin time is crucial to avoid significant problems.
What ingredients should diabetic cats avoid?
Diabetic cats should avoid foods that can cause spikes in their blood sugar levels, as well as certain types of treats and table scraps. Carbohydrates can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, so it’s important to avoid foods high in carbohydrates, such as grains, corn, or other carbohydrate sources. Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, warns against wet foods with gravy for diabetic cats, as they can be high in carbohydrates.
When feeding dry food to diabetic cats, choose a brand that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Overfeeding can cause weight gain, making diabetes harder to manage. Feed the cat the appropriate amount of food based on their weight and avoid giving too many treats or snacks.
The frequency and timing of meals for a diabetic cat will depend on various factors such as the cat’s weight, age, activity level, and medication regimen. It’s recommended to feed smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to help regulate their blood sugar levels. Typically, diabetic cats should be fed two meals a day at regular intervals, spaced out evenly throughout the day.
If your cat is taking insulin twice daily, feed two meals a day, each before you administer the insulin dose. If the insulin dose is once a day, feed the first meal before that, ideally 30 minutes before the administration. Your veterinarian can help determine the appropriate feeding schedule and portion sizes for your diabetic cat based on its individual needs and health status.
Diabetes in cats is a chronic condition that cannot be reversed naturally. While there is no cure, there are things you can do to help manage the condition and improve your cat’s quality of life. Dr. Tara Koble, DVM of The Cat Doctor Veterinary Hospital in Boise, Ida, says that feeding your cat a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can help regulate blood sugar levels and manage diabetes. However, most cats would need to take insulin along with low-carbohydrate foods.
Regular exercise can improve your cat’s overall health and help them maintain a healthy weight, which is important for managing diabetes. Regular monitoring of your cat’s blood sugar levels and overall health is essential for managing diabetes.
📹 The Truth About Grain-Free Cat Food (Explained by a Vet)
In this video, Dr. Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ explains the facts about grain-free food for cats. Sign up for our free recall alert …
My cat was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease seven years ago. I immediately stopped giving her kibble and started feeding her low carb high protein diet. I sought out the best canned foods and also boiled chicken breast for her. She recently passed at the age of 16 but it wasn’t from ckd. Changing her diet led her to live a long healthy life.
I am so grateful my cats’ veterinarian is as honest as you. Thank you for informing cat parents about this! My cat was in catheter twice because of urinary problems. He’s not eating dry cat food anymore for a year now and he became a happy cat. He’s not stressed about going to his litter box frequently. His coat is better and he gained weight!
Thank you for this!!! I’ve been gaslight by 2 vets over the past 6 months. One of my males has a urinary blockage. He wouldn’t touch the Royal Canin urinary food they sent me home with. I found N&D and eventually got both my cats on raw. Never looking back, they are so much healthier than they were when they were kittens. One of my cats unfortunately now has resorbative lesions on his teeth, this is also due to being in kibble. For the past 4 months they have been on raw eating 3-4 times a day, I also leave freeze dried raw out for them if they want to snack. They don’t even use their water fountain anymore. The vets have told me I will kill my cats feeding them raw as I am going to give them salmonella. When I asked them why a cat needs soy, corn and grains they all told me “because the company studies this”. I am glad more and more people are taking about this. Thank you
Hi Dr. I have learned so much from your website. I have a very large farm cat I rescued and he is hungry all the time. He also gets uti’s often. I removed the Kibble about 30 days ago and he only gets boiled chicken I cook, salmon I cook and quality canned food on your recommendation list. Toby is already looking better. He’s still hungry a lot but not like he used to be. Thanks so much for all of your holistic wisdom and advice.
I’m so happy I can across this article. My cat is a very picky eater and I can’t find a food that she will eat. She prefers dry food but I know is not good for her and have not been able to get her to transition to a wet food. She regurgitates often and get tummy aches often as well. Even sensitive cat food bothers her and probiotics make her throw up. I need to find a food for her. I love her so much
I live in Thailand. 20 years ago there were very good veterinarians here with the most necessary practice facilities. There was no dry food on the shelves. Now the practices look like private hospitals. Separate areas for selling dry food and flavored snacks for cats and dogs. Messages often come to the phone advertising the latest vaccines. I find that terrible and am now very sensitive to visits to the vet. The pharmaceutical and food industries have also taken over this area. Cats and dogs are carnivores. If you see the word flavor on the packaging – stay away
Three months ago, I have cat had jaundice, he was hospitalised for 1 week but his condition didn’t even improve. So, I asked the vet to bring him home and take good care of him by myself. I bought the prescribed medicine from the vet and administered it by myself. He cannot eat by himself. He was too weak. Then, I started boiling chicken breast, carrots, chayote, potatos and pumpkin. I ground it in the grinder and force fed him. Luckily, he started to show progress on his health and after two weeks of my constant trying to make him survive and patience. He survived and he’s weight went back to it’s normal and he can eat by himself. When I brought him to the vet, the vet was amazed how much he made progress from 1.45kg to 3.50kg in just span of 1 month of his recovery. The vet applauded my patience and dedication. Now, he’s living his best life and survived. 😊
Ten months ago I had three chronically ill (2 cats, 1 dog) and one old cat failing, on very expensive specific dry kibble, one for each illness. Plus vet checks, medication, and diapers for urinary leakage. Now, ALL chronic illnesses are gone. No vet visits because they are healthy. No medications. Raw foods, WHOLE raw foods. 👍🏼
Thank you for your honesty!! Our tabby lived with the pain of diabetes 20 years ago because I didn’t know then the dangers of kibble. A vet’s assistant in Fallbrook, CA told me and I then transitioned him to raw. It eliminated the need for insulin shots, but it was already too late and he walked around gingerly. We could tell he was in pain. Argh! Our current feline gets antibiotic-free raw meat and is thriving. He does love to steal some grated organic carrot bits off our pup’s bowl every afternoon though. 😊
Wow, this hits home. We have a super-senior cat, & used to feed her a combination of kibbles & wet food. This was fine in her younger days, but as she got older she got fat & started throwing up a lot… on a daily basis for a while. Then, she became very skinny. We began to notice that she would throw up more often after she ate the kibbles, so we began limiting them. Recently, she had a nasty episode of constipation & we thought she wasn’t going to make it. We switched her over to wet food almost exclusively & she pulled through. Now, that’s almost all we feed her, and she’s a LOT healthier than she was. She’s still skinny, but she has a lot more energy & doesn’t throw up nearly as often as she did. (Sometimes she has to get rid of hairballs.) Great article… and it’s one we can testify to. 🙂
Since seeing your articles I switched off of dry food to home cooked chicken turkey and beef liver. I also add in the instinct raw freeze dried as a treat. I use your ground turkey recipe as well. What a change from Friskies and purina pro plan. No more vomiting, far more energy and beautiful poops! Thanks for all the info sir!
I have always said this! I do feed my cats dry and wet! But always a high end cat food! And I’m sure there are many out there who have asked the same questions, why is there so many cats and dogs getting all theses cancers renal failure, and other diseases these days ?? And I put it down to dry food! Also vaccinating too much!
I was blessed to adopt a 2 yr old Norwegian Forest Cat from a shelter and vet said he was dehydrated, under weight and probably IBD. I started feeding him wet canned Blue Wilderness then changed to Hills SD IBD wet canned cat food and still his poo was terribly smelly until I add cooked ground turkey, beef, pork chops, chicken to his menu as well as cooked eggs and canned pumpkin purée. His poos are never stinky anymore and he is energetic and he loves his real meat. I give him omega 3s every other day and occasionally Blue wilderness duck/chicken treats. He joins me in the kitchen on cooking days. I prepare enough for 5/6 days stored in the refrigerator. I put out enough that he can eat when he feels like it. His weight is ideal too. His coat is healthy and beautiful too. When the wet canned HIll’s SD IBD is gone I may not be buying anymore. I only use it because it does contain higher levels of taurine. At $75 for 24 5.5 oz canned it actually does have some nutritional benefits. I bought the last December 19th and I still have 7 cans left that I add one can to the meat after I cook the meat of the week and egg. It lasts 5/6 days so the cost of the Hills SD IBD is being absorbed. The Blue Wilderness has carreagean in it so NO more of that for my little buddy. I make his meat into a pate by using my little grinder and add water to it. No urinary or poo issues. NEVER a smelly poo anymore. I have no information what my cat ate the first two years of his life. He was thankfully picked up as a stray by the cat police and was in bad shape physically.
Wow I knew dry cat food wasn’t good for my cats but you’ve made it even more clear why not to do so. I’m weaning two of my rescue cats off dry and giving more raw/wet foods. Founds some excellent recipes for making raw foods and going to keep going the right direction. Even cooked protein or good can food would be better than dry. Look forward to the webinar and I’ll share this article as well. Thank you Dr Jones @Veterinary Secrets
My kitten refuses to eat wet food so I give her Dr Elsey’s Clean Protein. It is low carb and good quality ingredients. Our last cats both lived until 19.5 years when they both developed cancer. One refused to eat wet food and only ate Dr Elsey’s Clean Protein . She was healthy until the very end of her life. The other one ate mostly wet food and had IBD, CKD, hyperthyroidism (until she had radiated iodine treatment), high blood pressure and heart problems. I’m not saying there is a correlation between the wet food and the chronic diseases. Just our experience. We miss them greatly.
My Mr.Cat is a farrow cat that’s adopted me .. he started coming in my doggie door and hasn’t stopped .. He only seems to like the meow mix dry food .. he turns his nose up at soft food and definitely doesn’t like pate soft food and won’t eat home made .. but he loves meow mix cat food .. so idk what to do except feed that and offer fresh clean water when he comes by every day .. 🐾
After emergency surgery for my middle aged cat for a urinary stone blockage, I had him on the dry food for urinary health recommended by the vet. After two years with similar symptoms and no clear answer from the vet I officially transitioned him to wet food only, low carb. I hope he has a healthy long life ahead of him.
I love that you cleared this up. I feed my cats 5 small meals a day about 1.25 – 1.5 oz or so each feeding, they are very active cats. A Mix of Raw and Wet, no gums, fillers or excessive supplements, and of course probiotic. They are so healthy and lean. Cats become obese eating such large meals at one feeding. This was so informative.
The problem with not feeding my cats dry kibble would be they would all have to starve! I can’t afford to feed 30 cats wet food! I have to cut down on my own groceries just to buy the cheapest kibble for my cats! I would love to feed my cats the best food possible, but I have been priced out of buying anything but the cheapest crap I can find for them!
Thank you. I’m so confused. My vet and pet shops kept recommending kibbles over wet food, saying that wet food is bad for her teeth and causes gut issues. It didn’t make sense to me. My cat refuses to touch kibbles even if she’s starving, so I thought she was being difficult. Turns out she tuned into your website before I did 😂
Dr Jones, I care for many kitty colonies outside (like thousands of other people who care for outdoor kittys). It’s not possible to cut out dry food, simply because of the sheer number of kittys we care for. I try to buy the best of what’s available where we are & to provide wet/fresh food a couple of times a week. Moreover, it’s quite rural where we are & the kittys surely hunt. I leave the dry food in dispensers, almost as back up – just in case I’m not able to get to a colony for a day or two, or if some of the colony come after feeding time. Finally, I always make fresh water available.
I see at the end of your article that you did recommend for people to make homemade food, with fresh meats. So you’re not saying just to use canned food as I had thought. I have tried to make some homemade food here and there, but it’s extremely hard to get cats to give it a chance that have been eating commercially made food for a lot of years. When you rescue animals that are sick it’s usually because they’ve been eating the junk that you’re warning against, but even though it’s killing them it’s hard to get them to convert. I need to look and see if you have a article with suggestions about how to do that.
Thank you for putting this article out. My previous kitty died at age 16 because the vet who diagnosed her with diabetes put her on some Iams diabetes DRY food. Only when she kept getting worse did I find the diabetic kitty forums and learned I could have reversed it had I put on a raw food diet sooner and tested her blood sugar levels multiple times a day. I then should have been giving her insulin according to what her results were at that time. Did the vet tell me any of this – NO WAY – just took her level at the vet office and then instructed me to give her insulin based on that one figure twice a day. Be VERY careful who you trust if your kitty has diabetes. Most vets do not have your interest at heart – your wallet maybe.
Thank you so much! Appreciation from Sydney. I was given a Tonkinese recently. He loves raw topside, chicken…and prefers the liquidy part of cat food. He is very lean.. I have given dry..Now I stop.He is 2 and a half..Very pretty( mink tonkinese with blue eyes).desexed..Extremely gentle and loving and vocal..😊.. Im so grateful for your advice and knowledge.. Take care..
Harvard published a study showing exactly what nature intended for cats to eat, back in the 90s! I used to argue with the Hills company about this! ALL my unvaccinated, rodent eating barn cats lived into their teens and 20s unless they were run over accidentally by a tractor or truck! It’s so wonderful seeing this doctor telling the truth!! The pet food industry is in cahoots with the Veterinary profession! What I call “The Circle of Illness!”. They PROMOTE each other! It’s for PROFITS!😿🤨
In August my cat will be 21. I feed her grain free and low ash natural kibble. Litter is unscented recycled paper pellets. She’s never once had a UTI, and is in relatively good overall health for her age. She’s been to the vet three times in her life. A couple years ago she got a clean bill of health other than an infection that got treated. Just stay away from the garbage kibble and scented, clumping litter.
I am so glad I discovered this truth back in 2016. I can’t believe it is nearly 8 years since I started feeding my two cats raw meat. they are mother and daughter, and at the time, they were six and four years old respectively. At the time, my mother cat had dental work done, and the vet who did her dental work was a dental specialist, and she said that it would be the first of many dental but there was something I could do about it. She told me about raw feeding, and referred me to a local raw food supplier near where I live in New Zealand. and so, I transitioned them both onto a fully raw diet. My advice to anyone doing this is that you must go completely cold turkey from the biscuits. One thing I found in my research is often there are synthetic chemical put into these biscuits that trigger The pleasure receptors in the brain, thus forming an addiction to the biscuits. Not to mention how when they eat these biscuits, their sugar levels spike and then drop again and they keep needing to eat the biscuits and snack on them to try and get that sugar spike. Fast forward to 2024. My mother cat has not had any dental work since until now because her teeth have always been healthy. They have always been fed chicken necks as well as the raw meat, awful, and muscle meat as well. and so, my daughter cat has turned 12 nearly 2 weeks ago and still has a full head full of teeth. My mother cat recently had some dental work done, and before the operation we did bloodwork on her. Her bloods came back perfectly normal.
Pet food confuses me so much man. My cat lived to 23 but because of a previous incident he couldn’t eat much meat or he would get awful, literally liquid diarrhoea that would just constantly drip, awful. Only a little bit of chicken or a bit of tuna was typically ok. Because of that he had to be on kibble, and honestly I know now that the brand I fed him was crap, didn’t at the time. Interesting to hear about the thyroid thing, as he did have overactive thyroid, though it was not bad enough for him to need medication luckily. Besides his thyroid (which honesty didn’t seem to affect him much) he was very healthy, even his sensitive stomache wasn’t really an issue as long as we were careful about what we fed him. He didn’t look 23 at all and had minimal health issues and he could still clean himself and move around fine. Despite not having a bad experience with kibble, my dog I have now is fed on raw, I wish to do the best for him but it’s so hard not just having a solid answer. I believe that most kibble is indeed crap, but you get shamed for thinking so and I also know that it doesn’t always cause issues for all animals (my cat) so I am just so mixed on it. I try to give my dog a bit of everything just in case, but there is controversy even in that.
Diamond is the best kibble I found for dogs & cats. I adopted a stray that was almost bald, tried everything but Diamond grew her hair back immediately. My moms feral cats were infested with skin bumps & sores & it healed them as well. IF you can’t afford to cook or they won’t eat cooked food, try Diamond. They’ve only had 1 Recall over 10yrs ago. It’s sad human & pet food is tainted w poison & crappy ingredients that are usually chemicals.
Okay okay okay…..KNOWING all of this is fine and dandy. The issue at hand is WHAT do those of us with a more cats in our home than average do? I live where cats are dumped weekly. They are all varieties and food preferences. Making food for them or 2.50 a can food is NOT NOT NOT an option. What do others with many cats do?
I took my 2 cats off of dry food bc they were getting too fat. It wasnt easy. I did it when the weather had warmed up…they werent as hungry as they are when fall & winter roll around. This will be year 3. They’re just fine & can clean their own bung holes now. It wasnt easy but i had one diabetic cat (my little chili-anana) & she was so hard to regulate & i ended up putting her to sleep at 12 years old. I saved her from a coyote once but i didnt save her from the effects of free-fed dry food. Insurance companies & big pharma want you to remain ignorant so they can profit off of your sick animal. When insurance & big pharma get involved animals are going to suffer. Diabetes is a HUGE money-maker for vets, insurance co & pharma. Cats are obligate carnivores. Dry food is a scam.
I give my cat key, but I also give her can cat food and whatever meat I’m eating chicken turkey fish hamburger pork. I also give her to. And also, she always has water. I also feed my dog canned food with her all her supplements and then I give her kibble and whatever meat, hamburger, turkey, chicken, fish, pork, and vegetables.. I give her quail eggs boiled eggs. I don’t do a raw diet because I don’t know enough about it and I don’t want to end up, harming my dog with salmonella or anything like that. My cat doesn’t eat very much dry kibble, because she really doesn’t care for it.
Is it just me or does it seem like the devil him self conned folks into doing stuff in a at very least in a non-ideal way all aimed at long term suffering lol ah follow the light and seek out truth and you will be set you free. No one ever said its easy but its worth it God bless you all and thanks for article! .I learn new things every day even stuff i thought i was certain was right
They’re not all plant proteins. There are some very good quality cat kibbles out there. What you’re holding in your hands and holding up is bottom shelf crap, but that’s not all there is available anymore. I probably should have watched your entire article before responding but I’ve watched several of your articles where you were talking down the kibble and talking up the cans. There’s some pretty trashy canned food out there too, and it’s mostly water and it’s very expensive for a can of water. I love perusal your articles and have found a lot of value in them, I have incorporated several things as far as human over the counter medications that you can give to cats, along with my natural medicine methods. I like your natural recommendations as well, even though I don’t need those as much.. But if you think about all the rescue people who have high numbers of animals, you would realize that they cannot afford to feed all of their animals nothing but canned food, unless they’re a certified non-profit rescue and getting donations from some organization. I really hope the animal rescue people don’t take you too much to heart on this point. The Costco brand, the Kirkland kibble in the purple bag is a very respectable food for the price point, it’s only downfall is that the proportion of protein to carbs is a little too low, but that can easily be corrected with some extra human grade protein, just a little bit, and or some Brewer’s yeast, which is a high quality protein. I make homemade yogurt, I can make 4 gallons for very cheap and my cats love it, and my cats are good water drinkers because I raised them to be good water drinkers, so kibble is fine for them.
Thank you Dr Jones for your honesty, passion & ethics. So rare these days. My cat got hyperthyroidism from me feeding her from being a kitten, vet recommended dry kibble seafood flavour. Where did I buy it from every month? My vet because I am a great pet owner/carer. She died 2 yrs later from this disease. I confronted the vet with the fact I had fed her seafood flavour dry kibble from them and this looked like it caused the hyperthyroidism and the vet said “we always recommend a balanced diet.” I said no-I bought the food from you every month for years and you never said one thing. I always visited with my guy friend in the apartment across from me and his cat in the hallway. One day I asked him why all of a sudden, his cat’s fur was shiny and he was moving with energy. He had switched from dry food to wet canned BC made cat food. (Bought at a pet store) The cat was so much healthier, happier and energetic at 11 years old. Buy local made food-wet! Our pets in the 70’s never had cancer. In the past decade my family has had 1 cat die from cancer in the gums, my other cat die from a cancer tumour under his tongue, and my tuxedo cat die from hyperthyroidism-all were pets fed life long vet food purchased at vet’s office. Science Diet, Hills etc.
Wow, learning learning. I’m looking at 70 yo and I’d NEVER seen the health issues in pets like today. I had been feeding my senior dog homemade this last year which did make him more comfortable. He’s passed and it’s on to my cat. She’s just a few years old, still good health but I’m giving away all dry kibble in the house. I have 2 turkeys in the freezer from the holidia sales. That’s what I’ll use. We thank you for the heads up.
Our 6 mo old cat, who crawled out of the woods has never had anything other than his mother’s milk, if he had started to hunt in the wild, cream, and meat/fat. His metabolic panel ar neutering time was fine, with the exception of miner dehydration, most likely due to fasting-prep for surgery. He eats 4oz of meat per day, and if he’s hunting he eats what he catches😂 If I give him more he leaves it. I just looked it up, Science diet $1.31/lb, and my question is, do u have to pay sales tax on pet food, cuz u don’t on human food😉it would be interesting to know the math. It looks to me feeding cat chicken, steak, fish, seafood is the same, if not more economical than any kibble (think filler and the sheer volume required). Thank you Doc!
I would love to feed my cats wet food all the time. I try, but they tend to go through phases. Sometimes, what they really want is dry, and they’ll refuse to eat the wet. Other times, they gobble down the wet over the dry. After so much wasted food, I’m basically at a point where I’ll give them what they want to eat for the day. I always start with a little wet and see what happens. If my girl takes a bite then sits down, I know we’re good to go with the wet. My boy will pretty much eat whatever is put out there now, but he was once hospitalized because he refused to eat for several days. Even the med that makes them “want” to eat didn’t work. I did a lot of research before going with Stella & Chewy’s, and it really does seem to be a very high quality. I’m pretty sure I didn’t see soy anywhere in the ingredients. It’s also got high protein. They do have a wonderful fountain, and they drink from it regularly, so that’s good.
Thanks for this I love your website my 10 year old cat just had a Saddle Thrombus oh it was terrible for her. Paralized on her back legs However my vet was like oh this is grim and a 2 percent of survival well she’s come through she was in the vet hospital and now slowly getting use of her back legs back please what can I do to help her. She’s now on aspirin short term for the blood. Slowly getting use back in her hind legs I was horrified for her. I want to help her so much. She’s a hunter Bigtime rabbits everywhere here but I always feed her kibble Purina.Well she’s now indoors as she knows she’s poorly so I’ll see how she goes I’d appreciate any help any feedback please and thank you . Oh I think then I should not give her kibble 😮 I still feed my dog the turkey mince brown rice and kale recommendations from your website it works for him!! 😊
I agree totally. But big problem! One of my cats REFUSES to eat anything but a certain kind of cat pellet. If I put out good wet food she ignores it and goes either without eating or catches a mouse and eats it. Or she goes to a neighbor’s house and eats cat pellets there. I have no answer to this. I guess she is doomed.
Thank you. I started feeding my diabetic boy FirstMate can food because I saw you were feeding it in one of your articles and thought it would be good as you were feeding it. I just realized it is very high in carbs, potato or rice! Yikes. About 23% DM carbs. Now, it’s back to searching for a lower carb can food. I’m trying Rawz next.
My Cat won’t touch anything else. I know I need to try hard and not feed him anything else, he won’t starve. He’ll just throw up. I’ve tried to change his diet to wet food but he would always get sick and I would worry. I have to do it when I leave for work because if I’m home all he does is cry, cry, cry. Did I mention he cries? Without ceasing! Oh, and he gets mad at me. He gives me “the look.” You know, the ” I can’t believe you’re doing this to me, again.” I need to find a diet that will work for him. I just get upset at all the food I throw away every time I try to do this. I just have to keep trying though. For his sake.
My cat will only eat dry kibbles,I’ve given him wet food but all he does is lick the gravy or jelly and leaves the meat,or he might eat a portion,but the rest just ends up sitting in his bowl and he won’t touch it,he seemed to change after he was neutered,because he used to eat a lot of expensive wet which I used to buy from the pet shop,so not the supermarket rubbish,and that didn’t have any cereal in it,really good quality food.I brought a dozen can’s one time and had to return them,because he suddenly wouldn’t eat them.which was when he came back from the vet.Since,I’ve tried numerous brand’s,but he just turns his nose up.I do worry about him just eating kibble,he’s poops are like rock’s,but what can I do?I can’t force him to eat wet food.he’s 10 years old,and seems to be healthy,he’s certainly got a lot of energy and is always zooming around like he was a young cat.
When we rescued our porch kitty, I asked the vet after the initial examination what might be the best food for him. We don’t mind spending a little to have him enjoy a long healthy life. She didn’t even look up from her clipboard and said, “I don’t know, Purina should be fine.” I would have liked a little more information.
As a cat rescuer, dry kibble is a necessity. I have 16 mouths to feed. However, I’m quite particular about the dry kibble I buy. They also are provided with high quality, high moisture wet foods and special raw food pet blends I get at the local butcher shop. Kibble is fine if it’s of good quality and fed in moderation.
Thank you so much, Dr. Jones. I love your website. I’ve learned so much. I always have a problem with my vet when it comes to nutrition for my cats. I have 3 cats. My 12-year-old had crystals about 2 years ago. He has been on the S/0 urinary diet. He only likes wet food, so I took him off of dry because he never likes it, and it’s a waste of my money. I also have a Maine Coon and I learned by perusal articles that they should be on a high protein diet. He is 21lbs. I give my other 2 cats raw food and a grain free kibble. My vet never wants to discuss other foods, only the one they sell at the clinic.
I love your website, you have helped me so much with my animals…In my menagerie are six rescues, I go through a box of litter a week and a bag of pro-plan a week…. and am having trouble buying groceries for myself in this economy. They had been sharing a small can of the Friskies a day, but that was an additional $30 a month and I just had to cut it out. I have one severely obese and another who is geriatric with bowel issues. What is the most cost effective way I can feed them nutritious meat? Thanks in advance.
This is very interesting to know, but I guess it all depends on the brand and the cat itself. My persian was diagnosed with kidney disease when he was 6 months old and almost died. He managed to pull through and the vet told us he’d have to eat special kibble for the rest of his life, which would likely be not very long. Since then, my cat has refused to eat anything but that, and recently turned 21 years old.
I agree with everything you say, but my problem is this one cat. I will offer her wet cat food all day, sometimes a couple of days. I would run out and buy different brands and flavors, cook chicken for her and she would just walk away, until I give her kibble. I’ve watched her choose kibble over wet cat food many times. Should I just strave her out, withhold kibble until she eats the wet food. I only give her a fourth of a cup, sometimes less in a day, if she gets it then she will eventually eat her wet food.
Awesome article. I started feeding my pets raw carnivore in 2020 – after I started myself on a carnivore diet for healing. I had 2 dogs and 2 cats. The difference in them as a whole was night and day! They had a new zest for life, they were active, they stopped having stinky poops, their coats and skin were back to optimal health, and their hair colour changed too! Glossy and shiny! They too got their health back! But alas, it was too late for our cats.. they died a year ago at ages 16 and 17. But at least the last few years of their lives were better. The dogs are still with us and they are 6 and 7 years old. We have since gotten a new pet rottweiler and a kitten. We got the rottie at 8 weeks old and she has been raw carnivore since we got her and the kitten who we got at 9 weeks old has only eaten raw from us too. We’ve had her for 2 weeks now, the Rottie turned 2 this January. All of our pets are in super optimal health and are thriving. We can learn a lot about our own human health just by perusal what our animals eat too. Carnivore for life in our house! Raw carnivore for the pets 😊❤
I had a wonderful polydactyl cat named Tootsie. It was a long time ago before we knew anything about anything. She became diabetic when she was 12. I gave her twice a day insulin shots for five years. I’d take her with us on vacation (I had to sneak her in bc it was before pet friendly hotels). I didn’t care because she was worth it all. She would stop eating if I wasn’t around. No food = no insulin shots = death. So, she went on vacation with us. When her second kidney finally failed, she was 17. My vet told me he’d never seen a diabetic cat live for five more years once diagnosed. I told him she was my love, and I would have done anything to keep her with me. Sadly, I had to put her down. My present cat now eats 3-4 xs a day. She is feisty and my love. She was a barn cat I adopted as a tiny kitten. This July she will be 20 years old. I love my kitties and though I could never get her to eat “quality” wet food I do supply her with multiple meals a day and fresh, spring water. Thanks doc. I’ll try to attend your cat seminar but if not thank you for your care and concern and for always speaking the truth about pet care. We love you ❤
I have had numerous cats. Two have died from kidney disease. My third one started loosing weight, not eating enough wet food and vomiting on kibble. He was going down hill fast. I switched his diet to raw meat with grated cheese once or twice a week. He is starting to gain weight, found his meow and even started trilling. He demands meat 4 to 5 times a day. He is 16 years old. I also introduced canned tuna to him. Wouldn’t touch sardines in oil. Prefers raw meat over cooked. The first two went to vets, got the traditional renal kibble cat food and neither would eat it. They just sicker and skinnier. I can no longer afford hundreds of dollars at the vets. Would rather spend that on quality raw meat. The other two cats have been introduced to raw meat. One is completely weaned of commercial cat food and the other is asking for fresh meat. He was a stray, and had no idea what fresh meat, or toys were, but is eating more of meat each day.
Thank you for this confirmation! I stopped giving my cat dry kibble and instead feed her cooked chicken with its broth. I’m afraid to give her raw bc of factory farming practices and expensive meats are out of question. She also eats outside mice and moles. I put small amounts of ground flaxseed and pumpkin for fiber. Is this ok and should we also add small amounts of greens? I also signed up for your workshop next week and am looking forward. Thanks for sharing this valuable info 😻
I’d be afraid to bring my pet to this vet. He should know better. Every pet is individual. Literally thousands of pet cats thrive on kibble. There’s different breeds and activity levels and even climates that require unique nutritional needs. Most cats with food issues have genetic issues from the get go in my experience. Raw is not for every pet. Raw is in fact very difficult to do properly. It works well for some and not others. Reputable food brands that have been around a long time know what they’re doing they have research behind them. You are not killing your cat by feeding kibble. Do real research don’t fall for this primal/ancestral cat garbage. Same for dogs. Be aware of your pets state on a food. Do they seems healthy and happy? Glossy coat? Clear eyes? Are they’re eliminating fine? Then the food you feed is probably working for them. Raw is not a fix all. It’s great for some animals and not others. My dogs and cats would literally waste away on raw they could never consume enough to keep on weight or get enough nutrients. They’re great on kibble with some additions to keep it interesting and make sure they don’t get picky.
Thanks to Youtube algorithm for recommending this. My mother wants my cat to be trained to eat dry kibble so we wouldn’t worry much when leaving the house with no one to feed her. Just leave kibble and she would eat. After reading a few articles, I started soaking the kibble in water to plump up and give the kibbles moisture. Now I’m confused whether I should continue feeding her kibbles or switch to canned or boiled meat and fish.
There are so many pet owners out there who would love to feed their pets better food, but even dry kibble has become astronomically high for people on a budget. And if only people who could afford expensive diets for their pets adopted, millions more animals would die in shelters. Some people genuinely can’t afford anything more than the cheapest dry food for their pets. Anyone who can afford better food definitely should, but so many these days already have to make the choice between feeding themselves and feeding their pets. For example, people who are on SSI or SSDI are already barely making it. I have a family member getting around $600 a month from Social Security. That’s his only income. He doesn’t have pets because he can’t afford them, but if he did, dry food would definitely be the only thing he could afford.
What we feed to ours is, a combo of grilled chicken breast with a little bit of rice and veggies mixed together in pate form, some omega 3 drops here and there and sometimes we switch the chicken for fish, their fur is always super silky and shiny, they’re so active and still acting like when they were babies. When I do feed them dry food is on emergencies only and only good brands like solid gold and stuff. But in majority we feed them regular food. Still cheaper than cans and vets, we spend about 35 dollars per month including the world best littler that cost 20 dollars a bag. We have 2 cats
I learned this decades ago and questioned my vet why don’t cats die in the wild eating bones and fur, and he said the same thing about the moisture and that the fur makes the bones pass thru their system. I stopped dry food and went to canned and homemade – my indoor cats have lived to be in their mid twenties and no isssues like dry food cats had previously that died much sooner with chronic illnesses. Keep up the good work doctor!
I’ve been educating people on this for 20 YEARS at the end of the day I have witnessed there are two types of pet owners/guardians the ones who CHOOSE Ethical SAFE RAW HUMAN GRADE MEAT AND POULTRY BONES feeding with safe veg and safe fruits, supplements, etc these are Unconditional LOVE FEEDERS then there’s the ones who CHOOSE COMMERCIAL PROCESSED PET FOODS FOR EASY CONVENIENCE pref to select IGNORANCE and ARROGANCE for many other reasons I’VE HEARD IT ALL even some choosing VEGAN FEEDING a very cruel dangerous STUPID conditional selfish feeding ….you want a meat eater then feed it meat you don’t get a ruminant or a bird.Only 1% of people I educated truly opted to protect and preserve their pet family’s life. If you won’t eat it HOW DARE IT BE FED TO YOUR PET. NO💩about affordability either NONE do your research it’s SO CHEAP and SO easy. Pet owners have a responsibility.
I like to feed mine both wet and dry. I don’t want to feed them the lower end foods, yet I can’t afford the best quality food for them. I currently give them dry instinct food, along with wet from a variety of brands they liked (instinct, nulo, weruva). I know dry is not ideal, but my cats like what I give them, and since they’re not hunting birds and mice, I think some kibble is good for their teeth instead of just having soft pate always. It’s also more affordable price wise. I used to help take care of a large number feral cats and we used to just feed them a variety of human grade foods including chicken with the bones, and they used to devour those bones. They were pretty strong and healthy too. It makes me think kibbles in moderate amounts are good for their teeth.
Is there really no good dry food to use? Like what about high end dry food with high levels of protein and lowish amount of carbs? Like, I was going to feed my new kitten, 7 weeksish, tiki cat born carnivore. All the first ingredients are chicken or eggs, no wheat, potatoes other grains free and added additional fats
Bro, I need to figure out why this cat I have is INSANE, SHE IS OBSESSED with me, always wants to play, NONSTOP MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW its driving me crazy but I love the little Russian blue but she is out of an insane asylum ive tried ignoring her, spraying water, time outs anything I can think of.
Amazing. Thank you for this information. It needs to be way more main stream. I’ve been cooking for my cats for the past 6 months but they have also been getting kibble. I believe now I’m ready to completely cut that out of their diet. I only have some concerns, do they need any kind of extra supplements when feeding a whole food diet? I sprinkle some taurine and l-lysine in their food.
HEY DOC…Let’s go back to the beginning..dry pet food was invented during WW2…because they needed all the metal used in cans for the war..so dry food was invented.lit was meant to be temporary because it was harmful to pets..but it took off ..was cheap..and here we are now with sick animals…I guess just like sick people..sick animals are big business 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️ and ease up on the vaccinations…they too cause harm..
Such a dilemma! My 16 yr old boy has been on wet food only all his life until about a month ago when he suddenly stopped eating any of it. He also just got diagnosed with Stage 2 renal dz. Come to find out he has a Squamous cell carcinoma on the floor of his mouth that’s already infiltrated his tongue. Because I wanted him to eat something- anything I put out some dry kibble which he devoured and now I can’t get him back on any wet food whatsoever. I’ve even tried pureeing it to a soup to make it easier to eat – nope ! It may be the way he needs to move his tongue that he can pick up the dry more easily? Surprisingly he can still crunch them with his teeth! At a loss how to get more protein into him. Sadly these tumors can be aggressive and I’ve been told he only has maybe 2 months more to live. So I’m kinda resolved to just giving him what he wants right now. Dog gone it our fur babies are supposed to live for ever.😢
And MY cat-he O N L Y LIKES CRAPPY BLUE BUFFALO! No, I’m serious. I heard from Jackson Galaxy’s website, him saying the worst wet food is better than the best dry food. Well try working in a n y food other than his crunchies. I’d gladly cook for him. I DO, PERIODICALLY. He won’t touch it. Not even 1 bite. I got his darling little a** as a kitten. I found I loved him so much I fed him, daily, some canned chicken. I’rinse it thoroughly, in a pasta strainer. He ate it UP. Until he didn’t. He gets a teency bit of broth, once in a blue moon. But I’m at a loss, trying to figure out this catty & implementinf a new food for him to eat something suitable. If someone knows, please won’t you take the time, make the effort, help me with this damn cat? I love him.
I can’t believe that Dr. Pol, a show I watch and love so much, has just pitched his OWN line of pet food! It includes dry kibble for cats! To say I am disappointed in him, and his obvious quest for money, I will never worship him again! He MUST have a lot of money! He’s on all the time and people like me have loved him! He has treated urinary blocks, but all the shows I have seen, I honestly don’t remember that being featured. Every cat I had in the 1980’s died a terrible death from this. One later on (bc I didn’t equate the two until SHE got blocked TWICE) would have lived a lot longer and a lot more pain free if I just stopped giving her kibble. I finally got this info toward the end of her life when she died of heart failure at I think 12. My poor JennyGirl! Please forgive me. In the early 2000’s I got a pair of white kits that ate nothing but cooked wet food in cans, given nothing but Spring water. The male kept getting constipated no matter how many emergency expensive Vet visits. I finally found a solution, a heaping teaspoon of cooked “Old Fashioned” (not the quick garbage type) of oatmeal. Mixed in his wet food and spring water, I’m sure he never noticed it. He lived to 16 and his sister to 18, both healthy to the end, and NO urinary issues. I gotta say, I am disappointed that American Vets either are too greedy to look into this, or just don’t care. Believe me, I respect this Vet and what the above vid shows. Please anyone still saying the dry food is convenient, don’t be as stupid as I was!
I TOTALLY agree with you, but I am not willing to pay for expensive wet catfood or real meat for 14, full grown, barn cats! If they want a mouse, we have plenty! But to suppliment them, it is dry kibble. BTW… they DO catch all kinds of mice, birds, bunnies, etc., which I hope suppliments them enough, and they get all the leftover beef and chicken scraps we discard. The last two indoor cats I had, which are no longer with us, lived on dry kibble for TWENTY years! I don’t want a housecat anymore, but if I did, I would consider your advice for it.
For 40 years our cats have had exactly the same meals. 1) purina Cat chow out 100% of the time free eat. 2) A can of wet food 2 a day ( fancy feast or purina) 3) Indoor outdoor cats eating mice, grass west ever they want. My cats have lived from 18- 23 years . NOW / all 3 of my cats started vomiting violently. ( last week) I took away the dry kibble. All 3 stopped vomiting. Much nicer not stepping in cat vomit.
I question because heard on other pod cast in past. I have one that eats can food, TRIED the better quality but they no longer exist since the PANDEMIC. GONE. MEAT from the store. tried, but then see People food that can make you cat sick. and SALMON was pictured. Can tuna. crossed out. Store, Pork, she hated it, chicken one cat LOVES it but he is a TOSSED OUT CAT. that comes by to get fed I do have IAMS Senior cat food, it is dry. For another cat that passed, I fed her home made food. I do buy Friskies Can food Pate. One cat will not try the other higher quality. pet food. $$$Vets are costly
That’s great but what if your cat has limited ability to digest animal protein before their poop goes to mush? That’s our cat. Friskies and Hills as a comparison or baseline is laughable. That is garbage, as is the Royal Canin garbage pushed by vets. 5 meals a day. Do you people have a job? Give me a break. You can still feed your cat well, if you check ingredients and nutritional break down of the food…specially kcals from carbs fat and protein. I do a combo of very high quality natural wet food mixed with water and vegan kibble, keep carbs to a min, and calories are calculated to the required amount for his size. His food is measured on a scale. One size does not fit all, depending on the cat and realities of what their owners can manage. I take this article, like many others, with a large grain of salt.
I feed my kittens (almost a year old) kibble but very minimal. I feed them the hill science oral/dental care at night after their last meal (5-10 kibbles) to help clean their teeth bc they’re a little fussy with brushing teeth. Their main source of food if I feed are: 1) wellness core kitten chicken and turkey liver 2) Raw duck, turkey, beef, rabbit and chicken from Vivaraw (amazing ingredients) 3) occasionally feeder mice 4) occasionally raw chicken/cornish hen chunks with bones (no preservatives, antibiotics or steroids) 5) occasionally raw or boiled egg yolks My vet asked me what I feed my kittens and she said what I feed are good but if I was to feed any cat food make sure it’s specifically for KITTENS. She does not believe in “for all life stages” cat food for kitten due to different nutritional needs of kittens and adult cats. I couldn’t agree more.
2:00 Ground Yellow Corn ? !!! WTF !! That’s criminal; that manufacturer should be sued, and so should the cat owners that buy that. Corn has NOTHING to do with cats, and not even with humans if it comes from Monsanto. What’s a chicken by product ? It could have come off the floor, or out of the dumpster. Aarre Peltomaa of Mississauga, Ontario
THANK YOU. PLEASE HELP. my cat has been throwing up 5-7 times/ day. She can’t keep anything down. They’ve switched her diet to hills food sensitivities z/d. I mix water in with it to add more hydration. I just bought her a cat water fountain to keep her hydrated as well. I’ve taken her to the vet and animal emergency hospitals and they cannot tell me what’s going on. They gave me cerenia and that seems to be the only thing that can help her but this all came unexpectedly, have you had any experience with this before? Please help. I don’t want her to continue suffering.
We feed our cat Josera dry-food, together with raw meat (duck, goose, pheasant, chicken, pigeon, turkey, rabbit, hare, deer and reindeer). Every three weeks, he gets a chick, which we can buy as a frozen package as well. The Josera dry-food appears to be of high quality. I mix several taste-variants together, so that it doesn’t become boring. Still, it seems to contain some corn, apart from the protein. Now, I’m not so sure anymore that even this top-notch dry-food will be fine for our beloved pet-lion. He drinks well, so that he is not prone to develop any kidney-issues, as far as I can tell. He seems very healthy at his age.
The breeder my cat came from told me about the importance of diet and introduced me to the idea of frozen/thawed whole pray items like quail chicks. The breeder mentioned how a small amount of grains is a normal part of cat diet because it is their prey’s diet. Also how the fur, feather, tendons, organs, and bones provide important nutrients that can get missed if you are just feeding muscle meats. The reptile (snake and other carnivores) community actually has a great selection of options that are a great source of foods.
I feed my Maine Coon chicken and liver, but also the kibble from Whole Paws, either salmon or chicken. It’s a Whole Foods brand, listing chicken as the first ingredient, min. 30% protein. No soy, no grain. Second ingredient is chicken meal which I assumed included organ and skin, and third is peas. I didn’t realize all kibble is bad.
Are the dry cat food options in the UK better than US kibble. Like Applaws, Scrumbles, Burns etc not things like whiskas and go cat. I’ve been looking at the labels on wet cat food well the ones I can afford like Felix, Whiskas, IAMS and I’m astonished at how little actual animal protein is in them, but I can’t afford the good stuff or subscriptions.
I have a question about this particular dry cat food. My cat loves both wet & dry. He really loves the dry so I bought, high protein, Blue Buffalo. 1st ingredient is deboned salmon. 32% protein 15% crude fat If this isn’t good for cats, what are we supposed to feed our cats? It’s all so confusing. I adopted him from our streets in a neighborhood. He lived outdoors for his first 2 or so years. I rescued him, took him to the Vet, got him neutered, chipped and flea and tick meds. He still likes to go out through his kitty door, lol Always comes back. He’s living the good life. Are we supposed to buy real meat to feed our cats? Thank you for your advice and help 🩵🩷
Thank you for such a great article.. BUT… I don’t live in the Us or any western countries. Problem is my raw meat has likely more chances of being contaminated with tons of bacteria than in those developed countries. I’ve tried multiple times to feed my cats raw chicken or mutton, but only to end up vommiting the next morning. I never understood why they couldn’t digest it properly. It also happens when I give them cooked chicken. I wanted to bring them to a raw diet, but being in a developing country, just seems impossible. What would your advice be on this.? I am currently feeding them RC Fit 32 and Mattise from Farmina. Wet food is Me-O tuna and chicken
Nice. Btw most of this this applies to omnivores as well, just to a lesser extent. Most if not all omnivores, including us, are facultative carnivores. Re cats eating 10x pre day, how would that be possible in nature? Don’t they spend most of the time resting, and mainly hunt around dusk/down? Also it’s very unlikely they’ll always catch something.
I disagree. There are some very high quality kibbles available, but they aren’t cheap and you have to pay attention because I have found pet food companies can be sold and cheapen quality almost overnight. The best ones are not cooked and don’t use binders or any fillers, and have high quality meat-based proteins. Wet foods are mostly water and often have poor quality proteins. Just because it is in a can or packet does NOT mean it is healthier for your pet. That said, the major brands are basically poison for your pets (cats or dogs). That’s true for their wet food. Check out Dog/Cat food advisor for better (but still incomplete) information on pet foods and the quality of ingredients.
Hi I’m doing some research on healthy food as my cat has been in vets the last 4 days with FIV and pneumonia. She was seriously dehydrated. At moment I’m waiting for vet to phone and tell me how she is. I have always fed her on dry and wet food but IF I’m lucky to have her back she will never touch dry food again. Thank you for the knowledge
My 13 year old cat has hyperthyroidism and IBD. She’s always eaten wet food, at the momenf monk protien. She’s a very fussy eater and has developed an eye allergy, scratching around her eyes, they look awful. The vet has suggested i put her on Farmina Vetlife Hypo dry food for fof 20 days. I’m worried about this but what can i do? She cannot eat chicken or beef. I’ve tried so much I dont know what to do.
Wow now if my doctor would admit they had no training in nutrition, good for you Doc. for ” breaking out” Best meat for felines is rats and rabbits. Farmed rabbit is expensive so I buy chicken, beef, mackerel, tuna, liver, and turkey. I bought a $150. meat grinder create recipes and freeze in containers .
I don’t know if you will see this or not….But what you say I do understand and believe. But when your 66+ and Doing all the work and heavy lifting for a 75 yr old gentleman that let his caring get too big. That you are helping for the last 6+ years, because he cannot do it anymore due to health and on SSI. There is no other way to care for 60 cats at a rescue I named F.A.R. (Forced Animal Rescue) means you live in the country off a dirt road off another dirt road on a dead end dirt and your the Only house on that dirt road. People drop them off, they find you, pregnant mamas find you. Mamas that had kittens that you didn’t even know were on property…till they show themselves. Then 70% are black, hardest cats to place and no shelters or humane society will take them. We take every one to get fixed. That gets costly. We socialize them, catch them, segregate the males and females so there are no more. I’m doing the best that I can….or they would all starve and be having multiple litters at the least I’ve stopped that. And carry them to the vet when needed, bury more than I can count, adopt when we are blessed to find someone. 🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
Hi, thank you for a great article. I have been looking for an eating advice for my Cat (British, uncastrated, 8y, male, inside cat) who was diagnosed this month with HCM. He is currently on meds (UpCard, Fortekor), he has shallow breathing, he had water around his heart, his puls per min is 35 hearthbeats. Due to his health condition he lost a lot of weight (1,5kg) as he completely refused to eat. Since he started his medication, he is finally eating, however he is really picky even with the food he usualy ate. From his childhood he refused to eat anything else but dry food (granules) – Royal Canin (now we tried Hills, Aplaws) and lickable snaks or lyophilized chicken snacks. He wouldn’t eat anything else. We tried. Due to his heart condition we are trying to change his food to be much healthier and we want him to gain a little bit of weight back. We gave him wet meat pockets, but he just licks the juice and leaves the meat there, he refused any meat can. We have tried to cook him a chicken, nothing. Please could you help us, how could we help him to gain weight and eat healthy. He is our little furrybaby and we want him to be here with us for as long as possible. We love him too much to just let him leave without fight. I would really appreciate any advice. Thanks
I had a vet who constantly said I should give Jellybean dry food only, which i did not. He only got some in combination with wet food. Same withe cats I had before. Even after Jellybean almost died from having crystals in his bladder in 2016, & it took him 3months to recover, I was told to give him only dry food. It never sat well with me, so no still not doing that, because I couldn’t imagine how that could be good for his kidneys. Then on Christmas I bought some new dry food & put a bowl out (next to his wet food) He loved this one & literally inhaled the whole bowl. That was when he relapsed. Luckily I was living somewhere else & had a different vet, so he was OK after 3 weeks (tbh I still think that the previous vet dragged this out to make money out of me. (Because Jellybean’s ordeal cost me more than £1000 & they were still quick to suggest several times to put my baby boy down) After that i started to get scared giving him dry food, so he only gets about a cup once in a while since that & he has not relapsed since
Oh stop the fear mongering! It depends on the cat! My first two male cats, who were neutered not that neutering has anything to do with bladder issues just mentioning what they were, were Taco and Manny. Manny lived for 13 years, Manny lived for 19. They were both Friskies cats. Depending on what was available they ate it either canned or dry. If the store had only dry I got them dry. Only canned Friskies they got canned. Nor did they have any stomach issues because it wasn’t constantly switched. They could go months on dry, then wet depending on store availability. Taco and Manny NEVER had any bladder issues. No urinary problems at all and they ate both wet and dry, mostly dry. My present male, Manny2, also neutered, had a bladder infection a couple years ago when he was two years old. Vet put him on drops, did that for a week, follow up visit went well. I told them did it matter wet or dry. It didn’t matter except if you’re changing do it gradually which I did. Manny and his sister, who will be four years old this June, eat mostly no specific brand of dry that says on the bag for urinary care. My girl never had a urinary problem and she’s spayed. But I put her on the same food as her brother introducing it slowly. If Pet Supplies Plus has no urinary care dry, I get my two their Friskies wet. It usually lasts a week until the Pet store has their uruninary care dry back in stock. My Manny2 hasn’t had a single urinary issue but one. He aims too high in his box and it dribble behind the box and have to clean up the bathroom floor under his box and on his box.