Wet meat-only versus other wet

I've been feeding my kitties only dry food since I've had them (10 months and 2 months), but after reading numrous posts here I am considering trying to add some wet to their diets.

I was reading online and kept coming across two types of wet food: the small cans that are meat only and the larger cans that are "complete and balanced."

I want to continue to leave out dry kibble (Cal Natural - chicken and rice) so they can eat throughout the day and don't know which wet I should try. Small, all meat? Larger, balanced?

I'm sorry if this has been discussed. Please just direct me to that post. I just can't seem to find anything about this specific issue.

Thanks.

The big difference is the "meat only" cans have no other supplements added. The "normal" canned food has the essential supplements a cat needs. You can feed the "meat only", but would need to supplement or feed it in moderation, I think(don't quote me, though). The "meat only" cans aren't a complete diet.

Did that make sense or help any?

If I were you, I would go for some "normal" canned foods to start with. Figure out what the kitties go for to start with. Then branch out from there.

Yeah, I was planning on buying just a couple of cans to see how they take to it. I will still have the Cal Natural out. I also read that they can get "addicted" to the meat-only foods...spoiled little stinkers! So I'll take a look at the "normal" canned food. Any suggestions? I would definitely need something without any dairy.

I have no specific suggestions. I mean, I know what's good & what works for me. Perhaps the best place to start is Natura products....Cal Nat, Innova, Helathwise, etc. http://www.naturapet.com/display.php?d=home-tab

Otherwise check out:
http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/b...E4THSRHU8V2T6A
I like to order from them.

A few good brands(may not necessarily be dairy free) are:
AvoDerm
Chicken Soup
Eagle Pack
Evangers
Felidae
Meow Mix wet is good
Merrick
Natural Balance
Nature's Logic
Nature's Variety Prairie
Newman's Own(never met a cat that would actually eat it, though)
Nutro
Pro Pac
Solid Gold
Wellness

You get the picture... Do you know what to look for in a high quality food?(I don't mean to be rude asking that, either!)

You get the picture... Do you know what to look for in a high quality food?(I don't mean to be rude asking that, either!)[/quote]


I am great when it comes to dry food, because I did loads of research and which is why I have them on Cal Natural dry (the Innova gave Merlynn diarrhea like you wouldn't believe). But when it comes to wet, I am a little lost. There just seem to be so much more "stuff" in the wet food that I am worried about what is good and what is not. But I was looking at Nature's Logic and Felidae and other brands similar to those. I purchase my pet food at Pet's Best where they sell only premium brands, so I'm sure I can find a great food there.

Besides by-products and digest, what should I NOT see in the canned food? And what should be there?

you should make sure it is not grainy ... a bit of rice or a type of bran is okay but the first few ingrediants should be broth or water , meat , meat meat then a grain or veggie... you still want to avoid the chemical preservatives , colors and flavors .... I avoid corn ( not hard as most canned foods dont use it ...) soy things with lots of dairy products..