How and What do you feed Your cats?

I started by feeding mine wet food, but she became very picky and wanted a certain flavor on certain days. I switched to only dry food and she is very happy with that. Has been for the last 3 years!! I free feed her Innova dry food. I just make sure her bowl is always full and she eats want she likes!! It works for me and her quite nicely

I've never given my Chloe any wet food. I don't really know why except for the fact that she LOVES her Science Diet and she gets other snacks on the side.

So yes, I feed her Science Diet (always have). But I don't giver her the regular, she is definately on the Light Formula. She is a house cat and less-active than an outdoor cat so I moderate her food or else she chunks up.

I feed her twice a day, 1/4 cup, and she eats it throughout the day or night.

On the side we give her her favorite cold-cuts of either Turkey or Roast Beef, a little soy milk, or maybe some tomato sauce. But she must smell everything before we take a bite of it to make sure it is something she may or may not want to share!

I have two cats, a 7-year old and a 1-year old. The older one is a glutton, eating anything and everything. The little on is a picky eater and only eats when hungry. They both getInnova, which I switched to about two months ago. It's all natural with no fillers, colors, or by-products. I used to use Iams religiously, but since I have switched, I've seen the changes in my cats physically. They don't poop as much, and their coats are really nice now. Apparently, because of the all natural stuff in the food, they process more of it and eliminate less of it.

I feed them in the morning when I get up (about 6:30a.m.) and they get a spoon of wet. The only reason they get wet(Iams,the older cat loves can food.) The vet just told me to cut it out because of his weight (15lbs.) and that his teeth need dry. The little one couldn't care less. So until my supply of wet runs out, they get a spoon and half a scoop of dry to last until I come home at night (about 4 p.m.). Then they get about 10 to 15 kibbles each to munch on.

As for snacks, my husband gives them a few tartar kibbles from Pounce in the morning (5:30 a.m.) and each time we come home, the older one gets a soft Pounce (only 1). That way, everytime we come home, he comes running to meet us. The little one doesn't care for snacks, but loooooves Baby Tabs.

So all in all, they get a spoon of wet and about 1/2 cup dry in the morning. Usually, by noon, the food is gone. They get a little in the evening, and snacks when we get home. Even though this sounds like not much food, our vet says that it is really plenty since they are house cats and only active when tearing through the house chasing each other.

well, thanks to everyone for your replies

looks like we all pretty much feed our cats the same

i see a lot of you use Science Diet, is this the best cat
food out there, perhaps i should switch?

I've heard that Eukanuba is better. Who knows? My vet recommends and likes Science Diet.

i think i'm going to give Science Diet a try, hopefully i
can afford it

i want to make sure they are getting the best possible food,
that i can afford!

Hi everyone!
It was interesting to read about teh feeding routines of your kitties but i have a question - isn't it dangerous to feed them only dry food? i'd taken to feeding my babe with wet one only but he seems to become more and more picky each day. Do you think it would help if i switch to dry food entirely? can you recommend a brand?

I would really research cat food before you make a switch! We were a science diet home for years, until I went on a pet food research spree. I have switched both my dog and my cats to Natura brand. The dog is on Natura California Natural (better for his allergies) and the cats are on Natura Innova. (see http://www.naturapet.com) There are a lot of fillers in pet food and also some suspect ingredients, and many pet foods do not use human grade ingredients - in other words they feed food that is substandard. A couple makers to start your research could be Natura, and canidae (http://www.canidae.com/), although there are many other foods out there.

Also read this article http://www.api4animals.org/doc.asp?ID=79

This is just my opinion!

Heather V. Havel
Michigan - USA

I have 7 cats. I have always fed them Science Diet. I switched to another all natural cat food and coincidently one cat developed crusty ears, my male got a urinary tract infection and a third got kitty acne. So I am switching back.

My routine is I split once can of wet food between the 7 of them (about a teaspoon each) in the morning and at night and free feed them dry food.

I feed Science Diet cd/s dry because BigBoy has urinary tract problems. We feed four times/day, 1/8 cup for each cat per feeding. BigBoy and his momma, Cinnamon are eaters, would eat it all if they could. Dummie is a nibbler so I give her extra treats throughout the day. BigBoy got up to 18 lbs and got very aggressive when I free fed, so we have to limit them. After reading several articles on what is in commercial pet food, I'm thinking of making my own.

I agree about commercial pet food. I was recommended by my cousin to switch to Innova. I looked up on the website and found that there are no artificial fillers or by-products in it. I was a sworn Iams user until I compared. What shock!! My cousin's office mate is a holistic all natural type of gal, so when she told my cousin about Innova, she switched and called me up. It's not easy to find, and you will only get it at private pet stores, not the chain ones. It's been worth it, because without all the other stuff, they eat less of it, and poop less, too.

My vet just recommended that I take my cats off of wet completely and only the dry. Because they are indoor cats, they don't need as much, and it's better for their teeth, no tartar build-up and no dental appointments. I only have 6 cans of wet to go, then it's only dry from now on.

Originally posted by mofong
I agree about commercial pet food. I was recommended by my cousin to switch to Innova. I looked up on the website and found that there are no artificial fillers or by-products in it. I was a sworn Iams user until I compared. What shock!! My cousin's office mate is a holistic all natural type of gal, so when she told my cousin about Innova, she switched and called me up. It's not easy to find, and you will only get it at private pet stores, not the chain ones.

Click to expand...

The only place we can get it is 40 miles away, in a feed-and-livestock store. I think the site has a store locator too, for anyone who's interested:
http://www.naturapet.com

I am in the process of switching my cats from Iams(Lamb and Rice flavor) to Eukanba(Lamb and Rice flavor) The cats seem to like the Eukanba...it was recommended to me as a better prem. food I have three cats and I feed in the morning after I get up..(8:30am) 3/4 a cup in one bowl...They share very well..Then a 3/4 cup when I get home (around 5:00pm) Every few days I serve them a 6oz. can of wet Iams food...the can of food is divided into three seprate bowls. Their stools don't smell and they don't seem to need to move their bowls as often as before.

DebbieA and the Kids...Tai-Tai, Zoe, And Baby

I feed my kitten (now 5 months) Nutro kitten, I put 3/4 of a small bowl out for nibbling all day long, he usually doesn't finish that in a day, but I also give him a spoon full of wet food about five. Nutro suggests 75% dry 25% wet. I also give him pounch treats, a couple of them in the moring before I leave for work and maybe a couple at night.

Oh boy, I hate to tell you all what we feed Sammy. First off he always had dry food out, but that is often supplimented with chunk light tuna (packed in spring water only), Sam won't touch it if it's packed in oil, served with a side of Redi-Whip Whipped Cream. He loves it, and he's a spoiled little brat. I just hope we're not clogging his arteries. And no, he's not fat, he's actually sleek......with a little bit of a pouch.

Gypsy

Well my two cats love Purina One in the salmon flavor. I have tried a couple of other brands when the store was out of stock but they didn't seem to like those as much as Purina. I also give them a half a can of canned cat food a piece about once a week as a treat. Our vet really preached against giving wet food because cat's don't drink water as much when eating wet food. I feel however that once a week as a reward is okay though. The "kids" come running when they hear the sound of the lid popping off. I usually leave their dry food out freely also.

We feed a dry blend of Royal Canin, Nutro, Iams and Eukanuba. As we are a breeding cattery our kitties are used to eating all the major premium brands and transitions are much easier for them when new foods are not involved. The dry mix is available 24/7. Once a day or every other day we feed a wet food in the morning as a treat, as they only get 1 or 2 tablespoons each. For that we will feed Friskies, Dr. Ballards, Iams or Nutro. To the batch we add 1 tablespoon each of V.A.L. Syrup, Dream Coat and Kitty Bloom, mixing it all together before portioning it out. For our queens with litters we feed them the dry mix but for wet we feed kitten food with a teaspoon of plain yogurt or cottage cheese per 6oz. can to add the extra calcium needed for the kittens as well as mom. If some of the kittens are reluctant to eat the wet we make Glop, which none have ever turned their nose up about. The nursing queens and kittens get the wet twice a day, morning and early evening. We also put a bowl of dry kitten food down 24/7 once the kittens start to take to the wet food, and the extra stuff in it is good for mom, too.

I feed only the super premium foods, Wellness & Felidae, to my 3 boys. I used to free feed & had 2 overweight cats & 2 cats that threw up most every day, sometimes a couple times a day.

Now I feed them at approximately 6- noon- 5- & 9, I just put 3 bowls down & let them eat til they walk away, I have been doing this for about 2 months now & the overweight boys are looking much better & I have had no incidences of cats throwing up, This alone has made it worth while.

The downside?? At 5:30 every morning I have 3 cats walking all over me wanting me to get up & feed them, LOL!

Originally posted by My3boys
I feed only the super premium foods, Wellness & Felidae, to my 3 boys. I used to free feed & had 2 overweight cats & 2 cats that threw up most every day, sometimes a couple times a day.

Now I feed them at approximately 6- noon- 5- & 9, I just put 3 bowls down & let them eat til they walk away, I have been doing this for about 2 months now & the overweight boys are looking much better & I have had no incidences of cats throwing up, This alone has made it worth while.

The downside?? At 5:30 every morning I have 3 cats walking all over me wanting me to get up & feed them, LOL!

Click to expand...

VBG, I know the routine well! Walking down the hallway to feed the purrballs is an adventure in itself with a dozen cats and kittens weaving in and out between my feet as I try to avoid stepping on them. Sleeping in on the weekend is an impossibility as the yowling and headbumps begin at about 5:00. It's nice to know there are others in the same situation. GGG

Pete

Originally posted by HattKatts


VBG, I know the routine well! Walking down the hallway to feed the purrballs is an adventure in itself with a dozen cats and kittens weaving in and out between my feet as I try to avoid stepping on them. Sleeping in on the weekend is an impossibility as the yowling and headbumps begin at about 5:00. It's nice to know there are others in the same situation. GGG

Pete

Click to expand...

LOL!! I only have 3, but yes its impossible to walk to where I feed them, I'm always tripping over a cat or 3, & their little watches need adjusting, they always think they should be fed about a hour to 1/2 before its actually time.

I feed mine in the hallway also, But, the bathroom is at the end of the hallway, So everythime I go into the bathroom I have 3 cats running around me.

Yup, I've decided that I will never get to sleep in again, I cannot close the bedroom door, as we all know how loud cats can be when they howl! LOL!!