Given these brands, what is your choice? *HELP*

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]Thanks Ping! The more research I do, the more questions I ask, the more I learn! I think that I prefer going with California Natural though I'll call Serengetti maybe and get a sample of their foods. I think I can get PetCo to order some fairly decent canned foods (Eagle Pack, Natural Life, Royal Canin) and maybe, just maybe, some California Natural dry which I would really like to switch to.[/font]

If there is a petsmart near you they carry authority foods...dry (about same quality as nutro max) and wet, which is pretty good...I use the authority kitten wet food (along with others) only disadvantage is that the kitten formula only comes in two flavors... The nutro max cat canned food is pretty good too and comes in more flavors.

Also, petsmart is going to be carrying two new brands of food... avoderm and by nature. I emailed both of those companys and got a good amount of free samples (~1lb samples from avoderm and 3lbs from by nature). The ingredients look grainy, but would be about the same as feeding nutro nat. choice. Also, I got a free sample of chicken soup kitten (dry) and my kittens love it. I've also tried their adult canned food and my adult cat toby likes it.

FYI..You might want to check with some of your local health food stores...I know one local chain in my area that carries some brands and is willing to special order (I haven't checked on their prieces yet though).

HTH,
Art

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]The only petstore around here is PetCo. There are two others, but they only do aquatics, reptiles, and small rodents. Our PetCo is really, really small too. Also, we have no health food stores around here either. Stupid, junky town... But like I said, our PetCo manager is really nice, I like him alot, and I bet he's willing to order some stuff for me. I'll call them and ask if they are willing, cause I'm not sure when we'll be in town next. Probably in about 5 days. I'll all and ask I think...[/font]

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]YAY! *happs dance* Just called Monterey's Pets and they carry Chicken Soup! I'll stop by next time we are in town and pick some up. I'll also see if they are interested in ordering some more brands... if they could order California Natural in dry, and the manager at PetCo will order Eagle Pack & Natural Balance, I'll be all set! [/font]

I think you will be pleased with the chicken soup. Mine are on the dry, and they love it

Originally Posted by KuntryKitty

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]Okay, those are my choices for dry. These, below, are what I currently feed for wet.

Nutro
Natural Life
Meow Mix
Fancy Feast

If I end up ordering her dry food (once I get samples and decide on what I want to switch her too) I may end up ordering some better wet too. Here is what I was considering:

Eagle Pack
Natural Balance
Natural Choice
Pet Gold
Chicken Soup
By Nature Organics

Sharky (and anybody else who would like to chime in!) can you tell me which of these you would recommend (price is still a big part of this, as well as nutrition, looking for a good balance here) and if I didn't put one down, please tell me what you would recommend.

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Eagle Pack - $1/5.5oz OR $1.59/13oz; It's "so-so" as far as my cats' taste for it goes...it's decent food IMO...I may give it another taste test soon.

Natural Balance - $1.09 @ my Petco or 99 cents w/spotty availablilty elsewhere locally...I save $5 a case by ordering it from PFD - mine LOVE the Venison and Pea, and they like the other flavors OK.

Natural Choice - about 80 cents/5.5oz or one flavor comes $1.29/13oz; mine got tired of it....but they liked it at first.

Pet Gold - haven't tried it.

Chicken Soup - it was "so-so" taste wise, poop seemed very smelly but I may give it another chance...price is good 69 cents/5.5oz locally

By Nature Organics - Pricier, $1.39 locally/6oz...they love it and I'm real happy with the ingredients. Cheaper by the case thru PFD w/discounts.

All the brands you are considering are terrific, but I think it might be easier to compare apples to apples.
Like super simple premiums, to more complex ones.

I do know though that California Natural Chicken & Rice, is very simple, 5 ingredients and premium.
That is what I feed, with very good results.

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]That is what I like about California Natural.. it's more simple. I really would like to use both Nutro & California Natural as her dry. For wet, keep her on Nutro, Natural Life, & Meow Mix and add Chicken Soup to her wet diet, and see if PetCo will order Natural Choice & Eagle Pack. I think then I'll be pretty set. I will be very pleased then, because she will be on good food and I won't have to order! [/font]

I have very little experience with high-end cat nutrition. However, I have many years with high end dog nutrition. Canidae (cat version is Felidae), Wellness, and Solid Gold were all very very reputable canine nutrition natural doog food brands. I plan on sticking with Canidae for my little guy and see if their Feline sister food holds up with their canine stuff. I also supplement the diet of my animals with my own natural ingredients too though.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I use California naturals and nutro natural choice complete care indoor..

I also think the felidae is a good food but i have yet to try it with them but i do use their canidae with the dogs

[font= "Comic Sans MS"]Great, you guys! I think I'll ask Monterey's Pets if they can order Felidae wet and California Natural dry. Thanks again for the help![/font]

Dry-right now I've narrowed down to royal canin or natural balance. I am realy leaning towards the natural balance. It is a little more affordable and the cats all enjoy the kitten/adult variety. Royal canin-everyone here LOVES babycat, but they each have individual likes and dislikes in the older kitten and adult varieties.

Wet-I buy two kinds of meow mix-"hook, line and sinker" and "surf and turf". these two varieties list no grains or gluten. They consist of meat and/or fish and a small amount of vegetable products. They are in the pouch. Both kittens and adults will eat this heartily.

In bulk wet, I buy 'special kitty' because the kittens all go absolutely nuts for it. The ingredients are identical to Fancy Feast, and the packaging is very similar. My adult cats will eat some kinds of this brand, but usually not finishing it.

When i have room in the freezer, I make a food for them out of boiled organ meat, chicken meat, bones, and skin with white rice and a very few diced veggies. Once it's all cooked, I pull out the bones and tear the meat a little but leave small organs intact. I can them in small jars and freeze them.
They all love this and it's cheap to make. It really is simply a matter of space in cold storage for it.

One day, when I have a chest freezer, we will go all raw....