Why I cater

Queen Eva is one of those slender kittens who just seems too busy to spend much time thinking about food. (Tolly is/has always been, like that too.)

Queen Eva is so slender though, I just worry about her getting enough to eat. For instance, I am going to be gone this afternoon/evening for at least 8 hours. I want to make sure she gets enough in her tummy to equal what she would have had, had I been home to feed her snacks.

I fed her a nice little meal just now, and she cleaned her dish but did not wait around for more.

I waited 15 minutes, then fixed another serving, of a different flavor, and called her to come and have some more. She was playing a Game and ignored me. I waited a few minutes, as she did her busy kitten thing.

Finally she curled up for a nap. I again,called her to come and have the snack, but she again said no.

So I brought the dish of food to her, and put it under her chin. And she ate it, every scrap, and it was a hearty serving!

Some might call that spoiled. But I have to know she's had enough food. I can't just not feed her and let her go hungry, she would not learn any lesson from that, but she might go hypoglycemic on me.

I would do the same thing...lol.. Must be a slender black cat thing Sylvie was like that till he turned 2 ...

Tanna was slender until she was around 7 months old. I worried that she'd never really gain much weight. Be careful what you wish for.

I gotta smile about this--because I've done it too!!! Had a skinny little girl, Patches, who was like your baby!! Her metabolism was at warp speed--she NEVER gained weight. I would feed her meals to her in bed, or wherever she was napping at the time. I didn't want her burning ANY calories walking to the bowl..
She never weighed more than 6.5 lbs and lived to be 20 years old!!!!

Ooohh, yes. I bring their food to THEM sometimes. The wet food. I want to make sure that they eat it.

I did that with Butterscotch all the time - she was a scrawny kitty, even at her healthiest.
With Piccalo and Pounce, there is no need!! If Piccalo doesn't come racing to the bowl as soon as I crack open a can of wet, she will refuse to eat it. Also, she seems to get upset if her food is not in the "assigned food area" Pounce will eat anytime, anywhere, so all food must be kept under strict vigilance if we don't want her to scarf it!

If she can be attracted to water fountains to drink, leave a quality kitten kibble out for her at all times.

Its convenient to have constantly available to peck on, and far more nutritionally dense than wet food.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

If she can be attracted to water fountains to drink, leave a quality kitten kibble out for her at all times.

Its convenient to have constantly available to peck on, and far more nutritionally dense than wet food.

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Thanks, but I have three other cats, two who would have any dry left out gone in no time.

I don't believe in free feeding, and my cats are on a canned diet. I am not looking for convenience.

I disagree with you that dry food is more "nutritionally dense" than canned food, it's actually quite the opposite, canned food is much better for cats. And if dry food is dense with anything it's carbohydrates.

I use a high quality kibble for snacks only.

Originally Posted by otto

Thanks, but I have three other cats, two who would have any dry left out gone in no time.

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Ah, nevermind me then.

Originally Posted by otto

I disagree with you that dry food is more "nutritionally dense" than canned food, it's actually quite the opposite, canned food is much better for cats. And if dry food is dense with anything it's carbohydrates.

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It does have more carbs, but read the nutrition label. Of course its more nutritionally dense because there is a 70% difference in water content, which carries no calories.

I feed Wellness dry and wet, and the dry is 36% protein and 18% fat per volume. The wet formula is 11.0% protein and 7% fat, as its mostly water, so they have to consume about three times the volume of wet to equal the kibble calories.

From everything I have read, kittens really can't be overfed under a year of age, as they are very active, growing, and have relatively small tummies, so a wet diet with kibble out constantly to nibble on ensures you're packing in as much nutrition as you can into the kitty. Obviously this would need to be scaled back when they reach maturity, but not an option in mixed company so moot.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

Ah, nevermind me then.

It does have more carbs, but read the nutrition label. Of course its more nutritionally dense because there is a 70% difference in water content, which carries no calories.

I feed Wellness dry and wet, and the dry is 36% protein and 18% fat per volume. The wet formula is 11.0% protein and 7% fat, as its mostly water, so they have to consume about three times the volume of wet to equal the kibble calories.

From everything I have read, kittens really can't be overfed under a year of age, as they are very active, growing, and have relatively small tummies, so a wet diet with kibble out constantly to nibble on ensures you're packing in as much nutrition as you can into the kitty. Obviously this would need to be scaled back when they reach maturity, but not an option in mixed company so moot.

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You have to take the water out of BOTH foods, its a conversion chart, to make comparisons between canned and dry. Your comparison (in bold) is not correct because the foods are made differently. In other words you can't compare wet and dry ounce for ounce.

I don't know how to do the conversion, but some here do. Our members Sharky or strange wings can help you I think, I'm sure neither of them would mind a PM from you, and you will see that there is not as much difference in things like protein and other nutrients as you think.

Canned food, in most cases is actually higher in protein than dry, and is one of the reasons cats who need to lose weight should be put on a high quality canned diet.

I don't believe in free feeding, I have never free fed. Without meaning to offend anyone who does, I think it's gross. Every time a cat nibbles at dry food, saliva gets all over the food, and then it just sits there growing bacteria.

In addition, many just dump new food on top of old. When free feeding kibble, I recommend people throw away any uneaten food after 8 hours, and put down fresh food in a clean dish.

Dry food leaves a residue that goes rancid very quickly. It amazes me how many people don't ever clean the kibble bowl. Ick.

Originally Posted by otto

I don't believe in free feeding, I have never free fed. Without meaning to offend anyone who does, I think it's gross. Every time a cat nibbles at dry food, saliva gets all over the food, and then it just sits there growing bacteria.

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Ever notice that if you put out more wet food than a cat can eat, they will scratch around the area and sniff it, as if to bury it?

In the wild, felines will take a kill, drag it all over the place, and then bury it under dirt, twigs, and leaves to mask its scent, and may feed on it a day or more later.

Cats are obligate carnivores, so they have a very acidic tummy and short intestinal tract, so they can tolerate quite a bit. You worry too much.

Google food caching for European Wildcats which are closely related to our domesticated felines.

Ever seen a feral or stray cat living "in the wild"? They are the saddest most unhealthy critters you ever want to see. Crawling with fleas and intestinal parasites. Skin and bones. I will never understand why people use that "in the wild" argument, it means nothing.

I never put more than a cat will eat in the dish at one serving. My cats are fed small (.75 oz) servings at a time. Food is not left to sit, if someone doesn't finish I pick it up.

In addition my cats do not live "in the wild". They live here, in their home where they are highly catered to.

Cats who live "in the wild" are accustomed to eating the way you describe. House cats are not. A digestive system can only tolerate what it is used to.

A rabbit hunted down, munched on, then buried for later by a cat whose body is accustomed to such a diet is not at all the same thing as a bowl of kibble where the bottom layer has been sitting there covered in saliva and rancid residue for weeks on end.

I know cats who are fed that way. It turns my stomach.

I have one cat on a (prescription) kibble diet. She gets three meals and two snacks a day. Each meal is fed in three servings of 1/2 tablespoon at a time. Each meal is served in a clean bowl, though I do not clean the bowl between the three servings. The snacks, 1 tablespoon at a time, are also put in clean dishes.

Just because a cat "in the wild" can survive eating rotten bacteria laden food, does not mean my cats, or any cats, should.

Originally Posted by otto

When free feeding kibble, I recommend people throw away any uneaten food after 8 hours, and put down fresh food in a clean dish.

Dry food leaves a residue that goes rancid very quickly. It amazes me how many people don't ever clean the kibble bowl. Ick.

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Based on what though? Dry food has a shelf life of years, and after 8 hours at most its a bit stale like when you leave your cereal out.

The residue is mostly fat, which is a natural preservative, and has been coated w/ ascorbic acid and added vitamin E as well. So while its not a bad idea to use stainless, glass, or ceramic dishes and wash them, 8 hours is overkill IMO.

Hey Duncan,

I agree with you 100%. I am so glad I am not the only one who feels this way , about the dry food vs wet food debate. Even though I do feed both. But prime-rally dry food.


I am a licensed vet tech and if you ask a lot of vets (not all vets) they will agree that a good quality dry food is better then canned food. Plus I believe that you also stated most any can food is better then any dry food. That is incorrect in a lot of cases.

Lastly Otto you said your cats like dry food right? Why would you just not feed it to them? That makes no sense to me.

Originally Posted by Cat Person

Hey Duncan,

I agree with you 100%. I am so glad I am not the only one who feels this way , about the dry food vs wet food debate. Even though I do feed both. But prime-rally dry food.


I am a licensed vet tech and if you ask a lot of vets (not all vets) they will agree that a good quality dry food is better then canned food. Plus I believe that you also stated most any can food is better then any dry food. That is incorrect in a lot of cases.

Lastly Otto you said your cats like dry food right? Why would you just not feed it to them? That makes no sense to me.

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No I don't believe I ever said my cats prefer dry food, they don't as it happens, but it wouldn't matter if they did. I feed them canned food because it is better for them.They get kibble for snacks, only.

Finding a decent quality canned food that they like is the challenge forTolly and Queen Eva, but I've got a working rotation now. Jennie would eat anything, but because of health concerns is stuck with one brand, one flavor, otherwise her problems start.

I have one, Mazy cat, on a dry diet, and I would give much to have her on a canned diet but she won't eat the canned prescription food.

She LOVES other canned food, and it makes me sad that she has to eat kibble when she would rather eat canned. But we've been down that road. She needs to be on the prescription food.

Many vets are starting to realize that the old thinking on dry food being "better" is wrong. They've seen too many kidney failures, too many diabetes cases, too much obesity leading to other problems, such as heart trouble.

Every one has free choice in this matter. I know what I know, and know what I think and will offer my advice and opinions on it freely whenever asked.

And one last thing regarding canned vs dry:

Since people keep wanting to talk about cats eating "in the wild" they might consider that a canned diet is certainly closer to that "in the wild" diet they are so crazy about, than kibble.

Cats "in the wild" get their moisture from the prey they hunt and kill. Cats do not have a high thirst drive for this reason. Canned food has the moisture content their bodies require.

Originally Posted by Cat Person

Plus I believe that you also stated most any can food is better then any dry food. That is incorrect in a lot of cases.

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Must have been someone else not me.

There are great quality dry foods with minimal fillers, and really cheap wet foods that are definitely junky. I am happy with the quality of the Wellness dry.

The main issue with dry is just that its that much more important to ensure that the cat is staying hydrated though, as thirst instinct is weak in the species.

Luckily, my kitties love the water fountains, so I believe a mixed diet is safe, cost effective, convenient, and healthy nutritionally and hope that the kibble provides at least a little dental health benefit (although what I am currently using is not formulated as such). Just like with people, there are surely a multitude of diets that work though, including raw for those that don't mind the effort.

Originally Posted by otto

Thanks, but I have three other cats, two who would have any dry left out gone in no time.

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I took that to mean your cats liked try food . I could be very wrong .

I am going to ask this and hope you do not take this the wrong way, but do you mean holistic vets are starting to agree? Also do you take your cats to a holistic vet or a "regular vet"?

Also your cat that is on a special diet what reason is it on a special diet? I could look into some canned food for you if I knew why the cat was on a special diet.

Lastly everyone is entitled to there onion that is for sure. I see nothing wrong with what you suggest. You defiantly love your babies. You have made cat care into a science that is for sure.

Hi Duncman69,

Sorry I got you confused with someone else.

Anyway my cats do drink a lot of water since they are mainly on a dry food diet. I have noticed that some peoples cats do not drink a lot of water even though they eat dry food. I am glad mine stay hydrated .

I also agree there are MANY ways to keep a cat healthy and happy. That is important for everyone to remember, including me. I guess I do not see cat keeping/caring to be a science.

Lastly if I had time time and energy, I would do a raw diet as I feel that is the best for cats. Though a lot of vets do NOT agree with that.

Originally Posted by Cat Person

I took that to mean your cats liked try food

. I could be very wrong

.

I am going to ask this and hope you do not take this the wrong way, but do you mean holistic vets are starting to agree? Also do you take your cats to a holistic vet or a "regular vet"?

Also your cat that is on a special diet what reason is it on a special diet? I could look into some canned food for you if I knew why the cat was on a special diet.

Lastly everyone is entitled to there onion that is for sure. I see nothing wrong with what you suggest. You defiantly love your babies. You have made cat care into a science that is for sure.

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I see your confusion. What I meant was those two would eat anything left down dry, wet, or a loaf of whole wheat bread (true story).

Mazy cat is on Hills Prescription c/d multicare for FLUTD. Non prescription canned diets have been tried. The crystals always come back.

I appreciate your offer, and I'm sure others might be interested in other foods to try, however I don't plan to put Mazy cat through any more food trials, unless her health changes.

If she should, for instance, at some time in future develop diabetes after years on this high carb diet (which I do worry about), then the challenge to find a canned food that will help control her diabetes, and the crystals, will have to start again. If that happens I will be asking you for your ideas.

My vet is a not a holistic vet. She, and many others, are starting to realize the damage an all dry diet can do. Not ALL cats will get kidney disease or diabetes or obesity or heart failure from an all dry diet. And some cats, eating canned all their lives, will still develop CRF. Genetics plays a large part of course, every animal is different.

I just like to give them what I consider the best chance at a long healthy life. That's what we all want, I know.

My life is centered around my cats, so I spend a lot of time thinking about what is best for them. One of the (many) reasons I don't and never will free feed is because I love our meal time rituals.

Meal time is bonding time. Each cat has his or her own little rituals and requirements and their personalities are so developed. I wouldn't miss out on their meal times for anything.

I've been enjoying meal time rituals with my cats since I was 10 years old and I got my first cat who wasn't the whole family's cat. In those days it was friskies and nine-lives though, I've come a long way in the last 40 years

Originally Posted by Ducman69

If she can be attracted to water fountains to drink, leave a quality kitten kibble out for her at all times.

Its convenient to have constantly available to peck on, and far more nutritionally dense than wet food.

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yes to convenient, but not yes to more nutritionally than wet food, Ducman69, do some searches on wet food vs. dry food for kitties, or do you need me to post links for you?