Grocery store food vs. Premium food=eat more?

I feed my cats TOTW and the 4Health brand from Tractor Suplly. But I don't work in the town where the TS is until Sunday, so I bought Oscar, my bedroom only cat, a bag of Purina to last him until then, since he doesn't have any real food sensitivities. For the last 2 nights, the 1/2 cup scoop of Purina has been gone in about 45 minutes, where as 1/2 cup used to last him 24 hours. Is it beCAUSE HE LIKES IT BETTER OR BECAUSE THE NUTRIENTS IN THE pURINA IS SO MUCH LESS THAN THE totw THAT HE NEEDS TO EAT MORE? sHOULD i FEE HIM MORE UP UNTIL sUNDAY WHEN i GET HIS REAL FOOD? Sorry about the caps, didn't realize I hit the caps lock!

It probably just tastes better. Even simple things like more salt can make it tasty.

But yes, you do have to feed less of the richer foods, as they have higher caloric density and more protein and fat. I don't know those brands offhand, but you can google caloric density of them or check their sites and compare feeding amounts. Its not likely THAT much off though.

Cats definitely need to eat more of less-nutritious foods, so that's at least part of it.

He may also like it more. Have you asked him? ;-)

AC

Generally a cat will eat more of a commercial food than a specialty product. Generally a higher quality food will contain a higher caloric count as well with more protein and fat. The nutrient mix is usually easier to digest as well. I am familiar with Purina products but not the other products you mentioned. Generally a meezer will need less of a high quality premium food than the average commercial, or grocery food.

Lets not forget that cheaper foods are usually drowned i 'flavor enhancers'

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Lets not forget that cheaper foods are usually drowned in 'flavor enhancers'

Click to expand...

My cats think Purina Cat Chow is the most delicious food in the world. I don't let the indoor cats have any, though, because it really increases the litterbox odor!

Sorry, I haven't been able to get on here with the busy weekend/ Easter, etc. I'm at work near the Tractor Supply today, so I get to buy his regular cat food. He's still snarfing it down like it's filet mignon, although I have not, surprisingly, noticed an increased smell in his litter box, which is in the closet right beside my bed, so I usually notice right away. I'll be glad to get his regular food, as he is constantly running around meowing at me to fill his bowl because it's empty.

Also Purina is filled with cheap fillers like corn. So it doesn't keep them full for very long.

Kinda like when I eat at McDonalds, walk out stuffed but within 20 mins I can eat again

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Lets not forget that cheaper foods are usually drowned i 'flavor enhancers'

Click to expand...

Originally Posted by Momto3boys

Also Purina is filled with cheap fillers like corn. So it doesn't keep them full for very long.

Kinda like when I eat at McDonalds, walk out stuffed but within 20 mins I can eat again

Click to expand...

.....

My cats love 9 Lives canned. Ingredients seem ok and doesn't contain corn. The best part is the price. $1.25 for 4 cans at Winco.

They also eat Kirkland (Costco brand) dry - another low price food with good ingredients.

Mine eat the 4Health brand from TSC mixed with a bag of TOTW. I get it at TSC because its the cheapest I can find it, but the closest one is 45 minutes from my house. The Purina was just to hold him over til I could get there.