Diet and longevity

Just curious. Those of you that have very elderly cats that mostly led a healthy life, what food was it being fed for the longest of that time? I feed my cats a very quality food that I trust will help them live a long life, and out of curiosuty going to see if it gets listed here as a reply!

You know those stories you hear now and then about someone who smoked cigars like a chimney, drank rotgut whiskey, shoved down steak & fried foods, and lived until he was 98? Well, that was my previous and first cat Choie (she's the black & white one below in my arms).

She showed up on our doorstep when I was 17 and she was just under a year, and she was basically "my" cat. I fed her a diet of cheap brands, some of which I now know are full of fillers and dyes and worse. Mostly 9 Lives, but also Figaro, Friskies, Meow Mix, Purina Cat Chow, Purina Moist Meals (whatever they're called, LOL), and Pounce Treats. The highest quality she got was Fancy Feast now and then.

Not only that, but I fed her haphazardly, changing brands and flavors (depending on what was available at the local Duane Reade) without ever knowing that it's recommended that you make any change gradually.

And yet, she never had digestive problems, she was never sick, she was never overweight ... and she lived to be 20.

Now, would I recommend such clueless feeding habits? Lord no. My current trio get the good stuff (Pet Guard), 'cause I know better now -- largely thanks to this awesome site! But still, Choie was a cat in a million and thrived despite my innocent ignorance, bless her sweet little heart.

Originally posted by kira
You know those stories you hear now and then about someone who smoked cigars like a chimney, drank rotgut whiskey, shoved down steak & fried foods, and lived until he was 98? Well, that was my previous and first cat Choie (she's the black & white one below in my arms).

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LOL exactly. ChiChi at my parents house has been fed Friskies ( ) for 15 years and she's pretty much healthy as a horse.

But with my cats I insist on feeding them food with no by products.. Nutro and Chicken Soup.. or Royal Canin, etc.

We had a Siamese (known for their longevity) who died at 23, after a diet of Nine Lives, Alpo (he preferred the dog food to the cat food, and helped himself out of the dogs' bowls), and homemade chicken and rice stew. He was never sick, and died quite peacefully in his sleep. However, I now only feed premium dry and canned cat food (with the exception of Whiskas cat milk, which JC seems to be addicted to). I don't know if it makes a difference, but I feel better knowing that Jamie is getting food without all the unnecessary additives and fillers.

Smokey just died last Friday at 17 & most of her life she at cat chow it wasn't until after age 13 that I started feeeding science diet & other higher end brands.