Have to switch foods not sure what to put them all on?

We are switching the cats kibble. Cynder the grey cat does not seem to be doing well on the taste of the wild. His poops are gross, he goes 4 times a day and his coat is dull. The kitten and Riot the older of the bunch seem to be doing fine but they do fine on pretty much anything. So I feed them all the same thing. The pet store recommended this and I really want to try it the price is right at $21.99 for 11lbs. http://www.canadianpetconnection.com/products-for-cats-3/#!/~/product/category=2517833&id=11014963

I really cannot afford a ton to feed 3 cats, but I wont feed them Meow Mix. Grain free foods run about $50-$70 for 10-15lb bags here in Canada. Suggestions? They rarely touch canned food I have tried and pleaded with them to eat it they will eat a bit once a week then turn their noses up so kibble is where I want to stay and use canned as the occasional treat

Hi there, 

I know you say your cats will not touch wet food but I really think a grain free wet would solve the stool and coat issue. Cats are obligate carnivores and do best with a wet meat based diet with no grains. Take a look at www.catinfo.org for more information on feline nutrition. The holistic blend cat food has brown rice as the second ingredient and oats and barley as the fourth and fifth ingredient which is a lot more grains than you want in a cat food. 

I myself had a dry food addict and he is now eating an all wet diet even though he used to only ever lick the gravy from wet food before. I transitioned him by using the Nature's Variety Limited Ingredient Turkey dry food as a topper for the wet as well as treats to lure him to the food. The nature's variety is 40% protein as opposed to the holistic blend which is only 32% so I think it is a better choice for dry (http://www.naturesvariety.com/Instinct/cat/kibble/LIDturkey). Probably the best dry food is Wysong Epigen 90 which is 60 percent protein but I have not seen it in my local pet food stores in Canada. My cat really likes gravy so I started him on the pride line of nature's variety as it comes in sliced and minced but he is now even eating pate. Tiki cat is another favourite as it is chicken slices.  All of these foods are available here in Canada.

Here are more tips on transitioning off dry food (http://catinfo.org/docs/TipsForTransitioning1-14-11.pdf) and believe me I did not think it would be possible to get my cat off dry and eat wet so I really think if he can do it any cat cat! He used to be the pickiest eater on the planet and when he was a kitten I used to have to hand feed him so he really is a huge success story. 

I have tried even the grain free canned. Natures Variety, Blue Buffalo, Wellness and there were a couple other grain free canned I tried but cannot recall the names of. They wont eat it and I dont have the money to buy cans that they wont touch that I have to throw out more then half of.
 

Have you heard of Forti Flora?  Its made by Purina...do a Google search.

It is a pro-biotic that is combined with animal digest, which is the protein concentrate they spray on dry food so cats will eat it.  If they did not spray this flavor-enhancer onto the dry kibble - cats wouldn't TOUCH it!  Its made in a manner similar to bullion.

Since they like dry food, you can try sprinkling some of the Forti Flora on the canned, or mix it in.  They might "recognize" the smell as similar to their dry food.  As an added bonus, the good bacteria will benefit their digestion.

Another tip is to calculate precisely how much canned food your cats need to maintain their weight - and weigh it out.  This way, you won't give any extra they don't need, which is $ down the drain.

I don't know what your experience with cats is, but I am positive that I would have saved tons in vet bills had I gotten my cats off of dry food long ago.  I see now that certain health problems were caused by a diet of just dry food.  Pay now, or pay later.

Finally, brands like Fancy Feast and Friskies (some flavors) are not that bad and can be had on sale at the grocery store. 

Good luck!
 

Also, are there any pet stores in your area that will take back food they won't eat, or give you samples?

Chloe16 said:

I have tried even the grain free canned. Natures Variety, Blue Buffalo, Wellness and there were a couple other grain free canned I tried but cannot recall the names of. They wont eat it and I dont have the money to buy cans that they wont touch that I have to throw out more then half of.
 

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Nature's variety has a new line called "pride" and it is meat and gravy which is more palatable to a lot of cats. My local pet store was handing out samples of it and I am sure if you contact the company they might send you a sample because it is a new line and they are trying to market it. 

Aprilprey is right to suggest fortiflora it really works well but you can also crush up temptations cat treats because they have the same animal digest coating. Take a look at the transitioning tips from catinfo I promise they do work.

I can pick up some forti flora from the vet friday. My issue is canned food is going to be expensive. Each cat will need at least 1 medium sized can (5.5oz I think) once a day. Each can in the pet store is at least $2.00 per can for a decent food. Thats $180 a month of each cat eating one medium sized can a day....

You might want to take a look at the homemade diet forum. I am going to start cooking some food for Frank which will save a lot of money and give Ava more raw. Homemade diets cooked are raw are cheaper than premium kibble. If you cook it you can even buy ground meat from the grocery store which is pretty cheap. You just need to get a balancing product one that is Canadian is called TCI feline and they have a cooked ground meat recipe on their website (http://tcfeline.com/2010/08/16/cooked-meat/)

Chloe16 said:

I can pick up some forti flora from the vet friday. My issue is canned food is going to be expensive. Each cat will need at least 1 medium sized can (5.5oz I think) once a day. Each can in the pet store is at least $2.00 per can for a decent food. Thats $180 a month of each cat eating one medium sized can a day....

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Yikes! I wouldn't pay that either! Due to shopping sales, I can feed my 3 cats twice a day for under $1 per day. Granted I bought a grinder and deep freezer, but they paid themselves off in about 8 months. And no more vet visits, my cats' problems stopped.

Hi, Can you please tell me what brand can food you feed your cats?  I'm looking for a healthy food that's not too expensive.  My kitty is kind of laid-back and little over-weight.

Chloe16 said:

I can pick up some forti flora from the vet friday. My issue is canned food is going to be expensive. Each cat will need at least 1 medium sized can (5.5oz I think) once a day. Each can in the pet store is at least $2.00 per can for a decent food. Thats $180 a month of each cat eating one medium sized can a day....

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Did you look at any on-line vendors?  Some do free shipping if the order is large enough.  But - I hear you on the expense.  Now we can see why pet food manufacturers try to find cheap, grain sources of protein!

Also, be sure ask if the pet store will let you have one or two cans free to try.  One of our local places is pretty good about that.  They might be the more expensive option long term, but once you can identify something they like, you can try to order on line.

I am curious as to how many cups a day mine need? I dont go by the back of the bag I go by calories per cup. Also, I notice they rarely touch the kibble now. Before they would inhale it. Now theres about 1/2 cup in each bowl which mean they didnt touch it at all. I wonder if this batch is bad or something?

Eden- 6 months old 4.6lbs wont get much bigger

Riot- 3 years and 10lbs

Cynder- 1.5 years 12.6lbs needs to lose a pound or two

All are getting 1/2 cup daily divided into morning/evening feedings. They rarely eat it all. Each cup of what I am currently feeding is 390 calories per cup and is 42/15 protein/fat

Right now I am looking into finding them a new kibble, after that I will experiment with canned. I am looking into

Acana Wild Prairie which is 485 calories per cup and is 35/20 protein fat.

Theres more I am interested in but thats the main one ill post a bit later the others after I look into them more

Since there were no more replies, I went out and found Nutrience Grain free at petsmart for $33.97 for 11 pounds. Regular is $37.99. So I put them on that Much better then Precise grain free for $49.99 for 11lbs