Is ANY canned food Truly better than any kibble ?

2cats4me

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I have two of the most finicky cats on the planet ( I think 
 )  ..    I really want them to eat wet food and I have literally tried 20 different brands  in various flavors and textures and they refused them all .

I cannot afford to experiment anymore .. Finally we have settled on two .

Fancy Feast Kitten Turkey Feast ( pate )  & Pro Plan Savor Braised Chicken & Tomato in sauce ( shredded).

They eat  both every day and enjoy every bite .

Not the best quality but it is wet . Should I stick with this or instead offer them a high quality grain free kibble which they are rarely picky about ..

I ordered a small bag of Go Fit & Free just for back up in case they decide they do not want the wet anymore.

It is excellent for kibble , zero grains , gluten free  , only 13.5 % carbs ..

http://www.petcurean.com/for-cats/go/fit-and-free-grain-free-chicken-turkey-duck
 
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di and bob

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I know what you are talking about, my two absolutely refuse to eat canned. The funny thing is the ferals LOVE canned! I offer wet to mine every morning and they lick the juice off and then ignore the rest. What do you do, except get a good dry food? My 13 year old just had some blood work done and is fine, so far, so good!
 

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In terms of moisture content, yes, any canned is better than any dry. And cats do need their moisture.

In terms of animal protein content, most canned foods are better than most kibbles. For instance, the Fancy Feast kitten has no carbs and no non-animal protein sources. On the other hand, the Pro Plan does have wheat gluten and is 18% carbs (dry matter basis)---the shredded kinds are almost always higher in carbs. So protein/carb/ingredient wise, the kibble would be better. . .but the canned food is still better for moisture.
 
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2cats4me

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I know what you are talking about, my two absolutely refuse to eat canned. The funny thing is the ferals LOVE canned! I offer wet to mine every morning and they lick the juice off and then ignore the rest. What do you do, except get a good dry food? My 13 year old just had some blood work done and is fine, so far, so good!
Thank you so much , I new I could not be the only one with crazy cats 
.    I will give them the wet food they like as long as they will eat it I guess . That is why I always keep a kibble for back up .. I will just try to find the best kibble I can for that .
 
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2cats4me

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In terms of moisture content, yes, any canned is better than any dry. And cats do need their moisture.

In terms of animal protein content, most canned foods are better than most kibbles. For instance, the Fancy Feast kitten has no carbs and no non-animal protein sources. On the other hand, the Pro Plan does have wheat gluten and is 18% carbs (dry matter basis)---the shredded kinds are almost always higher in carbs. So protein/carb/ingredient wise, the kibble would be better. . .but the canned food is still better for moisture.
Thank you so much .  I just wish my cats were not so picky but I do the best I can .  I cannot force them to eat something they don't like .  So it sounds like  the FF would be better than  Pro Plan . I will still give both for variety but just more of the FF .. 
 

bonepicker

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Thank you so much .  I just wish my cats were not so picky but I do the best I can .  I cannot force them to eat something they don't like .  So it sounds like  the FF would be better than  Pro Plan . I will still give both for variety but just more of the FF .. 
Try nutro natural choice chunky chicken loaf. Most cats seem to love it!
 

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Yes canned has more moisture  (obvious) and in general- but not always- has higher protein levels, and better protein sources.

If you are done experimenting with canned-I know it is expensive-and your cats are "kibble addicts", AND you tried all the transitioning tricks that we all have, by all means feed em a quality grain free dry. I like Evo in the purple bag turkey and chicken flavor. 

*If you have not tried all the special transitioning tricks though you may want to try them first. We have lots of info on this site just do a search under "transitioning" or  "kibble addicts"  and they should pop up. My transitioning took awhile and i had setbacks but now we are 50% raw and 50% canned which is what i want.
 
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ldg

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Yes canned has more moisture  (obvious) and in general- but not always- has higher protein levels, and better protein sources.

If you are done experimenting with canned-I know it is expensive-and your cats are "kibble addicts", AND you tried all the transitioning tricks that we all have, by all means feed em a quality grain free dry. I like Evo in the purple bag turkey and chicken flavor. 

*If you have not tried all the special transitioning tricks though you may want to try them first. We have lots of info on this site just do a search under "transitioning" or  "kibble addicts"  and they should pop up. My transitioning took awhile and i had setbacks but now we are 50% raw and 50% canned which is what i want.

:yeah:

Transitions are just that - transitions. I always explain it this way:

:hugs: :hugs: :hugs:

...Think of it like this. You've adopted a 70-year old grandma (that's how old 12 cat years is in human years). Your 70-year old grandma has only ever eaten dry cheerios. She's never had a salad. Now you want her to eat a salad. It's texture is different, it looks different, it smells different, it feels different... that's food? That's how cats feel. To get your grandma to eat salad, you may need to tear of one tiny little bit of leaf and add it to her cheerios, so she basically eats it by mistake. You do that over and over, and she becomes familiar with the taste. Then you can add half a leaf of lettuce. Then an entire leaf. At some point, you can try a dish of salad, covered with dressing, croutons, bacon bits, cheese, etc - enticements that get her to eat the lettuce in it. This is what you are doing in a transition to a healthier food. If you offer grandma a salad and she doesn't eat it, it doesn't mean she won't come to love and crave it if you introduce it properly. And you know that salad is healthier for her, what her body needs, despite what her experience and senses tell her. :) ...
Teaching a cat to eat new foods isn't (solely) about finding a food they like. It's about finding a food you want them to eat, and helping them learn to eat it. And then they will come to crave and enjoy it with time. It can take weeks, months, sometimes years. And you're right! You cannot force a cat to eat a food it doesn't want to. Thus tricks to transition are used. :) In the end, it's a journey, not a race. The problem is usually our patience and persistence. ;)
 
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bluebird gal

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A resounding YES that all wet foods are better than dry. 

Our oldest was the easiest as he was a stray used to hunting in a feral pack for food.  I did supplement with kibble but that was me thinking he "might get hungry if we were gone for several hours"  not him.

Our youngest was a shelter cat, so based on economics alone for what shelters do, he was a kibble kitten.  He has now, after 9mos of hard work since we adopted him, successfully been 90% transitioned to wet.  The kibble he does receive is a higher grade, grain free -- Instinct Chicken w/Boost (the boost is freeze dried raw), and we are now down to 1/8 cup in 2 different servings.   Sometimes, lately I try to just feed him the boost chunks by hand with none of the kibble.  I continue to work on getting him off the kibble completely -- forever.

Today we also started Rad Cat raw chicken.  Our oldest boy could barely wait for me to get the container open while trying to get his head in there.  He went for it immediately when I set down a trial sampling.  The little guy - not so much - yet. 

Its baby steps transitioning, depending on each cat, for sure.   But it can be done.
 
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zoneout

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In order to process extruded kibble it by necessity has to have a large carbohydrate base in order to hold its shape and bake well.   Further, the baking has to be fast which requires high temperatures which in turn can cause the protein molecules to break down and degrade.  Lastly, it is sprayed with rendered animal fat which is the special sauce that cats find attractive.   To be sure, there is some canned food with putrid ingredients.   Cats really don`t do well when they are overloaded with carbs.    Problem is carb is cheaper than protein so some canned foods are loaded up with carb fillers: potatoes, yams, zuchinni, squash, carrots, etc. to increase profit.

But the real reason why any canned is better than any dry is the moisture content.   Having a moisture deficient diet leads to all sorts of health problems.   Crystal formation and sludge deposits in male cats leads to devastating urinary blockage.    It`s life-threatening, horribly painful, and will run a vet bill upwards of $2K.

In the end, the best catfood is mostly quality protein that is not over-processed, little carb, and little fat with moisture content in the 60% range.   Harmful preservatives such as ethoxyquin, and BHT are best avoided.   
 
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2cats4me

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In order to process extruded kibble it by necessity has to have a large carbohydrate base in order to hold its shape and bake well.   Further, the baking has to be fast which requires high temperatures which in turn can cause the protein molecules to break down and degrade.  Lastly, it is sprayed with rendered animal fat which is the special sauce that cats find attractive.   To be sure, there is some canned food with putrid ingredients.   Cats really don`t do well when they are overloaded with carbs.    Problem is carb is cheaper than protein so some canned foods are loaded up with carb fillers: potatoes, yams, zuchinni, squash, carrots, etc. to increase profit.

But the real reason why any canned is better than any dry is the moisture content.   Having a moisture deficient diet leads to all sorts of health problems.   Crystal formation and sludge deposits in male cats leads to devastating urinary blockage.    It`s life-threatening, horribly painful, and will run a vet bill upwards of $2K.

In the end, the best catfood is mostly quality protein that is not over-processed, little carb, and little fat with moisture content in the 60% range.   Harmful preservatives such as ethoxyquin, and BHT are best avoided.   
Thank you , yes I will definitely avoid the chemical preservatives... 
 

bonepicker

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:yeah:

Transitions are just that - transitions. I always explain it this way:
Teaching a cat to eat new foods isn't (solely) about finding a food they like. It's about finding a food you want them to eat, and helping them learn to eat it. And then they will come to crave and enjoy it with time. It can take weeks, months, sometimes years. And you're right! You cannot force a cat to eat a food it doesn't want to. Thus tricks to transition are used. :) In the end, it's a journey, not a race. The problem is usually our patience and persistence. ;)
Yes u agree too many give up because they go to fast rather than tiny baby steps to transition the cats over. Then it costs too much because they throw food away.
 

bonepicker

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:yeah:

Transitions are just that - transitions. I always explain it this way:
Teaching a cat to eat new foods isn't (solely) about finding a food they like. It's about finding a food you want them to eat, and helping them learn to eat it. And then they will come to crave and enjoy it with time. It can take weeks, months, sometimes years. And you're right! You cannot force a cat to eat a food it doesn't want to. Thus tricks to transition are used. :) In the end, it's a journey, not a race. The problem is usually our patience and persistence. ;)
Just like kids and vegetables. They would rather eat chocolate for dinner, it is all patience, wit, and compromise!
 
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2cats4me

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My cats have 3 brands that they will eat  ..Fancy Feast Kitten Turkey (pate)  , They also like Sheba Cuts Chicken or Turkey  , Pro Plan Savor Braised Chicken & Tomato ..
 

slykat12

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So much good advice here and I understand kitty too. If I could eat pizza and chocolate all day I would. 

As mentioned my transition was a NIGHTMARE. My cat is a kibble addict and I did not want her losing calories while she was a growing kitten so I proceeded with caution and we had many setbacks. I followed Lisa Peirson's online advice-I think it was her- about providing set meal times and slowly switching out the food.

I would provide 2 or 3 meals a day and what was not eaten in 30 minutes went back in the fridge or baggy and presented again at the next set time.

Provide set meal times with small amounts of food-NO MORE FREE FEEDING. Kitty must be hungry for this to work and know no more food is coming. I set 7am 1pm and 7pm

Day 1 put 1/3 of kittys preferred food out for each meal and for 20 min only at 7,1,& 7. 

Do this 3 days. Kitty should get it in their head that they best eat what is served at that time as nothing else is coming.

Day 4 5 and 6  Replace 7am meal with what you want kitty to try. Take em over to the bowl several times and if you have to a little hand feeding helps. If new food is not eaten in 20-30 take away-I would try again with the same wet food at lunch (1pm) if ignored and at dinner serve kittys preferred food.

Day 7-9 Replace dinner with the 1/3 food you want.

Day 10-12 Replace last meal with 1/3 what you want. 

Stay in any phase as long as you like and by all means start with the wets they like. After the transition I switched to two meals 7am and 7pm for my convenience.

The keys are patience, allowing hunger to be a motivation for kitty-use only 1/3 allotment at each meal, and being firm. Our cats will pretend they are being starved and act dramatic but you need to show you are the boss. For me I did have to realize that certain foods she just really hates. Now she eats pate, chunk, shredded and raw.  We have fish only once a week.  

Just a note have u tried "Cats in the kitchen" pouches? I never saw a cat reject those. They are expensive but a good start and have all chicken flavors.  

this was written after a late night so I hope it is clear-good luck.
 
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2cats4me

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Great advice , thank you . 
 
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maureen brad

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This is a tip that helped me. get some Purine Feline Fortiflora. You can buy it on Amazon and it is cheap. Sprinkle a little on the food you want your cat to transition to. It is a probiotic but you don't have to use it for that. Cats love it, it helped me instantly transition my cats to raw food. It has even helped me give my cats meds, I just roll the meds in the fortiflora and they eat it.
 
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2cats4me

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This is a tip that helped me. get some Purine Feline Fortiflora. You can buy it on Amazon and it is cheap. Sprinkle a little on the food you want your cat to transition to. It is a probiotic but you don't have to use it for that. Cats love it, it helped me instantly transition my cats to raw food. It has even helped me give my cats meds, I just roll the meds in the fortiflora and they eat it.
Thank you for the suggestion . I have tried  the Fortiflora before and my cats do not like it ..
 
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my short answer is 'yes'.  canned food generally has more moisture and less carbs.

my longer answer is 'read, read, read'.  i was feeding pride canned foods and my three cats were loving it UNTIL i figured out how high they are in carbohydrates.  when you see foods that have added protein sources (peas, potatoes) and extra veggies, those are all sources of carbs.  i feel like a bad cat mom because i had started feeding pride kibble while we were on vacation for various reasons.  the different in the litter box is astounding.  i've fed only canned and/or raw and/or homemade foods and the litter box was practically empty.  now?  not so much.

find ingredients you and your cats are comfortable with.  we only feed grain free (since we made that switch about a year ago, my cat who struggled with his weight has not struggled anymore).  i like rotating protein sources.  we've gone back to nature's variety instinct and merrick grain free and some wellness core.  the fancy feast pates are widely regarded as one of the best grocery brands and it's affordable for most.  i comparison shop constantly for my favorite canned foods - checking amazon, local big name pet stores, local independent pet stores, and other online suppliers - and my local independent pet store almost always has the lowest price (occasionally buying by the case on amazon saves me a bit since i have prime).

i'm sorry, i can't remember who said their cats just lick the gravy off - watch foods with gravy; they often have higher carb contents.  i have a cat that was hard to get away from the gravy and what i started doing was adding some warm/hot water to pates in her bowl and mixing it up well.  it would be like the consistency of thin applesauce.  she now eats pate without added water.
 
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