Picky kitty and proper diet

padfootandmoony · Mar 13, 2015

Hazel is kinda picky about her food (welcome to the cat world huh?) We got her about 3 weeks ago and the shelter said they were just feeding the cats whatever food they got from donations so each week it could be different. I decided to start her on Science Diet Indoor Adult as she is almost 2 years old. She didn't take to it. She would on the other hand eat the wet chunk tuna supper Science Diet. So I continued to give her one can of that for a few days and the SO went and got some Purina One SmartBlend Tuna and Salmon. She WILL eat this. He spent some time finding a decent priced, high protein food that tastes like seafood and this is what he came home with. Since she likes it I have decided to let her eat it but I am worried about the product. My vet is very, very against Purina brand foods and I can understand that she has had many cats with many issues come in her door who have eaten Purina. I have the bag of Science Diet and it is chicken flavored. I think that is why she isn't a fan. She will eat it if it is mixed in the Purina and we have been trying that but I would rather not have to waste any of the food I have bought so far. She likes fishy flavors and will eat wet food but I worry about how much of each I give her. She doesn't eat her full serving of dry food in one sitting -usually takes her 2 days to finish the half cup of dry- and I give her wet food like every other day a small can. Does that seem like enough? The wet food is anything she likes that is basically just meat and water (I double check when I am buying).

pinkdagger · Mar 13, 2015

Feeding some wet food is better than feeding none, especially if your cat isn't keen on drinking water on her own.

There are some articles that address finding a good food, and feeding seafood and fishy flavours often if you haven't read them already:

Choosing The Right Food for Your Cat and you

Tips to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake

How Much Food Should I Feed My Cat?

How to Compare Cat Foods & Calculate Carbs: Dry Matter Basis

What Makes the Best Canned Cat Food?

Choosing the Right Dry Cat Food

Can I feed my cat a fish-based or fish-flavored diet?

How much would be "enough" depends on her weight, her build, and her activity level. If she hasn't been yet, you can ask about feeding recommendations at her next vet visit. Since they can see Hazel in person and feel for her build, they'll have a better idea than us well-meaning internet strangers.

It may be helpful to bear in mind that kibble is more calorie-dense. This is just in my experience, but I've calculated a lot of the dry foods we've tried to about 110 calories per ounce, and wet foods to around 29 calories per ounce (give or take, depending on the food of course).

Everyone has a different stance on different brands and different recipes or ingredients - sometimes you may have to compromise based on your budget or your cat's preferences, and sometimes you'll have to put some on the "absolutely no-go" list. I personally prefer to offer fish-based foods no more than once a week (for us, it's wet food for both meals daily) because it's high in phosphorus and magnesium, and has the potential to have mercury, but if she'll eat any wet food, you've got that going in your favour to reduce the amount of fish she gets.

Perhaps you could reach out to companies and ask for free samples of their foods. Dry is much easier to send, so that's usually what they'll send out, and you can test them with Hazel before committing to a type of food and buying a bigger bag. Lots of other members (from the US) have had lots of success reaching companies - there's a thread about it here.

The brand I like to feed isn't super well known, but I really like their Go! line (it is a bit expensive though) and they do have a trout and salmon recipe. I feed the turkey and duck recipe which does contain some fish, and I notice the kibble smells quite strongly of fish anyway. They're offering free 0.5lb bags if there's a retailer near you. They have other recipes too, and the samples are available in stores to be bought for something like $3 if you want to try more.

padfootandmoony · Mar 13, 2015

pinkdagger said:
Feeding some wet food is better than feeding none, especially if your cat isn't keen on drinking water on her own.

There are some articles that address finding a good food, and feeding seafood and fishy flavours often if you haven't read them already:

Choosing The Right Food for Your Cat and you

Tips to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake

How Much Food Should I Feed My Cat?

How to Compare Cat Foods & Calculate Carbs: Dry Matter Basis

What Makes the Best Canned Cat Food?

Choosing the Right Dry Cat Food

Can I feed my cat a fish-based or fish-flavored diet?

How much would be "enough" depends on her weight, her build, and her activity level. If she hasn't been yet, you can ask about feeding recommendations at her next vet visit. Since they can see Hazel in person and feel for her build, they'll have a better idea than us well-meaning internet strangers.

It may be helpful to bear in mind that kibble is more calorie-dense. This is just in my experience, but I've calculated a lot of the dry foods we've tried to about 110 calories per ounce, and wet foods to around 29 calories per ounce (give or take, depending on the food of course).

Everyone has a different stance on different brands and different recipes or ingredients - sometimes you may have to compromise based on your budget or your cat's preferences, and sometimes you'll have to put some on the "absolutely no-go" list. I personally prefer to offer fish-based foods no more than once a week (for us, it's wet food for both meals daily) because it's high in phosphorus and magnesium, and has the potential to have mercury, but if she'll eat any wet food, you've got that going in your favour to reduce the amount of fish she gets.

Perhaps you could reach out to companies and ask for free samples of their foods. Dry is much easier to send, so that's usually what they'll send out, and you can test them with Hazel before committing to a type of food and buying a bigger bag. Lots of other members (from the US) have had lots of success reaching companies - there's a thread about it here.

The brand I like to feed isn't super well known, but I really like their Go! line (it is a bit expensive though) and they do have a trout and salmon recipe. I feed the turkey and duck recipe which does contain some fish, and I notice the kibble smells quite strongly of fish anyway. They're offering free 0.5lb bags if there's a retailer near you. They have other recipes too, and the samples are available in stores to be bought for something like $3 if you want to try more.

Thank you for all the helpful info! My vet wants us strictly on Science Diet but like I said, she will only eat a little of it and only if it is mixed with the Purina. I am going to continue to mix it in with the purina and get her to try some wet food that isn't seafood based so that she won't be eating so much fishy stuff. I will also look into the free samples! Thank you

pinkdagger · Mar 13, 2015

Does she have any specific health conditions that warrant a formula of Science Diet? There are prescription diets that may well be irreplaceable and necessary if there are persistent or chronic conditions that can be treated through those special diets, but if she's a typical relatively healthy cat, I would argue there are better foods out there and for better prices. If this vet is pushing for Science Diet dry and you disagree, you are totally entitled to seek a second opinion at another clinic just to get a feel for what other vets would suggest.

padfootandmoony · Mar 13, 2015

pinkdagger said:
Does she have any specific health conditions that warrant a formula of Science Diet? There are prescription diets that may well be irreplaceable and necessary if there are persistent or chronic conditions that can be treated through those special diets, but if she's a typical relatively healthy cat, I would argue there are better foods out there and for better prices. If this vet is pushing for Science Diet dry and you disagree, you are totally entitled to seek a second opinion at another clinic just to get a feel for what other vets would suggest.

I found Science Diet on my own first and then the vet also suggested it when we went in. I just don't think she particularly likes the size of the kibble or the flavor. She doesn't have any outstanding medical issues or anything either I just don't know of any good foods for a decent price. I do want to make sure her dry food is decent but also an okay price as I am in college. If I wanted to get another vet's opininon, would I be able to do that without specifically having a check up with them? She isn't fond of having to get in the car...

pinkdagger · Mar 13, 2015

Sometimes it depends on the vet. In most cases, vets will want to see her so they're not just blindly recommending a food that may not be suitable, like if your cat has any underlying issues you may not know to specify. You could always try calling clinics in the area and asking general questions - it may be kind of like interviewing a vet to see if that clinic will meet your needs. You can ask - generally - what kinds of foods they recommend for an adult cat (this may only get you a vague answer like wet vs dry though).

I was able to find a good compromise in a food that's a store brand of Petsmart called Simply Nourish Source. The Source line is higher protein and lower carb than their regular line of dry food, and it's pretty affordable. I'm a student as well, and I can get a 12lb bag of Simply Nourish Source for $42 + tax here in Canada. Their smaller 3lb bags are $15, whereas the Petcurean I mix it with costs $30 for 3lbs. I like Petsmart's store brand Grreat Choice for wet food as well (though the dry food of the same name is garbage, in my opinion). Most of the canned foods do have fish in them (not as the primary ingredient, but it is there), but they are grain-free if that floats your boat. I can usually grab those for $0.49-$0.59 for a 5.5oz can or $1 for a 13oz can.

padfootandmoony · Mar 13, 2015

pinkdagger said:
Sometimes it depends on the vet. In most cases, vets will want to see her so they're not just blindly recommending a food that may not be suitable, like if your cat has any underlying issues you may not know to specify. You could always try calling clinics in the area and asking general questions - it may be kind of like interviewing a vet to see if that clinic will meet your needs. You can ask - generally - what kinds of foods they recommend for an adult cat (this may only get you a vague answer like wet vs dry though).

I was able to find a good compromise in a food that's a store brand of Petsmart called Simply Nourish Source. The Source line is higher protein and lower carb than their regular line of dry food, and it's pretty affordable. I'm a student as well, and I can get a 12lb bag of Simply Nourish Source for $42 + tax here in Canada. Their smaller 3lb bags are $15, whereas the Petcurean I mix it with costs $30 for 3lbs. I like Petsmart's store brand Grreat Choice for wet food as well (though the dry food of the same name is garbage, in my opinion). Most of the canned foods do have fish in them (not as the primary ingredient, but it is there), but they are grain-free if that floats your boat. I can usually grab those for $0.49-$0.59 for a 5.5oz can or $1 for a 13oz can.

The only issue with that would be my lack of a PetSmart

Only have a Petco, Walmart, Kroger, and Winn Dixie. Walmart has crap and crap. The Purina Pro Smartblend seems to be the best as far as higher protein, lower carbs at the Winn Dixie. We haven't looked at Kroger but the Petco seems to have a plethora of foods, most more expensive than I would like to spend but I will say I was wandering around confused and not understanding. Kinda turns out the science diet isn't great either so I guess for the moment it's whatever she will eat I guess.

bonepicker · Mar 14, 2015

PadfootandMoony said:
Thank you for all the helpful info! My vet wants us strictly on Science Diet but like I said, she will only eat a little of it and only if it is mixed with the Purina. I am going to continue to mix it in with the purina and get her to try some wet food that isn't seafood based so that she won't be eating so much fishy stuff. I will also look into the free samples! Thank you . You can get canned free samples, I went on line and got over 20 different cans in the mail.

pinkdagger · Mar 15, 2015

Hmm, unfortunately I don't know much about these stores. It looks like Kroger may carry Sheba though, which is often a recommended and inexpensive brand of wet food. The brand "I and Love and You" looks like it's at both PetCo and Kroger (this is their fish/surf n' turf flavour) which I would say is better than Purina ONE Smart Blend. They carry another brand, Dogs/Catswell which also looks quite good, but from what I can see online stores tend to sell them by larger bags. Kroger also lists another food called Abound which looks pretty good as well.

I'm more or less skimming these foods for my red flags, though yours may differ - if I see corn, soy, wheat, or any gluten, I don't bother with looking any further. If I see things like barley, oatmeal, and rice, it drops lower on my list of desirable foods but it's not off the radar. As long as it's not within the first 3 ingredients, it's not so bad to me. If I can't find something better for a decent price, I may go reconsider it.

Abound is a bit similar to a food I used to feed because of its price (Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul) but ultimately when I could afford to upgrade, I did do so. It was also kind of a transitional phase as I was still researching foods, so don't feel like you have to find the Holy Grail right now. At the end of the day, a good food is one that your cat will actually want to eat.

Also, if you do find a food that both you and Hazel will agree on, you can check Chewy to see if they can offer you a better price than your brick and mortar stores. Happy hunting!

padfootandmoony · Mar 15, 2015

Thank you SO much! She does like Sheba wet food so that's great! Right now she is eating mediocre food but we have made it to the point where at least it's not all tuna flavored lol

Picky kitty and proper diet

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