Science Diet

kencolleen

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
42
Purraise
8
Location
Seatac, Wa
We got our cat Gizmo McGoofy at the shelter when he was two and a half years old. They were feeding him Science Diet and Friskies pate food. They suggested we stay on the same food. We did change to indoor then because he was gaining wait and had hair balls, we went to Hairball light. We also cut the 5.5 oz can in six and feed him one sixth twice a day and 1\3 cup dry twice a day. He is a big boy, long. enough of the background. I was wondering if Science Diet ok should I change foods he is now Turning 5 in May. starting to get a little chunky. I keep backing down the food a little.we exercise as much as he will. I have always looked at all the other foods and wondered if I should change.:smshfrk:
So over whelmed, so many foods
 

cicoccabim

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
188
Purraise
44
Cats that eat dry food with a lot of carbohydrates easily gain weight, unfortunately (and science diet is one of them). If you want to feed dry food- look for one without all the corn, wheat, gluten or whatever it is called. Grain-free. The grain free are usually a bit more expensive, but the cat eats less, and feels fuller on that food. You might have to switch him over to that food slowly, since the stomach is not used to so much meat. 

But usually wet food is better for all cats, and especially for cats that weigh a bit to much. Look for a brand with as little carbohydrates as possible. He will probably lose that extra weight in a healthy way eating a wet food instead of dry with carbohydrates.

It´s good that you´re not free-feeding, not all cats can handle the fact that there´s food around all the time. Would you be OK with not feeding dry at all, and only feed wet 2-3 times a day?

My cat can´t handle free feeding- she gained a lot of weight fast on free feeding and kibble. Today I feed her raw home made food, twice a day, an she keeps her weight perfectly. But I started by removing dry food. Fed wet only, and I gradually switched her to the best wet food I could afford. The weight came right off. I switched her to raw due to allergy to fish. 

It is a lot of food to choose between- I know the feeling......

Hope that I could help a bit!
 
Last edited:

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
If you don't want to change his food, just give more wet food and less kibble. There are less carbs in wet food so just that small change could help him shed a little weight. Also check the calorie count, I don't know how many calories are in the kibble you're feeding but 2/3 cup plus a little canned food seems like a bit much. Most indoor neutered cats need about 20 calories per pound per day to maintain their weight.

Most Friskies pate foods have about 180 calories per 5.5 oz can, but of course check the flavor you use to make sure.
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
I looked up the Hairball light formula and it has 280 calories per cup. If he weighs 14 pounds at a healthy weight, he would need about 280 calories a day, so the amount you're feeding seems about right, even a little lower (definitely weigh him and try to decide what his proper weight should be. Calculate his caloric needs according to his proper weight). So I would probably just change the ratio of canned/dry and maybe the increased protein levels will help him gain more lean body mass and muscle. Half a can and half a cup might work. Or a whole can and a quarter cup of dry.

Some cats need fewer calories, maybe 15 per day per pound. But don't restrict calories too much or too quickly, that can make him sick.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

kencolleen

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
42
Purraise
8
Location
Seatac, Wa
Thank you so much for taking the time and effort of looking everything up for me. I really appreciate it. I'm going to try what you suggest. I always:D thought the canned food was more fattening than the dry food. So I kept lowering the wet food.another reason why I like this site. I have been learning a lot since I joined. First time cat owner. I had a stroke and get confused sometimes. Small writing on everything.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

kencolleen

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
42
Purraise
8
Location
Seatac, Wa
Should I be feeding him 3 times a day instead of 2. I usually feed him early morning and early evening. He basically sleeps with me at night he's not an active night cat.
 

fhicat

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
3,261
Purraise
635
Location
Orange party
Should I be feeding him 3 times a day instead of 2. I usually feed him early morning and early evening. He basically sleeps with me at night he's not an active night cat.
If you can do 3, I'd go with 3, with less portion each meal. That gives you more control over how much he eats.
 

raintyger

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
1,690
Purraise
139
Location
Long Beach, CA
3 meals would be better than 2. If you work you can do 1 in the morning, 1 upon returning home and 1 in the late evening.

I agree with the others that wet food would be better. Less carbs and healthier overall, as he will be better hydrated.

Hairballs will go down on wet food, too. Cats shed less when on a wet food diet. If that fails to remedy the hairballs, you can look into egg yolk lecithin. It breaks down the fats holding together the hairball so it is easier for kitty to pass.
 

chwx

TCS Member
Adult Cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2014
Messages
167
Purraise
35
I agree on upping the wet. I had a cat show up last September who never left. She was rather chunky and I was feeding her kibble because it was cheap and what I feed all the strays/ferals. When I moved and decided to bring her with me and make her an indoor only cat, she was switched to the same diet as my other 3. I feed 1/2 wet (breakfast) and 1/2 dry (dinner) and it helped with cutting back her weight. She's also pretty lazy, the laziest of all my cats. My other 3 have never had weight issues but are also younger and more active. If you keep any dry food in his diet then I suggest making him work for it. There are several puzzle toys on the market or you could simply scatter it on the floor or do piles around the house for him to find. You can also play "fetch" with it, just toss a piece and make him run get it. Lol.

I'm not a big fan of Science Diet personally. Mine get a rotation of brands/flavors in wet and dry. I have 6 brands and 19 flavors of canned food on hand atm and their kibble is actually a mix of 3 brands atm because I already had a small bit of my Authority Grain Free Chicken and Purina Cat Chow (went through some hard times lol) mix but it was getting low so I bought some Taste of the Wild and mixed some of that into it too. Once this small bucket of mix is done it'll be all TOTW. When that bag is gone I'll make another switch to whatever is a "better" brand that I can get on sale. 8 animals to feed + 2 humans means we have to shop sales and use coupons to survive. Haha. But everyone does really well and knowing they eat a variety of foods is helpful in case of a recall. Just gotta find what works for you and your kitty.
 

bonepicker

Animal Lover Extraordinare
Top Cat
Joined
May 17, 2014
Messages
3,350
Purraise
439
Location
ON THE LAKE NORTHEAST OHIO
I agree on upping the wet. I had a cat show up last September who never left. She was rather chunky and I was feeding her kibble because it was cheap and what I feed all the strays/ferals. When I moved and decided to bring her with me and make her an indoor only cat, she was switched to the same diet as my other 3. I feed 1/2 wet (breakfast) and 1/2 dry (dinner) and it helped with cutting back her weight. She's also pretty lazy, the laziest of all my cats. My other 3 have never had weight issues but are also younger and more active. If you keep any dry food in his diet then I suggest making him work for it. There are several puzzle toys on the market or you could simply scatter it on the floor or do piles around the house for him to find. You can also play "fetch" with it, just toss a piece and make him run get it. Lol.

I'm not a big fan of Science Diet personally. Mine get a rotation of brands/flavors in wet and dry. I have 6 brands and 19 flavors of canned food on hand atm and their kibble is actually a mix of 3 brands atm because I already had a small bit of my Authority Grain Free Chicken and Purina Cat Chow (went through some hard times lol) mix but it was getting low so I bought some Taste of the Wild and mixed some of that into it too. Once this small bucket of mix is done it'll be all TOTW. When that bag is gone I'll make another switch to whatever is a "better" brand that I can get on sale. 8 animals to feed + 2 humans means we have to shop sales and use coupons to survive. Haha. But everyone does really well and knowing they eat a variety of foods is helpful in case of a recall. Just gotta find what works for you and your kitty.
What wet foods do you rotate?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #12

kencolleen

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Mar 13, 2015
Messages
42
Purraise
8
Location
Seatac, Wa
Hydration is not a problem. He has a drinking fountain that he loves. He started drinking a lot more water after I got it. he goes to the litter box at least 2 times a day to get rid of the water. I started going a half can wet And fourth cup dry. I just started that we'll see what happens twice a day by the way. I figured he's used to eating twice a day so I don't want to change that. unless for some reason it's unhealthy for him.
 
Top