Mix dry foods.

missmimz said:

I don't know why you think dry food doesn't contain any bacteria. Pet food companies, even high quality ones (although you didn't specify what you're feeding), aren't producing bacteria free foods. Bacteria is part of every day life, even in the foods we eat as humans. Some bacteria exists on the surface of the food you are feeding. Nothing comes out of factories perfect. When you add water, or broth, or anything like that to kibble you're increasing the chances of that bacteria multiplying quickly. In my opinion, it's not worth the risk. Feed your cats wet food too, get a fountain to encourage drinking, feed kibble without moistening it to avoid the possibilities. 

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I'm trying to find a good wet food my cat will actually eat. I've spent a lot of money trying to get him on wet food. He also will not eat dry food unless I add a little bit of water, but when it does have water he eats it up fast. Without the water it just sits there all day and my other animals will eat it. I've just never heard of it making bacteria since I was recommended to do this by my vet and a close friend who is also in the car food industry. I guess I have more research to do :/

Does your older cat have tooth issues?  I really think you will be okay.  Cats want to eat what they want to eat.  I have spent small fortunes on food only to think we finally found something that makes her happy for her to decide she doesn't l ike it.  If your vet and your cat approve... be happy.  Life is short.  Plus, cats are notorious for  not drinking enough water, so people here add water to wet food too, as long as it is getting eaten and not left to sit around and grow bacteria, I think you are doing great!

Question :  I have read posts on here where it is recommended to re-hydrate ( which is adding water ) freeze dried raw food before serving and that is ok . 

So why is that different from adding water to  kibble before serving ?  Just curious ..

Chii said:

I'm trying to find a good wet food my cat will actually eat. I've spent a lot of money trying to get him on wet food. He also will not eat dry food unless I add a little bit of water, but when it does have water he eats it up fast. Without the water it just sits there all day and my other animals will eat it. I've just never heard of it making bacteria since I was recommended to do this by my vet and a close friend who is also in the car food industry. I guess I have more research to do :/

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I'd just be cautious about it. It's good he's eating it up quickly, but because of the way dry food is produced it can be a risk. I feed dry food so I'm not a dry food hater, I don't moisten mine though. I feel your frustration with the wet food. My oldest cat refuses all wet food, but for some weird reason likes raw, but won't eat enough raw to get all his calories, so i feed raw and kibble, which is an unpopular choice but it works. I space out his raw meals pretty far from his kibble so it doesn't cause any issues. So much of finding the right food is trail and error. 

I would also like to suggest that while you are trying to find a wet food your cat will eat:  Buy only a couple cans.  If she eats it you can get more.  Do you know a flavor your cat likes?  chicken? beef? lamb? turkey?  If you know a flavor your cat likes, then you can determine the texture.  Pate, pate with water to make a soup, shreds, chunks, sliced or "filets" all in gravy or broth or no broth.. I think most cats like the gravy best.  There are SO many choices...

Just for the record, after trying many brands, my cats like Max Cat.  I think the stuff stinks and so it is not my favorite, but hey, I don't have to eat it, and I don't have to throw it away when I feed it to them, so Max Cat it is.

missmimz said:

I'd just be cautious about it. It's good he's eating it up quickly, but because of the way dry food is produced it can be a risk. I feed dry food so I'm not a dry food hater, I don't moisten mine though. I feel your frustration with the wet food. My oldest cat refuses all wet food, but for some weird reason likes raw, but won't eat enough raw to get all his calories, so i feed raw and kibble, which is an unpopular choice but it works. I space out his raw meals pretty far from his kibble so it doesn't cause any issues. So much of finding the right food is trail and error. 

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I understand, I have not tried raw food.. I have been interested in it though. I've been talking to this company, (The honest kitchen) they make cat food that is dehydrated and you add water to it, it's caught my interest a lot. Been looking on here for reviews etc.. Might be our next thing to try, they are sending me samples to see if it will help my older cat with his eating habits and my younger cat with her tummy problems.

MollyBlue said:

I would also like to suggest that while you are trying to find a wet food your cat will eat:  Buy only a couple cans.  If she eats it you can get more.  Do you know a flavor your cat likes?  chicken? beef? lamb? turkey?  If you know a flavor your cat likes, then you can determine the texture.  Pate, pate with water to make a soup, shreds, chunks, sliced or "filets" all in gravy or broth or no broth.. I think most cats like the gravy best.  There are SO many choices...

Just for the record, after trying many brands, my cats like Max Cat.  I think the stuff stinks and so it is not my favorite, but hey, I don't have to eat it, and I don't have to throw it away when I feed it to them, so Max Cat it is.

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We are slowly trying out new food, so far I've noticed he will at least try anything that has really texture and more of a "gravy" like consistency.

I mix some adult dry kibble into my 2 cats' senior dry kibble and I mix a little regular dry kibble into my CRF cat's prescription dry kibble. I mix it in the bowls though, not in one container to store. It's the same with their wet food. I may mix 2 flavors in their bowls, but store separately in the fridge. I think if you mix the 3 dry flavors into one container to store, you should watch out for the expiration dates. It could be really bad if one bag expired and spoiled the other bag(s). Just because you bought them at the same time doesn't mean they expire at the same time. They could be different, particularly with 2 or 3 different flavors. 

I also think adding water to dry kibble is necessary in some cases. My sister had do that with her dog's food because of dental problems. My CRF cat also has less teeth on his upper left side now so I may need to do that eventually for him. As long as it gets eaten quickly and doesn't sit for a long time it should be fine. I personally would throw it out if it sat out all day or overnight and didn't get eaten.

My cats eat same brand, but I rotate between turkey, lamb and chicken. I do not mix bags because last year after Thanksgiving all 4 of my cats had diarrhea for no reason. I took them all to the vet, did labs, stool samples testing for everything with nothing showing up. They were put on medications with probotics. More vet visits. The vet asked if I changed foods, had any change in household or work schedule and we had not. Finally after three weeks of diarrhea with no diagnosis it crossed our mind bad batch of food. I went to petsmart that night and bought same brand different protein and within 24 hours the diarrhea was gone. I always keep my bags seperate now and rotate weekly instead of daily so I can trace it better now if my whole group gets sick.

KittyMomma1122 said:

My cats eat same brand, but I rotate between turkey, lamb and chicken. I do not mix bags because last year after Thanksgiving all 4 of my cats had diarrhea for no reason. I took them all to the vet, did labs, stool samples testing for everything with nothing showing up. They were put on medications with probotics. More vet visits. The vet asked if I changed foods, had any change in household or work schedule and we had not. Finally after three weeks of diarrhea with no diagnosis it crossed our mind bad batch of food. I went to petsmart that night and bought same brand different protein and within 24 hours the diarrhea was gone. I always keep my bags seperate now and rotate weekly instead of daily so I can trace it better now if my whole group gets sick.

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Good point! I mix kibble too but not in the same containers. I keep them separate and then mix in the bowls. It is much harder to locate the problem source if you have one if you're mixing them together. I also buy kibble in small batches so that it stays fresh longer and is used up quickly. 

I love the idea of the glass container. I keep kitten food in a plastic container and the adult food in a heavy duty container (Sam opens thr door) But now I need to mix the food. Sam and Tigger are eating the kitten food and gaining weight. Vet said it is ok to start adult food for the kitten as long as I mix it. They all eat and drink out of the same bowl and use the same potty. Salem (12 weeks old ) Loves to share. I am so proud of my kitties