Anything out there comparable in cat preference to FF classic pates?

hbunny · Jun 17, 2016

My old grumpy stubborn dude is at the point now of only eating the FF classic pates. I mainly give him the turkey and giblets and the beef, occasionally the cod, sole, and shrimp and the shrimp and salmon varieties because he would sell his body parts for anything fish. Other than me cooking him plain chicken and pork chops (grilled and boiled) he refuses to eat anything but the "kitty crack" brand. I used to be able to sneak in some Nutro and other brands, but he goes on a hunger strike now if I put anything else out for him.

I have spent hundreds of dollars trying out various cans of cat food that went in the trash (or down the hatch of my other one, who will eat anything, he acts as a garbage disposal, but he is on a diet right now).

Does anyone have a kitty that is addicted like mine that they have gotten to eat something better? The FF was all I could get him to eat as far as wet after transitioning him away from dry completely. He still gets a little dry, but he might eat only a couple of bites of it a day. He wants that can of crack.

I just want him on a better wet food. I've read the classic pates are really not that bad, but he is getting older and I really want him on something better. And....he refuses anything duck or other limited ingredient foods. Hates duck with a passion. He also hates Royal Canin, tried that too, I tried several of those cans.

Any ideas please? I just don't have the stomach to taste test cat foods to find something similar!

foxxycat · Jun 17, 2016

I am sorry to say I have the same problem. I have tried the expensive ones but if its not a meatloaf style she wont eat it. I thought about getting a food processor and mixing it up but seems like a lot of work. then to clean it twice a day. I had to use a fork and try to mash up the flakes/pieces of those other foods. And not sure why they put vegetables in catfood. They don't eat veggies. only meats. Sigh. Although lots of people like Tiki cat but they don't sell any here at the stores and I don't want to buy a case. another brand others rave about is Wervura (sp?) I think I spelled it wrong...but nope I haven't found anything. They don't like Sheba or friskies canned either.

LTS3 · Jun 17, 2016

If your cat is doing fine on the FF, then there really is no reason to change brands. The most important thing is that your cat is eating something he likes

FF really isn't bad.

Continue to introduce similar pate foods. Have you tried the Wellness canned foods? The Complete Health ones are pate and are a healthier version of FF. I think the Wellness Core canned foods are also pate. Wal Mart's Special Kitty brand is a lesser expensive similar food to FF. PetSmart has this sort of generic pate canned food. Nature's Variety Instinct is a very good quality brand all the canned are pate except for the Pride line.

You can look at this for pate foods: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ninga/sets/72157630596066364

Will your cat eat non-pate foods, either alone or as a topper on pate food? Weruva, Tiki Cat, and Soulistic are popular. Weruva and Tiki Cat are sold at independent non-chain pet stores (along with other premium brands of foods) and Soulistic is sold at Petco (and made by the same company as Weruva).

Most brands of foods can be bought online at various web sites. You can buy single cans online. Here's a thread with info: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/165078/where-to-buy-single-cans-online OnlyNaturalPet.com is a popular one for premium brands of foods.

lisahe · Jun 17, 2016

LTS3 said:
If your cat is doing fine on the FF, then there really is no reason to change brands. The most important thing is that your cat is eating something he likes

FF really isn't bad.

I totally agree with this! The pates are very decent food, nobody should beat themselves up about feeding them!

Since @foxxycat mentioned Tiki, though, I'll add that it's great food: our cats like it a lot, particularly the Gourmet Carnivore foods. Chewy sells variety packs and lots of independent stores -- like several of the ones in nearby Portland -- are happy to order Tiki.

hbunny · Jun 17, 2016

Mine will eat Sheba occasionally, maybe a can or two, then he's done with it for a long time. I really wonder if it is the texture or what. He will sometimes eat the "flaked" tuna kind of FF, but I don't like to give him that, it seems to be a bit much for his old tummy.
I haven't tried the others, but I'm going shopping tomorrow and will look for Wellness, I think I've seen it at Petsmart.
I haven't tried Tiki cat...but I know it isn't sold anywhere here in stores.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I appreciate the reassurance on the FF. It just seems to be his favorite. And no, he spits out anything with bits in it LOL

thegreystalker · Jun 17, 2016

The Fancy Feast Classic pates work well in our household. I find the Sheba entree pates to be similar to Fancy Feast.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

The Sheba works with him, I think because it's so mushy. He likes the mushy, stinky ones best it seems, the ones that gag me! I just have to swap up between Sheba (only 2 flavors) and the six FF ones he likes. He likes Salmon and Shrimp, the Ocean Whitefish one, the beef, the turkey and giblets, and the cod, sole, and shrimp (but only sparingly). I just rotate them around.

I am going to check out the Wellness and the Weruva...I think I saw those at Petsmart. I just didn't get a chance to go this weekend. I hate to order something in a case that ends up he just hates, without trying a can or two first.

Sometimes I feel like I spend more on my cats groceries than our own!

thegreystalker · Jun 20, 2016

Try Friskies Turkey & Giblets dinner pate. It is inexpensive and I suspect that the recipe is strongly similar to the Fancy Feast turkey pate. Of course Fancy Feast and Friskies are Purina Nestle company products.

Also, if you live in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic U.S. states, consider the house brand at Stop & Shop Supermarkets. Their house brand is called Companion. The Companion brand recipes that I have purchased contain no corn, no wheat and no soy product. It's on sale this week in my area for 45 cents per 5.5 ounce can.

Kat0121 · Jun 20, 2016

hbunny said:
My old grumpy stubborn dude is at the point now of only eating the FF classic pates. I mainly give him the turkey and giblets and the beef, occasionally the cod, sole, and shrimp and the shrimp and salmon varieties because he would sell his body parts for anything fish. Other than me cooking him plain chicken and pork chops (grilled and boiled) he refuses to eat anything but the "kitty crack" brand. I used to be able to sneak in some Nutro and other brands, but he goes on a hunger strike now if I put anything else out for him.

I have spent hundreds of dollars trying out various cans of cat food that went in the trash (or down the hatch of my other one, who will eat anything, he acts as a garbage disposal, but he is on a diet right now).

Does anyone have a kitty that is addicted like mine that they have gotten to eat something better? The FF was all I could get him to eat as far as wet after transitioning him away from dry completely. He still gets a little dry, but he might eat only a couple of bites of it a day. He wants that can of crack.

I just want him on a better wet food. I've read the classic pates are really not that bad, but he is getting older and I really want him on something better. And....he refuses anything duck or other limited ingredient foods. Hates duck with a passion. He also hates Royal Canin, tried that too, I tried several of those cans.

Any ideas please? I just don't have the stomach to taste test cat foods to find something similar!

I agree with the others. Somehow FF has gotten a bad reputation that I personally don't think it deserves. The classics (pates) are the best out of all their offerings so if that is what he likes, let him have it. He might also like the Sheba pates. Mine really like the turkey and chicken ones. The Friskies pates might also suit his fancy. Mine like the turkey and giblets one best but they also like the poultry platter, mixed grill and other poultry based ones. I keep fish to a minimum.

Nutro has good pates as does Merrick (both regular and LID). Nature's Variety Instinct pates are excellent. Mine like the chicken and LID turkey best. Whole Earth Farms pates are good too. These are found at Petco and are made by Merrick.

I do need to add that I have 3 VERY picky eaters.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

Thanks @Kat0121 I really feel much better just letting him have his FF and being happy about it now. He likes the turkey and giblets Friskies pate...it's in my rotation as well. He likes the chicken FF too, but likes the beef much better.

My Shortstack LOVES those new Friskies concoctions things...the one with the crabby sauce. I have no idea what's in that mess but he sure loves it. Wurp won't touch it though. I'm letting Shortstack have it on occasion because I'm trying to transition him from dry, and any wet food I can get down him is a plus just to get him swapped over. So far he's adapting to less dry more wet, but I noticed he definitely has different tastes than Wurp. That stuff looks disgusting for sure but he licks the bowl clean haha!

thegreystalker · Jun 20, 2016

The only Cat Concoctions formula I buy is the Salmon & Liver variety. Anyone ever sample the Purina Muse pates? I overlooked them until now but I see that they are grain free and are less costly than Whole Earth Farms, Natural Balance, Natural Value or even Purina Beyond.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

I've looked for the Purina Muse since I saw someone else mention it on a thread around here somewhere, but I can't find it in my area. It's supposed to be pretty good, and I'll try it if I can find it. Update me if you try it out!

Kat0121 · Jun 20, 2016

hbunny said:
I've looked for the Purina Muse since I saw someone else mention it on a thread around here somewhere, but I can't find it in my area. It's supposed to be pretty good, and I'll try it if I can find it. Update me if you try it out!

Purina Muse is found at Petco and Petsmart. Mine have tried it. They run hot and cold towards it. Hot when I only have one can left and cold when I buy a lot of it.

Coupons.com often has printable coupons for it. I saw one on Friday for buy 3 get one free. I'm not sure if it is still available though. Those coupons usually go fast.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

That's hilarious, that is how mine does when I get down to only one can left of a particular flavor or brand!

I may try to run over to Petsmart on lunch break and grab a couple of cans of different kinds to try out--it's a few minutes closer than Petco for me (and less traffic)

dorimon · Jun 20, 2016

LTS3 said:
If your cat is doing fine on the FF, then there really is no reason to change brands. The most important thing is that your cat is eating something he likes

FF really isn't bad.

I agree about the FF. There's no need to switch to something else.

FF Classics are grain-free, low-carb, and relatively high in protein. In addition, they don't contain veggie fillers like some of the more expensive brands.

LTS3 said:
Continue to introduce similar pate foods. Have you tried the Wellness canned foods? The Complete Health ones are pate and are a healthier version of FF. I think the Wellness Core canned foods are also pate.

The only problem I have with Wellness is that all of their canned foods contain carrageenan. Until they remove this ingredient, I won't feed it to my kitties.

hbunny said:
Mine will eat Sheba occasionally, maybe a can or two, then he's done with it for a long time. I really wonder if it is the texture or what. He will sometimes eat the "flaked" tuna kind of FF, but I don't like to give him that, it seems to be a bit much for his old tummy.

FF Classics (the pates) are the only varieties of FF that I would feed. The flaked/minced/grilled/etc. varieties are not grain-free and are higher in carbs.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

@dorimon Thank you for the head's up on the Wellness having carrageenan!

dorimon · Jun 20, 2016

hbunny said:
@dorimon
Thank you for the head's up on the Wellness having carrageenan!

I think the Divine Duos and maybe the TruFood tubs are carrageenan-free. To my knowledge, the cans all contain carrageenan.

Also, I forgot to mention earlier -- if at all possible, you might want to avoid seafood flavors.

hbunny · Jun 20, 2016

dorimon said:
I think the Divine Duos and maybe the TruFood tubs are carrageenan-free. To my knowledge, the cans all contain carrageenan.

Also, I forgot to mention earlier -- if at all possible, you might want to avoid seafood flavors.

Thank you

Haven't seen those brands but will check them out online.

Yeah, I do my best to avoid the seafood, but sometimes, it's all he will go for.

He looks at me like "I ordered fish, you brought me chicken.

You don't get a tip tonight."

I try to limit it to two "fishy" fancy feast cans a week. He likes chicken and the turkey kind the best, so I don't have much problem limiting his seafood. He will often choose turkey and giblets over any of the seafood ones. (Yes, I'm one of those that will open can after can until he likes one

) I have an exceptionally rotten, spoiled cat. But he had a rough life until he became a retired, indoor kitty, so I let him have his way (to a point).

dorimon · Jun 20, 2016

hbunny said:
Thank you Haven't seen those brands but will check them out online.

Yeah, I do my best to avoid the seafood, but sometimes, it's all he will go for.

He looks at me like "I ordered fish, you brought me chicken.

You don't get a tip tonight."

I try to limit it to two "fishy" fancy feast cans a week. He likes chicken and the turkey kind the best, so I don't have much problem limiting his seafood. He will often choose turkey and giblets over any of the seafood ones. (Yes, I'm one of those that will open can after can until he likes one

) I have an exceptionally rotten, spoiled cat. But he had a rough life until he became a retired, indoor kitty, so I let him have his way (to a point).

Once or twice a week won't hurt

And those were Wellness varieties, not different brands. Sorry for the confusion!

Anything out there comparable in cat preference to FF classic pates?

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