Advice/Opinions re. Natural Cat Foods, and a Question About 'Holistic'

I'm wanting to switch my cats to a natural, 'human grade' cat food, and am considering either Felidae or California Natural (these two do fit that bill, right? It seems so from their websites...). Any opinions on these? Can anyone recommend other brands that they like? Oh, my cats are aged 9, 8 and 3, and are all either neutered or spayed, if that makes a difference in which brand would be best for them.

Also, this is going to be a really stupid question, but when a cat food is described as holistic, what exactly does that mean? I mean, I know the dictionary definition of 'holistic', but in regard to cat food - what qualifies a cat food as holistic?

Thanks!

I did some research yesterday and today and one of the human grade cats foods, claims that their "First two meat ingredients are human grade" this meant that the chicken meal was not, as well as the other non-meat ingredients. I have always fed my cats store-bought catfood. Experimenting with more expensive brands from time to time. All our cats are healthy as could be, and we feed Iams dry food. I had a cat that lived to the ripe old age of 23 and all my parents would ever buy for her was CRAP the cheapest they could buy canned food (no dry). It's kind of like people. You can eat as healthy as you want and work out 20 times a day, but you're still going to die. The media hypes up "natural" this, "Low-fat" that, and "low carb" whatever. There is also the "miracle cure" of the week...eating (fill in the blank) can help you live longer! Kind of stuff. I have spent the money on high dollar cat food before, and unless your cat needs a prescription diet, I have really found that it does not make a difference. I do however refuse to feed some of that super-nasty cat food out there at the grocery store. The color added to the cat food only serves to attract consumers, oh and produce some wonderfully multi-colored vomit piles. Feeding your animals basically comes down to what makes *you* feel good. If you think all "natural" is the way to go, then more power to ya! I am just always leery about these amazing claims some companies make. Like I've always said, just because it's "Natural" doesn't mean it's good! Now, of course this is just an opinion. I don't expect anyone else to agree with me.

Originally Posted by Juniper

I'm wanting to switch my cats to a natural, 'human grade' cat food, and am considering either Felidae or California Natural (these two do fit that bill, right? It seems so from their websites...). Any opinions on these? Can anyone recommend other brands that they like? Oh, my cats are aged 9, 8 and 3, and are all either neutered or spayed, if that makes a difference in which brand would be best for them.

Also, this is going to be a really stupid question, but when a cat food is described as holistic, what exactly does that mean? I mean, I know the dictionary definition of 'holistic', but in regard to cat food - what qualifies a cat food as holistic?

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Yep, Felidae and California Natural are considered human-grade (aka super/ultra-premium). Our two cats were initially okay with super-premium foods like Felidae, Innova, Wellness, and Holistic Blend. But then one of our cats developed skin problems, and so on the recommendation of our holistic vet, we switched both cats to pre-made raw meat diets, and now they're doing extremely well.

Every cat is different. As Sarah (PrissyKitty) said in her earlier posting, some cats seem to do well even on low-quality food. But what's true of people is also true of pets. There's a paragraph from the book, "Veterinarians' Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats" that sums this up nicely:
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page 18:
You may be thinking that your cat seems to be fine and all you're doing is feeding it every day from the bag of food you buy at the supermarket. You may be right, because just as there are people who smoke, drink, and eat poorly and yet do not suffer from debilitating problems and die at one hundred, there are many resilient, long-lived animals who exist solely on commercial foods. Most animals, however, are hugely benefited by notching up the quality of their diet. The benefits show up as healthier cats with better appearance, more vitality, and fewer veterinary bills.
==

It's probably worth trying out different foods with your cats, but you may want to consider consulting with a vet (preferably a holistic vet) first.

I guess for pet food, holistic means high-quality, healthy -- and preferably natural and organic -- ingredients, meaning no meat meal, by-products, or other unsavoury ingredients.

- george

There have been some very complete and great answers to this already, so I won't repeat the good points already shared

I do prefer human-grade treats and the super premium cat foods that do not include artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, high use of soy or corn, or by-products. Great brands to consider include Solid Gold, Lick Your Chops, Flint River Ranch (my only problem with FRR is it's expense, I used to be a dealer and swore by this food for quite a few years), the two that you mentioned (btw, though this is a matter for discussion, I personally do not feed garlic...which rules out Wellness and I believe Azmira). For freeze-dried/raw consider Steve's Real Foods, or Raw Advantage (expensive but first rate!)

hope this helps

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

personally do not feed garlic...which rules out Wellness and I believe Azmira

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I gotta know...why is this?

Personally,

If you can stand to do it, I would feed a raw meat diet. Then you know they are getting quality meat.

A necessity if you choose to go the raw meat path is a proper supplement. There is really only one completely healthy choice. www.apperon.com is the maker of Oasis vitamins.

There are other supplement companies out there, but none of them can match Oasis.

My opinion, but if you're going to upgrade them to the highest commercially available diet, why not go all the way, and give them the best possible diet there is?

Spotz

I don't feed it because it's a blood thinner, but ya didn't ask me

Originally Posted by DiMa

I gotta know...why is this?

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Garlic and most other similar plant products induce anemia in cats. Anemia is not a good thing. Onions are in the same family as Garlic.

It's palatable, which is the most likely reason for its use.

Antifreeze is also palatable...palatability does not mean healthy.

Spotz

Originally Posted by DiMa

I gotta know...why is this?

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Site with information on use of garlic and onions with cats

I don't think there is anyone out there who disputes the risks of onions with cats, but the debate is over the related substance in garlic, and if it really needs to be avoided.

Many of us, myself included, in years gone by, used garlic as a flea repellent by feeding it to our cats. I now am glad I didn't do so long term, and am glad I saw no ill effects in the short time I tried it.

I admit to being more sensitive to this issue because of owning a kitty with Chronic Renal Failure (CRF), one of the issues that develops with them is anemia, and topics such as use of onions or foods with garlic (afterall, Wellness is a very popular and highly regarded food, as is Spot's Stew..a canned food which also contains garlic) is oft discussed on the support list I am on. Anecdotally, some cats may be more sensitive to garlic, based on list member comments, some continue to feed foods containing, some have seen serious health issues develop quickly with short term use.

So...my preference to not feed garlic, and to note that there is a concern about it to research for yourself, is based on my belief that if the similar substance in garlic can possibly cause the Heinz Body Anemia that can develop in cats fed onions, I'm not going to risk it.

Originally Posted by Spotz

Garlic and most other similar plant products induce anemia in cats. Anemia is not a good thing. Onions are in the same family as Garlic.

It's palatable, which is the most likely reason for its use.

Antifreeze is also palatable...palatability does not mean healthy.

Spotz

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Spotz,
I love your brevity! You get your points across much more economically re word use than I do!

Another line of thought on "natural/holistic" food: Natura, the makers of Innova and California Natural I believe, are known for their human grade factories wrt cleanliness, etc, not just the ingredients. They also don't cage their animals like most pet food manufacturers do.

Our neighbors had 2 cats that lived to 18 and 19 eating Friskies, although they had major health problems. A vet told me that our overweight 9 year old would die from complications of his weight, not cancer from the preservatives and other nasty stuff in his Science Diet he wanted us to buy. Well, it was a huge tumor on kitty's small intestine (aggressive with mets to lymph) that shortened his life miserably.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

Spotz,

I love your brevity! You get your points across much more economically re word use than I do!

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LOL...I figured I had competition...so I KISSed it

Spotz

"Can anyone recommend other brands that they like? Oh, my cats are aged 9, 8 and 3, and are all either neutered or spayed, if that makes a difference in which brand would be best for them."

Cats have been the best part of my life for 30 years and while I have tried many different ones, I am constantly trying to make sure I get the healthiest one I can that fits my cat population (ages, dietary needs, etc.) the best. I used Iams for a long but switched to NutroMax Cat (adult or kitten, depending). The wonderful cat recsue organization, "Forgotten Felines" of Sonoma County uses it and recommends it, which is good advice as far as I'm concerned. If nothing else watch the ash content (for urinary tract infection protection, keep it low). I also say stay away from the multi-colored cat food at the grocery stores, etc.
New Grandma of 5 beautuful kittens from my wonderful little stray we took in a couple of months ago. I don't want to give ANY away!!!
Lorie

Originally Posted by donnageorge

Yep, Felidae and California Natural are considered human-grade (aka super/ultra-premium). Our two cats were initially okay with super-premium foods like Felidae, Innova, Wellness, and Holistic Blend. But then one of our cats developed skin problems, and so on the recommendation of our holistic vet, we switched both cats to pre-made raw meat diets, and now they're doing extremely well.

................................................................................ ........


It's probably worth trying out different foods with your cats, but you may want to consider consulting with a vet (preferably a holistic vet) first.

I guess for pet food, holistic means high-quality, healthy -- and preferably natural and organic -- ingredients, meaning no meat meal, by-products, or other unsavoury ingredients.

- george

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hi, it's my second post here... thank you, thank you...

i read a book called Keep Your Cat Healthy the Natural Way, by PAT LAZARUS. after I got my kitties for about two to three weeks, I switched to RAW CHICKEN MEAT, HEART, GIZZART, AND SOME TURKEY, A LITTLE BIT FISH, a little bit veggie, a little bit yugort, AND SOME OF MY TABLE'S LEFTOVER. my two kitties seems fine, energitic, and healthy, well at least to my eyes. then just a week ago, I told my aunt that I fed my kitties with raw meat, she was like shocked. She asked me what raw meat was fed to my kitties, I said chicken and turkey, she was..........more shocked! She was an nutrient major back when she first came to USA in 70's. She warned me that raw meat is extremely dangerous, expecially chicken and other fowls. because of Salmonella and other things, and it's not safe to feed fish and pork raw, since there would be parasite and germs in there too! She said that the only raw meat that could be safe is beef, but sadly, I read somewhere that beef is not safe after all...

I was so scared, I went to library to do some research and found out that salmonelle could a threat, maybe not to cats, but to us through cats! And I also found out that the process of slaughtering and processing raw meat is not very safe in USA, or any other place. Now, my mind was fed up by PAT LAZARUS and other holistic books, that I do not wish to feed my two kitties commercial food. But at the same time, it seemed to me that raw meat is not good either....maybe I should just cook them...man, I should feed them commercial food like my auntie so my kitties could be fat and delicious !

I don't know what to feed my kitties now, donnageorge, or any other people who fed their felines or other pets raw meat, plz, could you tell me if there's a safe way to feed my kitties raw meat, with minimal chance to get something like salmonelle. I want to call a holitic vet, but I am not very rich...I am afraid that those "holistic" vets are just like those so-called organic food, very expensive, like consult a lawyer......do you know how much do I have to pay if I just want to consult a holistic vet through phone?

really appreciated!!


confused gorilla....with two kitties...

Sorry, don't know anything about raw foods, but I do have a comment on this topic. Whatever food you do choose, make sure it's been tested and veternarian approved. I switched to a "human-grade" food that hasn't been on the market too long, and as a result my oldest developed bladder stones. I threw out the rest of the food and went with what my vet recommended - a food that has been on the market for years, and hasn't been known to cause health problems.

Just a note....my vet recently told me that she personally was involved in a study that tested cats fed Azmira, and proved to her satisfaction that that cat food causes crystals to form in the urinary tract. I was sorry to hear this because Beau liked Azmira, but of course I stopped giving it to him right away. Now that he has been diagnosed with CRF I have switched him to Innova Lite, which he unfortunatley doesn't like very much. I have heard that Wellness is really good, too. It does make a difference what you feed even if the cat is healthy. Eating junk food will catch up to you, whether you are person or cat, and since I won't feed myself junk food, my dog and cat eat healthy food too. Just my opinion.

I feed my cats a rotation of foods. Right now they are eating Nutro Natural Choice dry and they split half a 5.5 ounce can of wet food 6 days a week. I love the ultra premium foods like Felidae and Natural Balance but sadly I can not get them easily and can't afford the outrageous shipping prices. I have decided to feed the best that I can find here locally. After about 3 or 4 months I rotate their dry food to a different brand.


If you want to feed ultra premium my favorite is Felidae. We tried Innova and Chicken Soup and the results were not good for us.

Have you tried the Merrick or Active Life? They have chunks. My cats LOVE them but I have a hard time finding them.

I don't have access to as many "human-grade" cat foods as those of you living in North America do, but I'd add Innova (which no longer contains garlic) and Solid Gold to the list of "natural foods". Jamie will eat Nutro dry food, but won't touch the canned. Right now I'm looking into Serengeti. Jamie has allergies, so I basically look for foods that contain mainly meat/fish, meat or fish meal, as little corn as possible (whole-grain rice is preferable in his case), no soybeans, no beet pulp, and no additives or preservatives. I add water to whatever canned food he'll eat, which basically means anything in a 2 or 3 ounce-can other than Nutro. A raw meat diet might be preferable, but he refuses such a thing. So much for beef filet from Argentina!

Originally Posted by octoberdana

Have you tried the Merrick or Active Life? They have chunks. My cats LOVE them but I have a hard time finding them.

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Active Life is the finest cat food in terms of what I want in a canned cat food. Hopefully, the company will be back in production sometime in 2005. Time for me to contact them again and ask

Their chunky chicken would have fit the bill for those whose cats want chunky food.