Is my catfood OK?

I'm sorry, I can't give that "Iams is great" endorsement you're looking for. The best I can say is that it's the best of the "grocery store" cat foods. And that (Iams adult original) at least protein sources are the top two ingredients, not grains. I haven't bought it for a while, but if my memory serves, it was about $7 for a 5# bag. For about $9 for a 5# bag you can buy a top-quality super-premium cat food. Although that almost 30% more the price is deceptive, because many people find that their cats actually need to eat less of a super-premium food.

Originally Posted by SimmyandNunny

I'm only spending about 10 dollars a month. They're 3 and 4 and they're both healthy. Much appreciated!

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Okay, based on my 25 hours of contemplating how to feed my cat and going through dozens of sample packages and internet searches and so forth, here is how I would feed two healthy cats for five months if I only had a total of $50.

Start: Buy a 20 lb bag of Authority Indoor Cat Food for $18 plus tax ($20) plus nine packs (4 cans per pack) of 9-Lives for $1/pack plus tax ($10).

Mid-way point: Buy another 20 lb bag of Authority ($20).

So that gives you 40 lbs of Authority and three dozen cans of 9-Lives for two cats to spread out over 20 weeks. Feed the cats as much Authority as needed, then as a special treat split a can of 9-Lives between the cats twice a week when you want them to have some fun.

The above would be my best suggestion based on your conditions but please do your own analysis and decide what's best for your cats.

Originally Posted by coaster

I'm sorry, I can't give that "Iams is great" endorsement you're looking for. The best I can say is that it's the best of the "grocery store" cat foods. And that (Iams adult original) at least protein sources are the top two ingredients, not grains. I haven't bought it for a while, but if my memory serves, it was about $7 for a 5# bag. For about $9 for a 5# bag you can buy a top-quality super-premium cat food. Although that almost 30% more the price is deceptive, because many people find that their cats actually need to eat less of a super-premium food.

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I have no problem with Iams nor Purina... I am using Iams for kitten food, because the vet reccommended it. When the kittens are grown up, they'll go back to Purina. They really seem to like the Purina over the Iams, tastewise, even though I'd like it if it were the other way around. But, I do like Iams. And I do like Purina. They're all good IMO.

Originally Posted by SimmyandNunny

I can't find the original thread, but someone was talking about how the ingredients should contain real meat versus meat by product. I've never heard this before, and am now concerned.

I feed my boys Purina Cat Chow "complete forumula" and the first ingredient is Poultry by-product meal.

Is this not good? Can someone tell me why? I want to give them the best food I can according to my budget. If I had the money, I'd buy them Iams.

Can anyone recommend a good catfood? They're 3 and 4 years old male indoor cats.

Thanks!

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I see you've had a lot of responses, including some I agree with No, by-product meal is not the best option for your kitty. If you can afford a food that begins with real meat or poultry or a poultry meal, that is preferable.

Things you do not want to see in your cat food - by-products, animal digest, soy, corn/ground corn, corn gluten meal as the first listed ingredient, artificial colorings, any sweetener, several carbs such using both wheat flour and say ground corn.

Iams is not a favorite of mine either, here is why - here are the first ingredients in Iams Original Formula: "Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Grits, Corn Meal, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Fish Meal (source of fish oil),"
You can do better with Petsmart's Authority brand!

Wow, I didn't no that. I come from a farm where we have little to no money, and we just buy the cheepest thing on the self? Hasn't killed htem yet? And i fed this too all of my cats anf they lived for over 13 years? So i dunno if you get better product for more money? Bu ti guess my cats hunt too, so maybe thats why youo need teh more nutritional food?

A real mouse is preferable to cheap food with red dye, and by-products any day - it's fresh, not contaminated potentially with who knows what...

Yup, some cats live to old age on the ickiest food out there, but if you know what's better for them, why not feed the best you can sensibly afford? I want all my cats to hit their late teens to 20's...diet can make a difference.

We feed Royal Canin Persian to our adult cats, and Royal Canin Babycat to our kittens. They are doing so well on it.

wellingtoncats- i feed royal canin too. my kitty loves it and her coat is super soft! i love how the kitten kibbles are so tiny

Originally Posted by irisanth

wellingtoncats- i feed royal canin too. my kitty loves it and her coat is super soft! i love how the kitten kibbles are so tiny

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That's good. They are so cute aren't they - makes them much easier for little mouths.

But see we buy like a 40 lb bag of catfood for like 20 dollars, thats all we can afford, and that lasts two months, it can't be that bad?
Its ually surefien or the Hy-Vee brand? BUt as I sadi they are outside cats, so they hunt

Originally Posted by sadheart

But see we buy like a 40 lb bag of catfood for like 20 dollars, thats all we can afford, and that lasts two months, it can't be that bad?
Its ually surefien or the Hy-Vee brand? BUt as I sadi they are outside cats, so they hunt

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If your looking for a higher quilty brand without a mega$$ try to go to a feed store like Murdocks , they have premium brands for less than specialty pet stores( from what I have found ...

I feed mine Nutro Natural Complete kitten care one. It is a pink bag and not too expensive, they don't love it, but will eat it.

Mine have been on Science Diet for quite a while now. I had them on Iams, and my vet suggested taking them off it, as it's quite high in fat (and one of my cats is.. uh.. well.. let's just say a little chunky

Anyone else using Science Diet? Or have I succumbed to the Vet?

Every time I got to my local pet store, they keep trying to get me to switch to Nutrience, but my cats think that Nutrience is Candy, so I'm not going there.

I'm in Canada, and we can't get a lot of the brands that are mentioned on this board.

Originally Posted by jparnell

Mine have been on Science Diet for quite a while now. I had them on Iams, and my vet suggested taking them off it, as it's quite high in fat (and one of my cats is.. uh.. well.. let's just say a little chunky

Anyone else using Science Diet? Or have I succumbed to the Vet?

Every time I got to my local pet store, they keep trying to get me to switch to Nutrience, but my cats think that Nutrience is Candy, so I'm not going there.

I'm in Canada, and we can't get a lot of the brands that are mentioned on this board.

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Let me tell you one thing-all the vets that I have been to push Science Diet as well, but judging by the list of ingredients, it's not a good food at all.

I make limited use of Science Diet -- occasionally Rocket gets pudding poop and I clear that up with the Sensitive Stomach formula. Also I use the Oral Care formula for treats / dental chews. But it's interesting that jparnell's vet said to switch from Iams to SD because Iams was too high in fat. I don't know how the percentages compare, but to me SD sure SEEMS high in fat. It FEELS greasy, and it SMELLS greasy. And the fat would make it quite tasty to cats.

Originally Posted by irisanth

wellingtoncats- i feed royal canin too. my kitty loves it and her coat is super soft! i love how the kitten kibbles are so tiny

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my guys get royal canin Sensible Choice Chicken & Rice adult formula for their kibble. they are doing well on it & their coats are nice. it's one of the foods my vet recommended for my crew.

for the original poster, i would recommend bumping up to Purina One if you can afford it. the ingredients are a bit better than the Cat Chow. otherwise Cat Chow is better than most of the cheapie foods out there. at least it doesn't have dyes in it. wal-mart & target carry Purina One, & target has regular sales on their pet foods & litter.

Originally Posted by coaster

I don't know how the percentages compare, but to me SD sure SEEMS high in fat. It FEELS greasy, and it SMELLS greasy. And the fat would make it quite tasty to cats.

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Funny how that hasn't changed in years...I remember the icky smell and greasy feel of this when I tried it with my cats back in the late 80's/early '90s. My cats weren't impressed either!

I feed all my adult cats Purina Cat Chow, and they seem to like it just fine, then again, they will eat just about what ever is put in front of them.
My two kittens are on Fortum Brand Kitten food, which is Petcetera's own brand of food. They seem to like it alot, but looking at the ingrediants, Im not soo sure of its quality.
It's ingrediants are: Chicken By-Product Meal, brewers rice, ground corn, chicken fat, dried beet pulp, fish meal, dried whole eggs, and brewers dried yeast...etc,
Good?Bad?OK?

Originally Posted by SimmyandNunny

Purina one, huh? I don't remember seeing that brand. I've seen the indoor formula, I'll have to look for that. Thanks so much! Very thoughtful of you to take the time to post that, I appreciate it.

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your welcome sorry it took me a few days to come back to this thread. You can also look up Purina Pro plan, both are very similar. I know Purina One is doing a 30day Purina challange right now and many people have i spoken to are havign wonderful results.