chicken soup for the cat lover's soul

Does any one know if the recipe for this has changed at all. I've been feeding my girls this since I got them (they're about 2 and 1 1/2 now). But lately, they both seem to be turning their noses up at it. Perhaps I just got a bad bag. I know with my Mr. Fuzzypants (RIP), he was eating Iams and I didn't know they changed the formula, so I'm trying to be more aware of things like that.

Also, I've heard varying stories. Should cats get variety in their food (slowly, of course), or should they stick with one food if there are no issues?

Thanks.

None of my cats will eat this food past the first day it is served to them. I am a bit put off by all the corn you can see in the product when you open the can.

Originally Posted by hissy

None of my cats will eat this food past the first day it is served to them. I am a bit put off by all the corn you can see in the product when you open the can.

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Sorry. I didn't explain myself correctly. My girls actually get the dry food. They didn't like the wet and neither did I. It just didn't look "healthy" or appetizing.

I'm not aware of any changes in the Chicken Soup. That's what my cats are on & they're eating it just as usual.

I've never tried the canned food, but I don't believe that any of the Chicken Soup formulas have any corn in them.

Our kitties just don't like it.

I tried it as a treat in the dry for my kidney girl... wouldnt touch it ... I dont like all the grains and guess the "kids " dont either..

Originally Posted by sharky

I tried it as a treat in the dry for my kidney girl... wouldnt touch it ... I dont like all the grains and guess the "kids " dont either..

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Are you feeding a raw diet or cat food? If cat food, what brand do you feed? Just wondering which ones are low on grain.

I'm surprised at the two comments about all the corn and grain in this product. I've been extensively researching all the cat foods out there, and CHICKEN SOUP has the most meat--and no corn.

Originally Posted by bloob & valo

I'm surprised at the two comments about all the corn and grain in this product. I've been extensively researching all the cat foods out there, and CHICKEN SOUP has the most meat--and no corn.

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I do think if Active Life were still in production, it would be my choice over Chicken Soup...and fwiw, California Natural Chicken and Rice is quite comparable, though lower on the min per centage of crude protein.

For just meat, and no grains, go with Wysong's Just Meats and supplement appropriately, or with Evangers Game Meats (for dogs - but it's simply a "just game meat" line of canned, just means supplementing again)

For me, Chicken Soup is too much...5 carbs (white, brown rice, barley, oatmeal and potatoes) and fruits and veggies. I know lots of folks do like it though...and re the formula changing in any way, it could just be you got a bad bag of food. I do think, it is a good idea to have at least 2 dry foods that your cats like and do well on and that you like, for times such as this.

I know Jcat does some deliberate rotation of foods with Jamie.

Right now I've been using Eukanuba dry and Nutro Natural Choice wet. I didn't care for the NNC dry ingredients but loved the wet for chicken and rice. But I'm going to be changing from Eukanuba when it runs out because I don't want the guys eating so much corn. It's high in sugar and brown rice is must healthier.

I've been researching cat foods this whole week, if anyone is interested, I'd be happy to post my findings.

Thanks all. I'm thinking it might have just been a bad/old bag. I picked up a new one today and the girls seemed to chow down. The little one didn't try to cover it up like it was something she found in her litter box. (which is what she was doing with the other bag). So, I'm hoping that was it.

If I were to mix in another food to give them variety. I know to do it slowly, but anyone have thoughts as to what would be comparable to the Chicken Soup? I don't want to screw up their digestive systems.

Originally Posted by mssandora

Thanks all. I'm thinking it might have just been a bad/old bag. I picked up a new one today and the girls seemed to chow down. The little one didn't try to cover it up like it was something she found in her litter box. (which is what she was doing with the other bag). So, I'm hoping that was it.

If I were to mix in another food to give them variety. I know to do it slowly, but anyone have thoughts as to what would be comparable to the Chicken Soup? I don't want to screw up their digestive systems.

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Take a look a Innova, I think it might be quite comparable

Originally Posted by bloob & valo

I've been researching cat foods this whole week, if anyone is interested, I'd be happy to post my findings.

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Sure if you want. This is a favorite topic here...and especially of mine, I used to be the nutrition advisor here, just cause I love researching and talking about foods and treats

Thanks. I'll do that.

I would love to see some findings about both wet and dry food if anyone does have them. We have a sugarkitty (for those of you who speak plain english- this means diabetic) and she has to be on a low carb diet and I keep looking for different ones she might like because they all seem to get old with her quickly.

i dont knwo what brand your eon about, but i noticed that the cats like the normal cheap brand instead of whiskas.

Originally Posted by irprnces

I would love to see some findings about both wet and dry food if anyone does have them. We have a sugarkitty (for those of you who speak plain english- this means diabetic) and she has to be on a low carb diet and I keep looking for different ones she might like because they all seem to get old with her quickly.

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Are you familiar with www.gorbzilla.com? It has a link to a food analysis page and many other good links. I have an early diabetes kitty, who we are simply feeding a nothing but canned food diet to (while managing his other issues).

I would think if you haven't yet, you might want to consider the Wysong Just Meat canned foods (require supplementation, but if you want variety re protein, here it is!) plus Evanger's has canned game meats that are "just meat" (though labeled for dogs, if you are supplementing, it shouldn't be a problem..of course, consult your vet re these two options).

Tons of treat options out there for diabetic cats

My cats are still eating their dry Chicken Soup, no problem. I go through an 18# bag a week so if there were a bad batch it would probably rotate through here at some point. So far no sign of that, though.

I don't think it's absolutely the best dry food out there but in terms of maximum quality for minimal cost, I think it's probably about the best you can do. Around her it's about $20 for an 18# bag. That's cheaper than Nutro and much cheaper than so called "premium" but poorer quality foods like Science Diet and Iams. It is high in grain but it's free of wheat and corn which is a bonus. In a perfect world I'd probably feed Innova (well, okay, in a perfect world I'd feed raw but that's another story), but Innova is 30-50% more expensive which would be tough on a student budget and with a very full house! So Chicken Soup it is. Not the best stuff in the world, but on balance it is better for me to save the $50 a month at this point.

But as for the wet food - let's just say the gang was not impressed. Just as well for me since it doesn't come in 13 ounce cans. But Innova does, and their canned food is more competitively priced than their dry food. And the kids love it!