Feeding Ferals and Strays what of these would you feed ??

I hope the mods leave this in health and nutrition

I have a small feral and semi feral population that I am feeding and will be TNR and adopting out as I can ... I have a tight budget so I am looking at food s normally I would never feed ... I need help

SPortmix 16.5lbs 6.99, 35 13.99
INGREDIENTS
Ground Yellow Corn, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Fish Meal, Ground Wheat, Dried Whey Products, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Natural Flavoring, Yeast Culture, Wheat Germ Meal, Taurine, Salt, Choline Chloride, Vitamin A Acetate Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Calcium d-Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Magnesium Oxide.
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein, not less than 30.0%
Crude Fat, not less than 10.0%
Crude Fiber, not more than 4.5%
Moisture, not more than 12.0%

Chicken soup 18.99 for a 16lb




Adult cats love the taste of Chicken and Salmon ... the number ONE and TWO ingredients in our formula.
Fresh, Pure, Wholesome Ingredients

Chicken, Salmon, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, whole grain white rice, potatoes, cracked pearled barley, millet, turkey, duck, flaxseed, egg product, natural chicken flavor, carrots, peas, apples, dried skim milk, kelp, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, salt, choline chloride, dried chicory root, methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein 30% minimum
Crude Fat 20% minimum
Crude Fiber 3% maximum
Moisture 10% maximum
Magnesium 0.1% maximum
Taurine 0.1% minimum
Omega-6 Fatty Acids* 3.4% minimum
Omega-3 Fatty Acids* 0.6% minimum

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile.

Diamond about 20 $ for a 20lb
Maintenance Formula for Cats
DiamondÂ[emoji]174[/emoji] Maintenance Formula for Cats is designed to enhance the long term health of adult cats and is formulated with high quality nutrients, in optimum amounts, including Omega Fatty Acids for shiny coat.


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein
30.0%
minimum
Crude Fat 15.0% minimum
Crude Fiber 3.0% maximum
Moisture 10.0% maximum
Ash
6.0%
maximum

Magnesium
0.1%
maximum

Taurine
0.1%
minimum

Omega-6 Fatty Acids 2.4% minimum*
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 0.4%
minimum*

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile.

Calorie Content:
3,742 kcals/kg (350 kcals/cup)
Calculated Metabolizable Energy


Feeding Guidelines
Recommended Daily Portion
Wt.
Standard Measuring

(lbs)
Cups per Day

3 - 5
1/3 - 1/2

5 - 10
1/2 - 2/3

10 - 15
2/3 - 1

15 - 20
1 - 1 1/4



Ingredients
Chicken by-product meal, whole grain ground corn, wheat flour, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brewers rice, corn gluten meal, beet pulp, fish meal, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, salt, choline chloride, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganese oxide, sodium selenite, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (source of vitamin K activity), vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

Nutros max cat the second is the hairball formula about 20bucks for a 20lbs
Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Flour, Ground Rice, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Ground Whole Wheat, Natural Flavors, Lamb Meal, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Dried Egg Product, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Inositol, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Manganous Oxide, Garlic Flavor, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Potassium Iodide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid, Sodium Selentite.


Animal feeding tests using AAFCO* procedures substantiate that MAX Cat Gourmet Classics Adult Roasted Chicken Flavor provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult cat maintenance *Association of American Feed Control Officials


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (minimum) 32.00%
Crude Fat (minimum) 18.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum) 3.00%
Moisture (maximum) 10.00%
Ash (maximum) 6.50%
Linoleic Acid (minimum) 3.50%
Magnesium (maximum) 0.085%
Zinc (minimum) 200 mg/kg
Taurine (minimum) 0.16%
Ascorbic Acid (minimum)* 18 mg/kg
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Herring Meal, Oat Fiber, Lamb Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Monosodium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Dried Egg Product, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Manganous Oxide, Garlic, Niacin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Calcium Iodate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid.


Animal feeding tests using AAFCO* procedures substantiate MAX Cat Gourmet Classics Hairball Management Roasted Chicken Flavor provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult cat maintenance.
*Association of American Feed Control Officials


Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (minimum) 30.00%
Crude Fat (minimum) 15.00%
Crude Fiber (maximum) 4.00%
Moisture (maximum) 10.00%
Ash (maximum) 6.75%
Linoleic Acid (minimum) 4.00%
Magnesium (maximum) 0.088%
Zinc (minimum) 250 mg/kg
Taurine (minimum) 0.16%
Ascorbic Acid (minimum)* 18 mg/kg

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

Nutros Natural choice it would be about 40 a month since my Zoey eats this

Ingredients
Chicken Meal, Ground Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Rice Flour, Natural Flavors, Rice Protein Concentrate, Herring Meal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Dried Vegetable Fiber (Carrots, Celery, Beets, Parsley, Lettuce, Water Cress, Spinach), Oat Fiber, Yeast Culture, Potassium Chloride, Menhaden Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Choline Chloride, Dried Egg Product, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Inositol, Dried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation Extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation Extract, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Dried Chicory Root, Cranberry Powder, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Calcium Iodate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid.
Nutro supports the safe, ethical and humane treatment of all animals, including those used by our suppliers who provide our ingredients.

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.) 33.00%
Crude Fat (min.) 19.00%
Crude Fiber (max.) 4.00%
Moisture (max.) 10.00%
Ash (max.) 6.75%
Linoleic Acid (min.) 4.00%
Arachidonic Acid (ARA)(min.) 0.05%
Magnesium (max.) 0.088%
Iron (min.) 200 mg/kg
Manganese (min.) 35 mg/kg
Zinc (min.) 250 mg/kg
Vitamin D (min.) 1,200 IU/kg
Vitamin E (min.) 250 IU/kg
Taurine (min.) 0.18%
Ascorbic Acid (min.)* 50 mg/kg
Beta-Carotene (min.)* 3.2 mg/kg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)(min.)* 0.06%
Total Bacillus Species (min.)* 565 Million CFU‡/lb
(Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis)

*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.
‡Colony forming units.


I would like honest opinions ... I think i will be going thru about 25lbs a month .... please feel free to discuss why you choose

The reason for the thread is I can spend about 30 a month for the ferals but am wondering if higher quality will keep the wild bunch any healthier than supermarket.... see my vet budget is small and they are coming out of the woodwork

Originally Posted by sharky

The reason for the thread is I can spend about 30 a month for the ferals but am wondering if higher quality will keep the wild bunch any healthier than supermarket.... see my vet budget is small and they are coming out of the woodwork

Click to expand...

Chicken soup 18.99 for a 16lb


I'd feed that one, personally.

I wouldnt feed diamond, but thats my personal thought. Because, I saw what its done to Maia...we are now just getting her corrected.


Chicken soup would be the one I would go with off the list. Purina One is decent for what it is. I dont see it on the list tho.

I'd go for the chicken soup also because the first 2 ingredients are meats

Our outside barn cats get Kirkland's Maintenance cat food and have done well. Kirkland is made for Costco company - you can only get it there.

I would also say Chicken Soup (far superior to that Sportmix), with Max Cat running in second if the Natural Choice is too expensive. The feeding requirements for Diamond seem awfully high - I figure 1/2 cup for a 15 lb. cat, and that calls for twice the amount.

Diamond also just had a recall for that fungus or whatever on their grain that was causing some very sick babies!

I was not the least bit pleased with the Diamond cat food. It gave the outside cats really bad diarrhea. One of them wouldn't even touch it.

Right now, the outside cats get 3/4 Chicken Soup & 1/4 Purina Cat Chow. They are being difficult about the Chicken Soup & don't eat only Chicken Soup, so I mix in a bit of junk for them.

I'd go with the Chicken Soup. At my old house, I fed the ferals/strays in the back lane Premium Edge Finicky Cat dry and Nature's Recipe Chicken canned. I know...ick! But, back then that was all I could afford. It was better than the Whiskas, Friskies or 9 Lives I could have fed them from the grocery store. I wanted the best quality food for the money I had and PE and NR did the trick. Actually, Chicken Soup was my second choice while I was looking for foods, because it is SO cheap, but it's a great quality food. Good luck!

Sharky, I'm not a fan of feeding dry food, preferring to feed the highest quality canned food I can afford, but if I had to choose from the foods you listed, I'd go with the Chicken Soup. You want a food where the first 3 ingredients are meat, not ground corn or other carbs. You also don't want anything made with by-products.

Like Zissou'sMom, I've also become aware of the big problems with Diamond food. Sadly, several cats and dogs have already died from eating it. There are warnings about this food posted at my animal hospital.

Originally Posted by KTLynn

Sharky, I'm not a fan of feeding dry food, preferring to feed the highest quality canned food I can afford, but if I had to choose from the foods you listed, I'd go with the Chicken Soup. You want a food where the first 3 ingredients are meat, not ground corn or other carbs. You also don't want anything made with by-products.

Like Zissou'sMom, I've also become aware of the big problems with Diamond food. Sadly, several cats and dogs have already died from eating it. There are warnings about this food posted at my animal hospital.

Click to expand...

KTLynn
Thank you for the advise but at this time my ferals arent getting wet food as I am still figuring out how many are being feed...

On that note anoyone know of cheap 12 ounce quality cat cans??? by cheap I mean under 1.40 a can

for the last three days I have put out two or three bowls of food ... chn soup , max and natural choice... They ate all the natural choice most of the max( lobster flavor) and very little of the chn soup.... So I will have to cut the fat in the budget and give them what they want...


Now I need canned food help.... I would like to give some wet food ... but do I do grocery or premium>???

Seeing as you've already sacrificed your own budget for the dry food, I'd feed them the best cheap canned food you can find.

Sharky I think the Purina one would be ok since you can not get a hold of them. If you have kids and stuff please take care of them. Do not pull from your grocery's if you can't. I think the cats will eat what you give them because if not they have no one else. You are doing great by helping just do not sacrifice yourself.

Originally Posted by momof3rugratz

Sharky I think the Purina one would be ok since you can not get a hold of them. If you have kids and stuff please take care of them. Do not pull from your grocery's if you can't. I think the cats will eat what you give them because if not they have no one else. You are doing great by helping just do not sacrifice yourself.

Click to expand...

My kida have four legs and tails or fins.. I can go with out a latte or two a week to help some animals in need.. that is what I meant about cutting the budget .. Oh an by me purina one is as much as natural choice... Thank you for the concern

I hope you are not upset at me. I did not know you had no kids but the cats I think it is great what you are doing. I agree I would sacrifice the latte also

Originally Posted by sharky

My kida have four legs and tails or fins.. I can go with out a latte or two a week to help some animals in need.. that is what I meant about cutting the budget

.. Oh an by me purina one is as much as natural choice... Thank you for the concern

Click to expand...

I have a three Dollar GC to Starbucks i could mail you if you wanted i wont use it lol