Yes. But since I do not live in the US, the stock may be older than yours. Gee, now I'm starting to worry.Originally Posted by undergunfire
Have you purchased a 15lbs bag within the past 2 weeks, though?
Yes. But since I do not live in the US, the stock may be older than yours. Gee, now I'm starting to worry.Originally Posted by undergunfire
Have you purchased a 15lbs bag within the past 2 weeks, though?
If my local shop has it, I'm going to buy a 15 pound bag tomorrow. So I'll let you all know...Originally Posted by yayi
Yes. But since I do not live in the US, the stock may be older than yours. Gee, now I'm starting to worry.
It actually depends on the food - some you will feed 1 - 1 and 1/2 can a day, some you will feed over 2 cans... You need to check the label.Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy
That's how much I fed mine when they were on canned.
^ My responses are typed above.Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy
To be honest, I think your current priority should be to get them off the TOTW and onto a wholly wet food diet. Once you've done that - and their poos have returned to "normal", then you can start experimenting with different flavors of wet foods to feed.
I took the TOTW away this morning and so far they have had wet food and have eagerly eaten it. I mixed some tuna & juice into some chicken wet food earlier...then when I got home just a bit ago I dished out some of the plain chicken. It is Innova...not EVO.
Just keep a close eye on their litter box habits, especially if either of your cats are boys (males are more prone to UTI issues). Any odd behavior, straining or peeing outside the litter box and you should get them to the vet ASAP for a urinalysis.
Both are boys. Their litter box is a huuuuge one from Petco that I keep in a sliding door closet in the hall way. I can't have it out in the open because my dog likes to eat their poo. They have never had "accidents", but I will surely watch out for them.
I could always return the fish flavored food to PetSmart and get some beef/turkey/chicken flavored ones and mix in some tuna juice..then slowly take away the tuna juice. I will only do that, though, if they aren't wanting anything to do with the non-fish wet food.
One thing in your favor - dry foods generally have to be transitioned slowly to avoid upset digestive systems, however, wet foods can be changed every meal. When I fed canned, I rotated through over 20 different flavors, one can after the other.
Does this go for brands, too, not just flavors? Like one week feed EVO, the next week feed something else that might be not as high quality...like Eagle Pack? If that doesn't matter...will it mess them up going from a grain-free wet to a wet including grain?
If so...that would be really cool because I could possibly catch sales!
It depends - IMO the problem is not being fish, but where they come from, and how they are processed - you want to make sure, if you feed a lot of fish, to feed a low phosphorus and potassium food; preferably of smaller fishes, or from places where mercury pollution are not an issue. Readily available fish based food can definitely be a problem...Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy
And you're right, too much fish isn't good for cats. Our beautiful felines descended from desert animals, who didn't evolve eating fish (no water in a desert, ya' know *chuckle*). I can't remember what the mechanism is, but too much fish (with "too much" being different for every cat) can cause urinary tract crystal formations, something you absolutely don't want.
I'd be careful using label recommendations as anything other than initial guidelines, as they sometime way over-recommend feeding amounts. Then watch the cat - if you see an unhealthy weight gain, drop the amount you're feeding a bit; if there's a too-fast or too-high loss of weight, increase the amount a bit. Just like everything else, cats are individuals and nothing works for all of them.Originally Posted by carolinalima
It actually depends on the food - some you will feed 1 - 1 and 1/2 can a day, some you will feed over 2 cans... You need to check the label.
I wonder if others aren't seeing an issue because they are mixing it in with other foods? The TOTW was my cats' only diet.Originally Posted by white cat lover
My cats have been eating TOTW for 8-10 months now without any issues. I have purchased a small bag recently, about 3 weeks ago. I have been feeding it to 16 cats (mixed in with other foods). They are happily eating the TOTW & the other food.
I urge you to get your cats to the vet - I had a similar experience with Natural Balance & will never feed it again. Many of my cats became ill after eating Natural Balance dry food....some cats just do not do well on certain foods.
And also - did you do a gradual switch to the TOTW, switching from the old food to the new food over a 2 week timeframe? I'm wondering if somehow their digestive tracts weren't thrown off.
I understand that - and again, it is not the fish, but where they come from, and how they are processed. I feed LOW potassium, LOW phosphorous fish based food, UTI approved to Bugsy. It ALSO comes from unpolluted (well, as much as possible) waters, and I prefer (because of mercury) smaller fish, not on the top of the food chain. I am addressing both issuesOriginally Posted by Auntie Crazy
Carolinalima, mercury is a different issue. Since fish isn't really good for them to begin with, I just recommend it be avoided or fed sparingly, which nicely addresses the mercury issue as well.
Perfectly correct.Originally Posted by undergunfire
Wow...I am liking the sounds of feeding wet food more and more! Maybe it won't be as costly as I think it would be. I could always rotate feeding very high quality, to just high quality, to something like Authority, etc....whatever I can pick up on sale. Right?? I wouldn't go as low as "grocery store" brands, though...just because I don't think those can be that great of foods. It probably wouldn't hurt if I fed a fish flavor every now and then, correct?..
The store will take it back, and Diamond should refund them. So, the store will give you the credit...Originally Posted by undergunfire
Wow...I am liking the sounds of feeding wet food more and more! Maybe it won't be as costly as I think it would be. I could always rotate feeding very high quality, to just high quality, to something like Authority, etc....whatever I can pick up on sale. Right?? I wouldn't go as low as "grocery store" brands, though...just because I don't think those can be that great of foods. It probably wouldn't hurt if I fed a fish flavor every now and then, correct?
I'm going to return the TOTW tomorrow (got pictures, emailed the company, and kept a sample bag)...and then I will pick up more cans of cat food from the grain store. I will have $30 from returning the TOTW, so I should be able to pick up some big cans for a good price.
I just hope the grain store will take the bag back. Doesn't Diamond have to refund the store...or does the store "eat it"?
Exactly - they need to know though, to make sure the batch is not a defective batch... Also the store where you bought will probably choose to remove the same batch from the shelves, just in case, until they hear back the test results.... Make sure to tell the Co. the batch #, expiration date, the store where you bought, etc.Originally Posted by undergunfire
AC....sounds like a good plan! I like the idea of making a list, so I don't go to the store totally confused and clueless (happens a lot, actually..haha!).
Carolinalima...thank you! Good to know, so I don't expect them to take it back and then NOT take it back when I ask for a refund.