I've recently been trying to switch my two cats from a totally dry diet and am considering whether to go all wet or to a 50/50 mix of wet and (quality) dry. The instructions on the can say to feed one ounce per body weight per day, double for kittens. Willow is four years old and weighs about fourteen pounds and needs to lose a pound or two, Gizmo is six months old and weighs about four pounds. He's growing like a weed and is just getting into that leggy 'teenager' growth spurt. I think he's going to turn into a pretty good sized adult, because he has big feet (not due to extra toes, either).
At the recommended serving, that seems like a lot of food. Two cans a day for Gizmo, and almost four for Willow. I gave them each a 3.5 ounce can for dinner, and neither of them ate more than a quarter of what they were given. Willow is a nibbler, though. She'll eat a few bites and then walk away and come back later. Gizmo is more of a pig, but will also leave and come back for more. I have to feed them the same food, because for some reason Gizmo always likes what Willow is eating better than his own food. At feeding time he'll eat his food until she walks off, then switch to her bowl and snarf it all up. She just comes back and eats out of his bowl later, so it works out.
Willow had a UTI back in January of 07, but it responded well to antibiotics and hasn't returned. I've heard that male cats tend to have more serious urinary issues than females, so I don't want Gizmo's diet to make him sick.
Good quality wet food is expensive, though. Especially if those numbers are accurate. That's like $7 a day for two cats. Are there any advantages of going all wet over the 50/50 mix? Also, how long should I leave out the food before spoiling becomes a problem?
At the recommended serving, that seems like a lot of food. Two cans a day for Gizmo, and almost four for Willow. I gave them each a 3.5 ounce can for dinner, and neither of them ate more than a quarter of what they were given. Willow is a nibbler, though. She'll eat a few bites and then walk away and come back later. Gizmo is more of a pig, but will also leave and come back for more. I have to feed them the same food, because for some reason Gizmo always likes what Willow is eating better than his own food. At feeding time he'll eat his food until she walks off, then switch to her bowl and snarf it all up. She just comes back and eats out of his bowl later, so it works out.
Willow had a UTI back in January of 07, but it responded well to antibiotics and hasn't returned. I've heard that male cats tend to have more serious urinary issues than females, so I don't want Gizmo's diet to make him sick.
Good quality wet food is expensive, though. Especially if those numbers are accurate. That's like $7 a day for two cats. Are there any advantages of going all wet over the 50/50 mix? Also, how long should I leave out the food before spoiling becomes a problem?