Garry
I have two cats ( 6 11 months old). I always fed them Nutro max kitten (they like it). But mainly bc I thought it was the best food out there from what i had heard. A few weeks ago my husband and I were leaving for the night and we needed to buy them food being in a hurry we had to get it at wal-mart (not my choice grrr) but I decided upon meow mix kitten. Now I chose this bc I know its an old brand and I have never heard bad things from it. Ok so we bring it home and my cats like it as well. So my husband is like ok the bag is the same size and the same price and he thinks they like it better and its just as good (I DISAGREE). He thinks they get bored of the same thing but I thought we were supposed to always keep it the same if they eat it. I love my cats so much and I want the best for them no matter what. Any opinions to this or other cat foods for that matter. PS> they are all drys.
Cinthia
Cats are obligate carnivores, or "strict" carnivores. They require a high animal protein diet, with moderate to high fat, and absolutely no grains. Pretty much the body content of other animals - a cats natural diet. Since they are such strict carnivores, they are not designed to digest and metabolize grain products. They cannot use them for energy like humans can. As such, grains and plant matter are stored as fat - which is the main reason why we are seeing more and more fat cats in our society. Meow Mix may be an older brand, but its certainly not a good one. Its a sub-par food that use too much grain and plant based products, and not anywhere near enough animal based products. Ingredient list for Meow Mix Kitten --Chicken By-Product Meal, Brewers Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Soybean Meal, Beef Tallow Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols (Source of Vitamin E), Fish Meal (Source of Ocean Fish Flavor), Brewers Dried Yeast, Salmon Meal, Turkey By-Product Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Animal Digest, Tetra Sodium Pyrophosphate, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Alanine, Taurine, Manganese Sulfate, Red 40, Niacin, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E Supplement, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Yellow 5, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Blue 2, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Rosemary Extract, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin D Supplement, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity). A-1300 The only animal protein source in Meow Mix are the "meals" and "by products". Meals are ok, but shouldnt be the main source of protein. By-products could be anything from organ meats to beaks and feathers. Organ meat is fine, but its better if it actually says "organ meat" just for the sake of knowing. Beaks and feathers are legal to add to pet food, but serve no nutritional benefit to the cat. When a cat kills a bird, they only eat the meat from the inside. They leave the feathers, head, and entrails behind, so it makes no sense to add them to pet food. Nutro is only slightly better. Thats the reason they cost about the same - they are using basically the same ingredients. The biggest different is that Nutro kitten doesnt use by-products. However, there isnt enough animal based protein and entirely too much grain product. Nutro was also involved in the recall, though not their dry foods. Still, I wouldnt use their food. Nutro Kitten Ingredient list --Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Wheat Flour, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of natural Vitamin E), Ground Rice, Natural Flavors, Beet Pulp, Lamb Meal, Rice Bran, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dried Egg Product, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Inositol, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Manganous Oxide, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid. Your husband is actually correct about changing foods. Cats can become notoriously picky about their food if they are always fed the same kind. Its best to pick two or three quality brands/flavors and rotate. This is especially important when recalls happen, like now, or if the food you feed is no longer available. There is no harm in giving variety as long as all of the foods are nutritionally appropriate. Now, onto which brands. I feed Innova Evo for my cats. Its a high quality animal protein based food, and is much more species appropriate for felines than many other foods. Similar foods are California Natural, Eagle Pack, Wellness, Healthwise, etc. Typically, you cant find these foods in grocery stores or box chain pet stores. You have to go to local independent pet stores, or feed and grain type stores. They do cost more, but because they are species appropriate and nutritent dense, the cat wont eat as much. They get more nutrients per feeding than they would from lesser grade foods. As a result, you dont spend as much on food. And they poop less, their coat is much healthier and shinier, and their overall health improves. Its also better for them to be on a wet food diet, or at least mostly wet food. Phoebhart touched on a lot of the reasons, which are all correct, so I wont go there. But despite the fact many people swear by dry food, it is not better for the cat. Its only more convenient for the owners - which is why people will swear up and down its better for the cat. Most important message - just because the cats eat it doesnt mean that its good for them. We love McDonalds and pizza, but if we ate them all the time, than wed suffer ill health. And just because a brand has been in business a long time, doesnt mean its making a quality product. Friskies has been around a bit, but recently they started putting carnation milk in their cat food because "cats love it and its good for them". If they had any kind of feline nutrition knowledge, theyd know that milk is not a natural food for cats, nor is it good for them. Cats are lactose intolerant after they wean from their mothers. Adult cats do not seek out milk products. In fact, humans are the only species that drink milk past infancy. They add it because they know people think its good for them and its a way to make more money. Some links to check out. This webpage is written and mantained by a veterinarian --Why cats need canned foodhttp://www. littlebigcat. com/index. php? What cats should eathttp://www. littlebigcat. com/index. php? ac…Does dry food clean the teeth? http://www. littlebigcat. com/index. php? ac…If you have any more questions, feel free to email me :o)
Cayla
I know - buy both and mix them together and everyone will be happy! :)
Jennifer
A lot of people say that its better for their diet to change their food every so often. We have two cats also and always give them the same thing (Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula). One time we had bought them a cheaper brand and they wouldnt even touch it. I think both of your brands are good so it doesnt matter what you go with.
Latrisha
OK i have been a cat lover for years and i do agree with you keeping them on the same kind of food they are use to. is the right thing to do. changing there food can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea. if you have to use a substitute then make sure it has the same ingredients that is in the food you would normally buy.
Brianna
You may not want to hear this, but since you love your kittens, it will be in your cats best interests if you knew the followin:1. Cats are strict carnivores. That means they need a lot of animal protein in their diet and a bare minimum - if any - of plant-based carbohydrates. Most dry cat food (and do food) is usually full of rains and rain products like corn, corn meal, wheat, wheat gluten, rice, soy, etc. Cats cannot utilize these carbohydrates and they just end up ettin stored as fat in yur cats body. Thats why most cats fed on a dry cat diet end up over-weight or obese. Such cats eventually develop diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, etc. Think about it: why would anyone want to feed an obligate carnivore cereal day in day out - becuase that is what dry kibble is like - cereal. Dry cat and do food was developed by pet food manufacturers because it is a convenient way to feed our pets and becuase they can chuck any inferior ingredient in it and who can tell? Do your cats a favor - raise them on a primarily WET diet.2. Cats fed on a diet of dry kibble are almost always dehydrated. Cats in the wild normally get most if not all their water needs from their "kill" - rodents, birds and other small critters. Thats why cats are notoriously lazy water drinkers. Now if you feed them dry food all the time. they can never catch up on the amount of water their body truly needs. Result? Eventual crystals in the bladder, kidney stones, renal failure - from a perpetualy concentrated urine. 3. I hate to say that, but BOTH dry cat food you have mentioned are inferior stuff. Why? (a) Lets look at Nutro Max Kitten ingredients:Chicken meal, corn gluten meal, wheat flour, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of natural vitamin E), ground rice, natural flavors, beet pulp, lamb meal, rice bran, brewers dried yeast, dried egg product, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, dl-methionine, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, vitamin E supplement, inositol, niacin, copper sulfate, ascorbic acid (source of vitamin C), manganous oxide, riboflavin supplement (source of vitamin B2), vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), biotin, calcium iodate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid. The first ingredient is chicken MEAL. Although better than chicken by-product meal, chicken meal is generally a lesser quality of protein source than chicken meat. The second, third, fifth and ninth ingredients are GRAINS (carbs cats do not use). We prefer not to see any corn products in the food (corn, corn meal, corn gluten meal, corn syrup, etc) as corn is very difficult to digest, of little nutritional value, and a very common allergen. Never buy a food with any form of corn or wheat in the top five ingredients. Just the list of inredients should tell you that this dry food has more grains in it than animal protein - and inferior animal protein at that!(b) This dry food formula uses Menadione Sodium Bisulfite complex (Vit K3), not genuine vit. K. This is very BAD becuase recent research has shown that Menadione...-causes cytotoxicity in liver cells - causes formation of radicals from enzymes of leucocytes, with the consequence of cytotoxic reactions - considerably weakens the immune system - possible mutagenic effects - damages the natural vitamin K cycle - has no effect on coumarin derivatives, which are often present in commercial food due to mold contamination (toxic when ingested) - causes hemolytic anemia and hyperbilirubinemia, not just linked to large doses - disturbs the level of calcium ions (Ca2+) in the body, which is an important factor fibrinolysis - is directly toxic in high doses (vomiting, albuminuria), unlike natural vitamin K - builds up in tissue and has been detected in eggs, meat and milk of animals supplemented with menadione derivatives - causes irritation of skin and mucous membranes - causes allergic reactions and eczema My advice: 1. Raise your kitties on a primarily wet diet, giving dry as a daily or occassional treat (small amounts)2. Choose better, high-quality cat foods (the commercial cat food brands that I give my cats are Naturas "Innova" and "Evo;" Castor and Pollux; Solid Gold; Felidae)3. You husband is correct: ive your cats a variety of cat foods. This is not just to guard againt them getting bored with eating the same thin day in and dy out, it also assures you that you will not be raising overly finicky eaters. Also, take a lesson from the recent pet food recalls. If your cat were eating only one kind of food and one batch was tainted, the impact on your cat;s health would be much much worse than if the cat was fed several different types of food. It would mean the cat had not inested as much as he would have it that recalled food was all he ate! Sorry this was sooolong, but I really wanted to help.
Chad
Your Walmart choice was a good one. Any thing Purina makes is good. Id try mixing the new with the old and see what happens. If they like one better than the other, youll see them eating the favorite and leaving the other in the dish.
Bailey
Please be careful with all the recalls as more and more brands are showing up on the lists and cats are becoming very sick sometimes not surviving. If you would like to look at a great food for your cats that is offered only online and you can have it autoshipped so you never run out then go to the link in my source to learn about it. I feed my cat and my dogs this food and treats and suppliments and sleep well at night as I know that they are safe from all the recalls-two new brands are added as of yesterday and it is going to continue. What ever food you choose make sure it is holistic with no corn, wheat gluten or soy protein concentrate as these are the current recall ingredients - just fillers and not necessary for pets at all - just cheap ways to get protein in foods-Cats do need wet and dry as they need the moisture to keep their systems healthy - I feed dry 5 days and wet three day per week. Also any pet should remain on the same food as switching does cause digestive upset. Please choose one safe food wet and dry and stick with it.
Hedwig
Well cats dont matter