Hi, I have a friend who feeds his cat those dry biscuit things (Whiskas) and only gives his cat around one pouch of cat food per day. I reckon this is not a healthy diet but he insists it is. I would appreciate other opinions. I don't think this cat supplements it's diet in any way with garden birds / mice etc.
Anonymous
Favorite Answer
In my opinion, Whiskas is one of the WORST foods on the market. It's practically meatless and it contains at least one known carcinogen. Not only that, but the protein sources are plant based rather than animal and contribute far too many carbs.
In general, though, wet food is healthier for cats. It sounds like he's feeding about half dry and half wet? If so, that's ok.
You can highly recommend to him that he choose a different brand of food. Anything else would be an improvement.
As for the wet v. dry, as I said wet is better but I think he's probably doing ok, especially since he doesn't seem inclined to change.
If you want proof to show him, see the link.
Ken S
Dry diets shouldn't be fed to any cats any age
Nutrition since there are so many bad things out there is very important to your cat’s health
Contrary to what you may have heard; dry foods are not a great thing to feed a cat.
Please read the label on what you are feeding? What are the ingredients? Do you know what they mean? Is the first ingrediant a muscle meat like chicken or meal or other things?
http://www.catinfo.org/#Learn_How_To_Read_a_Pet_Food_Ingredient_Label
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/InterpretingLabels.htm
Dry foods are the number 1 cause of diabetes in cats as well as being a huge contributing factor to kidney disease, obesity, crystals, u.t.i’s and a host of other problems. Food allergies are very common when feeding dry foods. Rashes, scabs behind the tail and on the chin are all symptoms
The problems associated with Dry food is that they are loaded with grains and carbohydrates which many cats (carnivores) cannot process. Also, Most of the moisture a cat needs is suppose to be in the food but in
Dry, 95% of it is zapped out of dry foods in the processing. Another thing, most use horrible ingredients and don't use a muscle meat as the primary ingredient and use vegetable based protein versus animal. Not good for an animal that has to eat meat to survive.
http://www.catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_Just_Fine_on_Dry_Food
You want to pick a canned food w/o gravy (gravy=carbs) that uses a muscle meat as the first ingredient and doesn't have corn at least in the first 3 ingredients if at all.
THE BEST CAT FOODS CONTAIN NO GRAINS NO BYPOODUCTS NO MEAL
Cats are meat eaters not cereal or rice eaters
Fancy feast is a middle grade food with 9lives, friskies whiskas lower grade canned and wellness and merrick upper grade human quality foods. I would rather feed a middle grade canned food then the top of the line dry food.
Also, dry food is not proven to be better for teeth. Does a hard pretzel clean your teeth or do pieces of it get stuck? http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch4a.php
Please read about cat nutrition.
http://www.catinfo.org/
http://www.catinfo.org/feline_obesity.htm
http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm#Dry_Food_vs_Canned_Food.__Which_is_reall
Vetinarian diets The reason your vet thinks so highly of the pet food they sell probably has more to do with money than nutrition. In vet school, the only classes offered on nutrition usually last a few weeks, and are taught by representatives from the pet food companies. Vet students may also receive free food for their own dogs and cats at home. They could get an Iams notebook, a Purina purse and some free pizza. http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring04/Perhach/PetFood/Vets.htm
littlebit
I'm sure if the cat was hungry it would kill if it had to or dig in trash cans. I always keep my cats food bowl full, but it is becoming a problem also so i do not suggest that. If it is just one cat, it should have a full bowl of food a day. This is what my mothers does with her cat, fed once a day and it lasts her till the next day, there is usually still a small amount left in her bowl.
Anonymous
Blue is great for cats. I personally feed the Blue Basics Grain free but I have a sensitive cat, if she wasn't sensitive, I would feed the Blue Wilderness Duck dry food. Cats are naturally carnivores so grain is not necessary in their diet. Both of those are grain free but the wilderness is also high in protein. Try one of those but transition your cat over slowly so she doesn't get sick. Good luck!
marisa
i feed my blue point traditional siamese cat dry food.
hes been fed that all his life and on the occasion as a treat i feed him 'wet' food.
the brand ive used has varied a ton,
he is perfectly healthy and 14 years old. and still is in the same way he was 4 years ago and earlier.