I have mixed thoughts on this. I personally feed premium foods, particularly as my cats get older. I don't feel right saying it is the only way, the best way, and that brands sold in grocery stores are bad... I feed premium foods so I can better watch and control ingredients that may cause them problems as their bodies age in the premium foods. However, most of my family and friends' cats eat widely recognized brands sold in grocery stores, in particular, Purina Cat Chow, and have done exceptionally well. They live into their late teens and my Aunt's cat lived to be 24 on Cat Chow! They live just as long and do just as well overall as pets I know on premium foods.

My vet is a geriatric cat specialist and is a huge fan of Purina products. She has 11 cats, all in their late teens and twenties, that do very well and primarily eat Purina products -- unless they have specific medical problems.

I think the key is feeding something that is recognized by the AAFCO. You'll see that marking somewhere on bags of most brands of food. If you don't find it, don't feed it. It means it meets standards set by the AAFCO. Best to find ones that were used in feeding trials (many are). All the recognized brands (Purina, Friskies, etc... are AAFCO certified).

I wouldn't recommend feeding any generic brands -- I would stick to reputable pet food companies like Purina, etc. Or go to the premium brands.

I have thought about this long and hard for many years and, based on family and friends' pets, as well as my vet's advice, it doesn't make that much difference -- unless your cat has a medical problem. I just feel better feeding a premium brand with my boys older and their system more delicate...
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Tammy
Stanley and Pookey

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