Reptile & Amphibian Forums

would it be alright if i just fed my cats purina cat chow dry food and not wet food???or should i at least feed them wet food 1-2 times a week?????
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Animals are the best compainions, they never talk back

The answer depends on who you ask. There is a lot of disagreement even among vets as to how often or even whether to feed canned or dry or what combination.

If you are feeding a high-quality dry food then unless your cat seems to be overweight or doesn't seem to like it, you are probably doing the best thing. If you want to feed wet, then look for one without corn by-products and feed as you feel fit - perhaps half and half.
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Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Hi! Madame Alto is right-- everyone and every vet has a different opinion on this. I will tell you my opinion, which is based on talking to several vets and doing alot of reading, but there are certainly vets and books that disagree. First of all, we feed premium foods (Iams and Nutro)as the grocery store foods, pretty much all the experts agree are not good for cats. Basically, we feed them as much canned food as we can afford at the time (canned premium food is very pricey to feed to 6 cats), and as they will eat. The dry food is usually just for a quick munch between meals, though there are times that they only get dry, that's not too often. We feed wet twice a day and keep the dry food bowls full. The amount of wet you feed is completely variable to how much your cat weighs and how old she is. If feeding all or primarily wet food between 1-2 (standard size) cans per day is about right. If you feed all wet or mostly wet, just be sure to brush the cat's teeth often, because that is one thing that dry definatly has in it's favor, is helping to clean the teeth. If you decide to stick with grocery store foods, I absoutly recommend switching to wet, because it doesn't contain corn (corn is useless and not very good for cats). If you start using premium, there is more wiggle room.-- Jennifer
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And neither the angels in heaven above nor the demons down under the sea could ever disever my soul from the soul of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE

"I saw Othello's visage in his mind And to my honours and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate."

Dance in the burning flame. Pleasure exhumes the pain. The night turns into flame. Dance, Helena, dance!

In most cases [Harlan] Ellison goes around the pit, jumps over it...or jumps right into it, on purpose, avoiding major injury, either by his own talent, the grace of god, or a combination of the two.

I felt a warm rasping at my throat, then came the aweful truth, which chilled me to the heart and sent the blood surging through my brain. Some great animal was lying on me, and now licking my throat.

Where did this cat come from??

I think canned food is expensive. I don't feel I can afford to feed canned at this time. Besides I swear it makes three of the cats sick. Anyway feed what you can afford to feed. As long as your doing the best you can do.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Last time i checked purina cat chow wasn't a grocery store brand cat food.....but maybe i'm wrong.....i mean its made by purina not by the grocery store......
Lynn
Emily
Spaz
Lucky
Jem
Moose
Fluffy
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Animals are the best compainions, they never talk back

Smile. Grocery food cat food means you can buy it at the Grocery store. Premium cat food you have to get at a pet supply store.
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Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Grociery brands means brands sold in grociery stores, like Purina Cat Chow, 9 Lives, Friskies etc. Premium brands are sold mostly in petstores. Some of these brands are Science Diet, Nutro, Iams & Purina Pro Plan. They are of far better ingredients and quality than brands sold in grociery stores. Unfortunatly they are also far more expensive. The good news is that cats don't eat as much of them, because they get more nutrition in smaller quantities with premium foods. BTW, some premium foods are sold in grociery stores, Walmart etc. Iams is the exception that comes to mind. However, you generally can't find every type of Iams, only the basic ones, in smaller sizes. We also have one store around here that sells Science Diet. Also, you can buy premium brands online at places such as petco.com. Purina One is sold in grociery stores, is less expensive than Premium brands and is far and away better nutritionally than other grociery brands, but it isn't as nutritionally sound as a premium brand. Also, even premium brands are sometimes lesser than other premium brands, but it all depends on exactly what you are looking for and sometimes varies even just between flavors within the same brand. Personally, I feel Nutro Natural Choice is about the greatest brand there is, but everyone has their favorites. Eukanuba is also fantastic. If you prefer to stick to grociery brands though, that's ok, I'm just sharing my opinion.-- Jennifer
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And neither the angels in heaven above nor the demons down under the sea could ever disever my soul from the soul of the beautiful ANNABEL LEE

"I saw Othello's visage in his mind And to my honours and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate."

Dance in the burning flame. Pleasure exhumes the pain. The night turns into flame. Dance, Helena, dance!

In most cases [Harlan] Ellison goes around the pit, jumps over it...or jumps right into it, on purpose, avoiding major injury, either by his own talent, the grace of god, or a combination of the two.

I felt a warm rasping at my throat, then came the aweful truth, which chilled me to the heart and sent the blood surging through my brain. Some great animal was lying on me, and now licking my throat.

Where did this cat come from??