Best Dry Food?

[sandcat]

I'm currently not able to afford wet food for my kitties, even though I know wet food is usually better. I wanted to know if there are any GOOD dry cat foods out there, stuff with all the vitamins and stuff a kitty needs, and no corn fillers?

 

[smitten4kittens]

EVO chicken and turkey has all the nutrients a cat needs with no fillers. Other good choices are Innova, Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Wellness core. You want the highest protein and lowest carb you can find.

 These are a little pricey, let us know if you need less expensive choices.

 

[mewlittle]

before grain dry is good too my kitty's had it about a month ago and most of them liked it and no vomiting or other issues with it )

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Orijen is also a good brand, as well as Wysong.  Most of the grain free dry food are pricey, though, so if you do a comparison you may find that  if you can afford them, you might be able to afford canned food.  Some folks think ANY canned food is better than dry

 

[cat person]

I feed, Evo,Turkey and Chicken Formula (http://www.naturapet.com/products/1441) to my foundation Savannahs and domestics. I used to feed, Orijen (http://orijen.ca/products/cat_kitten), but, it got too expensive. Another good one, is Epigen 90 (http://www.wysongepigen.net/epigen90.php) made by Wysong. However, for me, the most economical choice, is to feed Evo dry along with whole live prey. The live prey, is given, twice daily, to each cat.
 

 

[smitten4kittens]

I agree that wet is healthier. If you find a wet food that cost the same as the dry you picked, I would go with the wet.

 

[sandcat]

Wow, thank you all for all the suggestions! I'll give each on a looksee.

Also, whole live prey, do you mean letting them kill something? I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never heard of feeding something like that to a kitty.

 

[cat person]

Also, whole live prey, do you mean letting them kill something?

Yes, you are one hundred percent correct

.

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never heard of feeding something like that to a kitty.

It is NOT a dumb question, in my humble opinion. MOST people, DO NOT feed live prey. I feed my domestic and hybrids: Mice, Rats, Rabbits, Quail and seven day old chicks

.

 

[just mike]

Wow, thank you all for all the suggestions! I'll give each on a looksee.

Also, whole live prey, do you mean letting them kill something? I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, I've never heard of feeding something like that to a kitty.

Hi SandCat

While you're checking brands out, you might also check out the Nutro lines of cat food.  My 4 cats have all done very well on Nutro products, as well as my dogs.  The Nutro Max Cat is the more economical line of both dry and wet but there is also the Nutro Natural Choice line.  You can find information about them at http://www.nutro.com/natural-pet-food/natural-cat-food.aspx You might keep in mind that Nutro makes all of their own food, in their own manufacturing plants. Most pet food companies do not own their own plants and rely on copackers to manufacture their food.  Also, Nutro is the only pet food company that has been able to attain AFIA Certification.  It's a pretty big deal in the pet food industry to have this certification for quality, safety and cleanliness at your manufacturing plants.  Check it out and see what you think.

The most important thing, regardless of the brand you choose, is to get the most bang for your budget bucks!  Best of luck in your quest.  If I can help in any way, feel free to post or send me a PM.

 

[cheryllib]

Wysong Epigen is very good dry food.Fish or Vension.

 

[evalyster]

Hello everyone!

I was curious as to whether someone here knows of a cat food that is good (for my 2 and a half year old cat) but also won't break the bank?

As of right now I am feeding my cat "Friskies - Seafood Sensationals" dry cat food, and he seems to really like it, but I just joined the site and it has me wondering about whether or not I can afford something better for him. I buy this brand not only because he likes it, but because it is a 40lb bag for $20 at BJ's Wholesale. I like keeping my pets healthy, but I can't afford the brands listed above, especially since they're almost all under 15lb bags, and over $30. 

I was thinking Nutro, because I feed my dogs their large puppy breed dog food, and they've been thriving off of it, but the other forums are saying their food is bad because of the constant recalls? Help!

 

[Willowy]

Do you only have one cat? If so, buying a 40-pound bag is a bad idea anyway, as it'll take months (7-8 months, for an a average cat!) to finish the bag and the kibble is almost certainly stale and rancid by then.

Try to find a food with meat as the first ingredient, no FD&C food colorings, no added sugar, no chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin). Feed stores are usually WAY cheaper than big-box pet stores, even boutique pet shops can have better prices on food.

Plus, canned food is best. Cats really should have mostly canned food, or as much as possible (minimum 50/50, IMO). I'm sure you can get a big ol' box of canned Friskies at BJ's, too .

 

[evalyster]

I have one cat yes.. I thought I was saving by buying him bigger bags, not thinking it would go stale..

And on the wet food topic; My cat will not associate himself with wet food and I have no idea why.. Ever since he was old enough to eat dry, he will not go back to wet.

He licks the juice on top, and it will sit there until it dries up completely and gets all hard. 

 

[ldg]

Here's a thread where someone gave up trying to get her kitty to eat wet food - and by the end of the thread (it's just 3 pages), he was eating only wet food: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/249166/i-give-up

And here is a post with a number of transition tips: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/247076/...-to-give-feeding-bozita-dry-food#post_3233769

 

[ilovemia]

My kitten (7 1/2 months likes wet. I can only afford Friskies though. My cat (1 1/2 years does not care much for it. So once in awhile as a treat is all they get.

I have tried several grain-free foods (dry) in the past with Mia (when she was an only cat) and she doesnt do well on them (upset tummy). She didand just fine on Nutro Max Cat but Mac threw itup everyday, all day. So my sister gave me some Purina one to try and both cats liked it. Mac still threw up a few times a week though. So I bought Purina One Synsitive Systems and both are doing great on it. Mac never throws up anymore. I know its not one that is highly recommended but both will eat it and are healthy as can be with bright, shiny, smooth coats too. Sometimes you just have to do whats best for the cat and not what everyone else thinks is best.

I live on a VERY limited income so this fits my budget too. I buy a 16lb. bag every other month at $21.

 

[Kristi01]

I feed, Evo,Turkey and Chicken Formula (http://www.naturapet.com/products/1441) to my foundation Savannahs and domestics. I used to feed, Orijen (http://orijen.ca/products/cat_kitten), but, it got too expensive. Another good one, is Epigen 90 (http://www.wysongepigen.net/epigen90.php) made


by Wysong. However, for me, the most economical choice, is to feed Evo dry along with whole live prey.

What livThe live prey, is given, twice daily, to each cat.

what l ive prey?

 

[Kristi01]

What live prey?

 

[maxcat08]

Has anyone had a problem with Blue Buffalo? My friend took her 10-yr old cat in for teeth cleaning, the pre-operative blood work showed pre-diabetes....whereas about 4 months ago, she was fine. My friend had switched her cat's dry food to Blue Buffalo. The Vet blamed the pre-diabetic blood work on the dry food. The cat does not eat wet food. The Vet also said that she has seen an increase in pre-diabetic diagnosis with cats eating Blue Buffalo. Has anyone heard of this?

 

[cheesycats]

Has anyone had a problem with Blue Buffalo? My friend took her 10-yr old cat in for teeth cleaning, the pre-operative blood work showed pre-diabetes....whereas about 4 months ago, she was fine. My friend had switched her cat's dry food to Blue Buffalo. The Vet blamed the pre-diabetic blood work on the dry food. The cat does not eat wet food. The Vet also said that she has seen an increase in pre-diabetic diagnosis with cats eating Blue Buffalo. Has anyone heard of this?

All of blues cat foods are chock full of carbs. Excess carbs is what causes diabetes in cats and carbs are everywhere in dry food in general. Age, lack of exercise, lack of controlled feedings add to it. Have your friend put the cat on a strict high protein low carb canned diet (if he won’t eat canned consider dr elseys dry. One of the lowest carb dry foods on the market), limit portions, and exercise her. I’m sure she’ll have better blood results next time.
I doubt it’s blue specifically though. The high carb science diet the vet will recommend is just as bad. If not worse.