Anybody Experienced This

[smeyers]

Hi Everyone !!

Recently I changed my 3 year old shelter cat from dry food to Fancy Feast. Now I'm trying to upgrade her wet food and the issue I am seeing is this.... I start mixing the new food (slightly less than a teaspoon of new food to a full can of FF). She eats, it but every time, no matter what kind of new food, I notice a behavior change. She acts a little melancholy, less energetic, and not as happy. When I "cave in" and go back to 100% FF she starts galloping around the house, plays like crazy, and is a purring machine. So, first, is this behavior change normal for a cat when switching foods ?

And then secondly....

After reading a few posts on FF not being that bad I starting to think maybe I'll just stay with the FF. That said, I did read where some of the FF flavors with gravy contain a lot of wheat gluten. So, currently she eats Chicken Feast with "Real Milk" Creamy Sauce. I don't know how to tell if there is a lot of wheat gluten in it.

I need help (and probably some patience. {sigh} Any help of knowledge certainly would be very helpful to me !! Thanks and have a great weekend !!

 

[smeyers]

Edit To 1st Post.... I saw on Chewy... lots of Wheat Gluten in Chicken Feast With Milk.. And how do you edit a post. I can't seem to find an Edit Button ??
Cheers !!

 

[fionasmom]

Someplace in some forum on TCS someone said something like whatever FF does to their food, cats want to eat it. I have had/still have the same problem. My 9 year old Chelsea wants FF grilled seafood with the sauce on it. I have tried with higher quality food and I get the big "let me rake my paw over this so that you understand what junk I think it is." This morning she concerned me because I sensed that she was hungry but had been refusing other food brands and formulations so I got out the grilled salmon and she happily ate something and has stopped crying, at least. So I don't have an answer but we are in the same boat.

After you post, you will see a little edit button in the lower left hand corner of your post.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi!
You'll see that edit button after 5 days a member and 20 posts, in the lower left hand corner of your posts.

If I were you, I'd stay with fancy feast. Maybe later you could try adding something on a rotational basis like a pouch food from Merrick Backcountry or Natural Balance.

This is the compromise my boy and I came to

 

[jen]

Fancy Feast Classics Pate would be what people here are talking about when they say FF isn't all that bad. It has very few carbs in it, like most are 0-5%. The gravies are like kitty crack, they love it but its not good for them.

 

[smeyers]

Thanks To Everyone For Your Thoughts And Suggestions.

I came across a relatively new FF product... Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals
On Chewy you can check off "Gluten Free". 3 choices plus a variety pack come up. Be careful the Wild Alaskan Salmon (Extreme Right) does have Wheat Gluten in it according to the ingredients listing for that flavor. I'm researching for a carb %.

• Paté made with natural ingredients, including real white meat chicken and liver.
• Contains added vitamins, minerals and nutrients with a touch of coconut milk.
• Grain-free diet with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
• Made without corn, wheat, soy or poultry by-products.
• Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats.

Just hope they have included the "Kitty Crack" !!!!
I'll be sure to let you know how we make out.

 

[Jcatbird]

I previously had my cats on the FF that had gravy and they suddenly got very sick. Every cat in the house started throwing up! I switched it up to another brand and had the same problem. They hated everything. After many trials with a huge variety of different foods, I finally went to the FF pate’ and they eat that with no problems. I hope it works for your kitty too!

 

[darg]

I wish I could get mine to eat some FF Pate. If I could add a can into the rotation every day or two at least it would save me a few bucks a week ... assuming his tummy would tolerate it of course. I can't get him to touch the stuff even with some fortiflora or with S&C Freeze Dried Morsels mixed in. And he loves those freeze dried morsels. I won't try any foods that I know will aggravate his IBD based on ingredients that I know will be a trigger and wheat gluten is definitely one of them.

 

[Tobermory]

Here are a couple of resources for looking up protein, fat, carb, etc. content in commercial foods. Very handy! The second one was researched and created by a vet who’s a feline nutrition specialist, but it hasn’t been updated for a couple of years. The second site appears to be updated regularly and also has ingredients listed for an extensive list of foods.

CatFoodDB - Cat Food Reviews to help you find the best cat food for your cat
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

 

[smeyers]

I wish I could get mine to eat some FF Pate. If I could add a can into the rotation every day or two at least it would save me a few bucks a week ... assuming his tummy would tolerate it of course. I can't get him to touch the stuff even with some fortiflora or with S&C Freeze Dried Morsels mixed in. And he loves those freeze dried morsels. I won't try any foods that I know will aggravate his IBD based on ingredients that I know will be a trigger and wheat gluten is definitely one of them.

I am so sorry to hear Tobermorey has IBD. A previous cat of mine, Belle, had very bad IBD. It tore me apart when I could see she was in pain, or just not happy. I feel for you and Tobermorey. The Best Of Luck To The Both Of You !!

 

[smeyers]

Here are a couple of resources for looking up protein, fat, carb, etc. content in commercial foods. Very handy! The second one was researched and created by a vet who’s a feline nutrition specialist, but it hasn’t been updated for a couple of years. The second site appears to be updated regularly and also has ingredients listed for an extensive list of foods.

CatFoodDB - Cat Food Reviews to help you find the best cat food for your cat
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

THANK YOU so much of the links. I thought I knew as much as I needed to know concerning cat food, but I have learned so much more since coming here. The links you provided gave me even more valuable information. I have turned from a Fancy Feast hater to a Fancy Feast user.... Only thing left to check out the ingredients and pick a few for rotation. My favorites right now are the Gourmet Naturals with Coconut Milk (no wheat gluten or by products) and some varieties of the classic pate... Chicken Feast, Tender Beef, Turkey with Giblets. Also Creamy Delights Chicken Feast.. the one with the Orange Stripe (WITHOUT Creamy Sauce). The last few do have by products, but not necessarily a bad thing as I have learned Cats eat the by products in there natural habitat!!

THANKS TO ALL For Your Help, Knowledge, And Support !!! ;>)

 

[smeyers]

I have to correct my previous post... Not all of the Gourmet Naturals are Wheat Gluten Free... only a few... sorry for the goof !! Have to read the ingredients list... Chicken And Liver With Coconut Milk is the one I'm going to try.

Have A Great Sunday Everybody !!!

 

[darg]

I am so sorry to hear Tobermorey has IBD. A previous cat of mine, Belle, had very bad IBD. It tore me apart when I could see she was in pain, or just not happy. I feel for you and Tobermorey. The Best Of Luck To The Both Of You !!

Actually, my cats name is Gizmo. But thank you, I appreciate that. Forunately, his condition is fairly mild, intermittent and generally under control. He's been doing very well since a switch to all wet food, although it's only been a little while now.

 

[smeyers]

Oops, sorry bout that. That was pretty dumb on my part. One super big "DUH"!!. LOL. Thanks for correcting me, and saving me from further embarrassment !!

 

[darg]

No worries.

 

[smeyers]

View attachment 283575 Thanks To Everyone For Your Thoughts And Suggestions.

I came across a relatively new FF product... Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals
On Chewy you can check off "Gluten Free". 3 choices plus a variety pack come up. Be careful the Wild Alaskan Salmon (Extreme Right) does have Wheat Gluten in it according to the ingredients listing for that flavor. I'm researching for a carb %.

• Paté made with natural ingredients, including real white meat chicken and liver.
• Contains added vitamins, minerals and nutrients with a touch of coconut milk.
• Grain-free diet with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
• Made without corn, wheat, soy or poultry by-products.
• Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats.

Just hope they have included the "Kitty Crack" !!!!
I'll be sure to let you know how we make out.

Hi All !! Purina got back to me re the carb count in the new Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals.... The Carb % For The White Meat Chicken And Liver Pate Without Gravy (There Are 2) Is 0.64% As Fed. Cheers !!!

 

[dhammagirl]

I wish they would make the “as fed” percentages, or a typical nutrient analysis, available to everyone on product websites, instead of making folks ask for it.

I’ve found a couple guaranteed analysis converters online, but it’s not as accurate as the “as fed” or TNA info.

When I put in the guaranteed analysis info from the FF gourmet naturals white meat chicken, no gravy, it came up as 11%carbs, 50%fat, 37%protein.


The FF classic pates came up as having less carbs and more protein.

That Purina told you the carbs for that product is less than 1% is more in line with the info on the catinfo.org

I think the catfooddb converts from the guaranteed analysis info.

 

[smeyers]

I wish they would make the “as fed” percentages, or a typical nutrient analysis, available to everyone on product websites, instead of making folks ask for it.

I’ve found a couple guaranteed analysis converters online, but it’s not as accurate as the “as fed” or TNA info.

When I put in the guaranteed analysis info from the FF gourmet naturals white meat chicken, no gravy, it came up as 11%carbs, 50%fat, 37%protein.


The FF classic pates came up as having less carbs and more protein.

That Purina told you the carbs for that product is less than 1% is more in line with the info on the catinfo.org I think the catfooddb converts from the guaranteed analysis info.

Thanks for the heads up on catinof.org. I'll check it out. In a pinch, I"ll add up the % of protein, fat, moisture, fiber and ash. Then I subtract that total from 100. Sometimes, though, for whatever reason it doesn't "Add up" correctly... like the answer ends up a minus number !! LOL

 

[smeyers]

Dior is up to her usual "stuff". Initially she liked the Gourmet Natural Chicken And Liver. Shortly after I purchased a case she changed her mine!! No worries (LOL) I have lots of different brands in my "warehouse" of foods previous cats did not like!

 

[Furballsmom]

Just to mention, there are a few websites that allow (or did, I haven't checked lately) small quantity ordering. There's Only Natural Pet, The Big Bad Woof, Tractor Supply, and for specific brands other than samples, Koha and Lifesabundance