What's The Best Food?

My girl is 3 years old. She has been on those grain based foods and she has trouble with ear infections and losing a lot of hair (not going bald) on her back as well as I can't get her weight down.

Everything I have read has said that a high protein food might solve all these problems. I saw one from a doctor that was freeze dried but its REALLY expensive and I don't even have time to cook for myself, so I'd like to find a good food I can buy. Should I go wet or dry?

What food would be best for her? I am hoping this can clear up her mild health problems too. Anyone have experience changing food and improving their cats health too?

Thank you

Hi and welcome to TCS!

Before, we get to food:
What does your girl currently eat?
Has she had a checkup recently to ensure that her ear infections/weight issues/hair loss are not due to other factors besides food?
Can you give an idea of your budget?

I switched my cats off whiskas dry long ago when I found out about how cats should actually be eating. I put them on a mixture of nature’s variety raw boost and wellness core. Along with a wide variety of meaty canned foods and frozen raw.
They almost completely stopped shedding, they pooped less and it was less smelly, they were shinier, I fed less food, and they all maintained a healthy weight. So I’d say it makes a massive difference.

A wet diet or raw diet would be optimal but if you can’t afford that a mix of high quality kibble and wet would be good too. Some dry foods I really like are dr elsey, essence cat food, nature’s variety raw boost, and tiki cat, these are all as low carb as you’ll get with a kibble.
Wet food is more complicated. There are a lot of carb heavy expensive canned foods out there. If you’re on a budget simply fancy feast classics would be great. I also like weruva, tiki, soulistic, and nature’s variety. There are plenty more out there that I’m sure could fit in your budget. I’m sure others will be here to recommend other stuff to you too.

The one your cat eats, does well on, and you can afford

The best diet is wet, high protein, moderate fat and low carb. Lots of wet foods automatically fit the bill, from Fancy Feast Classic Pates on up. Some of the foods have lots of carb fillers like grains, vegetables, and fruits, so really just looking at the label is the best thing you can do, though it can be tedious! Pates also tend to be lower carb than chunks in gravy.

Right now I feed Tiny Tiger, American Journey (both on Chewy.com), Sheba, Tiki Cat, Soulistic, Nature's Variety Instinct, and Weruva. I do offer a small amount of dry a day, about 1 Tbsp, of Wysong Epigen 90.

EmersonandEvie said:

Hi and welcome to TCS!

Before, we get to food:
What does your girl currently eat?
Has she had a checkup recently to ensure that her ear infections/weight issues/hair loss are not due to other factors besides food?
Can you give an idea of your budget?

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She is currently on Royal Canin digestive health. She has had a checkup and I’ve seen an allergy specialist and they found she is largely healthy so I’m thinking the best option is to change her food.

I am on a budget but can afford what I can to help her live her best life. I’m open to options and that’s what I’m looking for is options.

cheesycats said:

I switched my cats off whiskas dry long ago when I found out about how cats should actually be eating. I put them on a mixture of nature’s variety raw boost and wellness core. Along with a wide variety of meaty canned foods and frozen raw.
They almost completely stopped shedding, they pooped less and it was less smelly, they were shinier, I fed less food, and they all maintained a healthy weight. So I’d say it makes a massive difference.

A wet diet or raw diet would be optimal but if you can’t afford that a mix of high quality kibble and wet would be good too. Some dry foods I really like are dr elsey, essence cat food, nature’s variety raw boost, and tiki cat, these are all as low carb as you’ll get with a kibble.
Wet food is more complicated. There are a lot of carb heavy expensive canned foods out there. If you’re on a budget simply fancy feast classics would be great. I also like weruva, tiki, soulistic, and nature’s variety. There are plenty more out there that I’m sure could fit in your budget. I’m sure others will be here to recommend other stuff to you too.

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What would you say the best mid price dry and wet food high protein options are?

Wet food: Fancy Feast classic pates, Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals, Tiny Tiger (from chew dot com), 4Health (Tractor Supply brand), Sheba, Crave, I think Merrick Purrfect Bistro is good, Redbarn, Nutro.

The only dry food I recommend is Dr. Elseys CleanProtein. Highest percent of protein and the lowest amount of carbs of any kibble on the market.

~ Here is a 'cat specialist' veterinarian " opinion :

I wouldn’t skimp on the dry if you choose to feed it. The ones I listed are the only ones I would feed regardless. Nature’s variety is in the same price range as Royal Canin but a lot better quality. The others I mentioned might be a little more than RC but you’ll feed less in the long run.

Budget friendly canned foods have been mentioned above.

randallpink77 said:

She is currently on Royal Canin digestive health. She has had a checkup and I’ve seen an allergy specialist and they found she is largely healthy so I’m thinking the best option is to change her food.

I am on a budget but can afford what I can to help her live her best life. I’m open to options and that’s what I’m looking for is options.

Click to expand...

Did the allergy specialist think your cat -- what's her name, by the way? -- has any sensitivities to food(s)? The ear infection (particularly if it's yeast) and the bare patches could both be indicators of that. (We saw those both in our previous cat, who seemed to have difficulties caused by grains and fish. Unfortunately, the vets where we took her didn't put all that together -- we only figured it out in her last months.)

No matter what you choose, IMHO, the general consensus here -- high protein, moderate fat, and low carbs (to borrow from mizzely !) -- is probably your best bet for the weight loss piece. And preferably in wet food. That's generally best for weight loss, plus if there's even any suspicion of allergy, you want the simplest recipes possible, without the fillers that others have mentioned. Basically, you want meat, meat, and more meat, without grains, potatoes, peas, and the like. Pretty much any dry food but Dr. Elsey's will have lots of vegetable matter that cats aren't really evolved to handle. For wet food, Fancy Feast Classics and Sheba pates are a very decent start, particularly if you have a limited budget and want to buy something at the supermarket! Plus most cats like them!

All that said, every cat is different so you may need to do some experimenting. A food diary can be helpful. Good luck!

My cat does great on Fancy Feast classic pates.

I second the Dr. Elsey’s. It cost more but very low in carbs and high in animal protein. It’s 59%. Your cat will eat less of it because they’ll be more full. This saving you money in the long run. I feed my young cats Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein mixed with Instinct kibble. They also get low carb wet abs frozen raw as it’s much cheaper than freeze dried raw.

lisahe said:

Did the allergy specialist think your cat -- what's her name, by the way? -- has any sensitivities to food(s)? The ear infection (particularly if it's yeast) and the bare patches could both be indicators of that. (We saw those both in our previous cat, who seemed to have difficulties caused by grains and fish. Unfortunately, the vets where we took her didn't put all that together -- we only figured it out in her last months.)

No matter what you choose, IMHO, the general consensus here -- high protein, moderate fat, and low carbs (to borrow from mizzely !) -- is probably your best bet for the weight loss piece. And preferably in wet food. That's generally best for weight loss, plus if there's even any suspicion of allergy, you want the simplest recipes possible, without the fillers that others have mentioned. Basically, you want meat, meat, and more meat, without grains, potatoes, peas, and the like. Pretty much any dry food but Dr. Elsey's will have lots of vegetable matter that cats aren't really evolved to handle. For wet food, Fancy Feast Classics and Sheba pates are a very decent start, particularly if you have a limited budget and want to buy something at the supermarket! Plus most cats like them!

All that said, every cat is different so you may need to do some experimenting. A food diary can be helpful. Good luck!

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Thank you so much. Where can I find Dr. Elsey’s food? Oh, and my cats name is CiCi.

GalaxyGirl said:

I second the Dr. Elsey’s. It cost more but very low in carbs and high in animal protein. It’s 59%. Your cat will eat less of it because they’ll be more full. This saving you money in the long run. I feed my young cats Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein mixed with Instinct kibble. They also get low carb wet abs frozen raw as it’s much cheaper than freeze dried raw.

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What is wet abs frozen raw? Is that a brand? If not what brand do you use of wet?

Wet and frozen raw. I think is what that meant.

Dr elseys is online only right now.

Dr. Elseys czn be purchased on Chewy dot com! There are other sites as well but I have only ever used chewy.

If you email Dr. Elseys from their website, they will send you free samples of their kibble and canned food.