- Joined
- May 27, 2016
- Messages
- 5
- Purraise
- 1
Hello! I am going to create a very specific thread knowing that it may be that no one knows the answer to my questions. However, I have tried to education myself to some degree, and I don't know where to go from here, so I am hoping for someone who perhaps knows a little more than me to guide me in the right direction. To remove the suspense, I am going to ask for advice on what dry food I should select. I have spent this evening trying to answer my own question, and instead have mostly read the benefits of forcing my cats to eat wet food or creating my own raw food. However, I live in an apartment and simply am just not going to be making raw food at this time. I try to do what's best for my cats, but I can't do that right now. And I offer my cats wet food, but my one cat is very particular, and I'm not going to force him, or at least not at this time. i feel like there can only be so much change at one time.
Anyway, I will try to be succinct in their food history. I have 3 cats who are 8 years old; 2 domestics and 1 exotic. For most of their life, they ate Nutro Indoor Chicken & Whole Brown Rice. 2 years ago, when I moved to my new job, I met a small pet store owner who introduced me to the concept that there was a "ranking" of quality cat foods and she provided me with some samples. I knew my boy would not want to change, because he has never eaten anything but his dry food, even including wet food or treats. But based upon the girls' choices, I transitioned them to Solid Gold Indigo Moon, which is a high- or at least higher-protein diet. They were on this diet for about 1.5 years. However, my female domestic shorthair had a lot of anal gland build-up and issues that really, if they didn't begin, appeared to increased in magnitude on this diet. So I decided to transition them to something with less protein because she couldn't handle it. I brought home a couple samples, not certain what a middle-quality brand would be, and they easily fell back into eating their Nutro again. However, they are now much less sated on it; they become hungry very quickly and want more food more often. When I brought this concern up to my vet, she said to switch to a Weight Management formula, so I switched to the Nutro Weight Management (which I don't know if they are still making at the moment). But if this food did anything, it made, at least, my boy worse. He now wakes me up around 5:00am because he wants breakfast (which he never did before), stands by his bowl begging, and even occasionally comes over to see what I'm eating. I took him to the vet to see if there was a medical cause to his increased appetite, and all of his blood work came back normal. So she instead recommended Hills Prescription Metabolic Weight Management. Now, from what I've read, it seems that Hills seduces vets like pharmaceutical companies seduce doctors, so I doubt she knows anything other than what they've told her and that other people have said in regards to the food working for them. But everything I've read has said that Hills is terrible ingredients-wise (and it looks like it is) and the reason it's so expensive is to fund all of the advertising it does. And I can't figure out what make is "prescription-strength". However, when I delicately asked if I chose not to use Hills I what I should look for, she said "metabolic". But when I search online, the only food that comes up is Hills (and maybe a Purina one).
One thing I forgot to say. My boy is super picky about his food. He will only eat chicken-flavored and the kibble has to be small. And, additionally, my female domestic just had her teeth pulled, so it would be nice if the kibble was small enough for her not to choke when she inevitably eats it anyway. Even if it is chicken-flavored and small, my boy will still be picky, but the food will at least be in the running.
So, I know that it is unlikely that I will get all, or possibly any, of my questions answered. But they are: Is there anything comparable to "metabolic weight management" or what is the quality that is "metabolic"? Also, what makes it "prescription" strength? I am super frustrated with my cat who won't let me sleep and won't stop crying for food. If anyone has suggestions for a food that is healthy, that will fill up my cats but also won't cause them other issues (like anal gland build-up), I would appreciate the guidance. I don't know how to find a "4-star" cat food. Thanks!!!
Anyway, I will try to be succinct in their food history. I have 3 cats who are 8 years old; 2 domestics and 1 exotic. For most of their life, they ate Nutro Indoor Chicken & Whole Brown Rice. 2 years ago, when I moved to my new job, I met a small pet store owner who introduced me to the concept that there was a "ranking" of quality cat foods and she provided me with some samples. I knew my boy would not want to change, because he has never eaten anything but his dry food, even including wet food or treats. But based upon the girls' choices, I transitioned them to Solid Gold Indigo Moon, which is a high- or at least higher-protein diet. They were on this diet for about 1.5 years. However, my female domestic shorthair had a lot of anal gland build-up and issues that really, if they didn't begin, appeared to increased in magnitude on this diet. So I decided to transition them to something with less protein because she couldn't handle it. I brought home a couple samples, not certain what a middle-quality brand would be, and they easily fell back into eating their Nutro again. However, they are now much less sated on it; they become hungry very quickly and want more food more often. When I brought this concern up to my vet, she said to switch to a Weight Management formula, so I switched to the Nutro Weight Management (which I don't know if they are still making at the moment). But if this food did anything, it made, at least, my boy worse. He now wakes me up around 5:00am because he wants breakfast (which he never did before), stands by his bowl begging, and even occasionally comes over to see what I'm eating. I took him to the vet to see if there was a medical cause to his increased appetite, and all of his blood work came back normal. So she instead recommended Hills Prescription Metabolic Weight Management. Now, from what I've read, it seems that Hills seduces vets like pharmaceutical companies seduce doctors, so I doubt she knows anything other than what they've told her and that other people have said in regards to the food working for them. But everything I've read has said that Hills is terrible ingredients-wise (and it looks like it is) and the reason it's so expensive is to fund all of the advertising it does. And I can't figure out what make is "prescription-strength". However, when I delicately asked if I chose not to use Hills I what I should look for, she said "metabolic". But when I search online, the only food that comes up is Hills (and maybe a Purina one).
One thing I forgot to say. My boy is super picky about his food. He will only eat chicken-flavored and the kibble has to be small. And, additionally, my female domestic just had her teeth pulled, so it would be nice if the kibble was small enough for her not to choke when she inevitably eats it anyway. Even if it is chicken-flavored and small, my boy will still be picky, but the food will at least be in the running.
So, I know that it is unlikely that I will get all, or possibly any, of my questions answered. But they are: Is there anything comparable to "metabolic weight management" or what is the quality that is "metabolic"? Also, what makes it "prescription" strength? I am super frustrated with my cat who won't let me sleep and won't stop crying for food. If anyone has suggestions for a food that is healthy, that will fill up my cats but also won't cause them other issues (like anal gland build-up), I would appreciate the guidance. I don't know how to find a "4-star" cat food. Thanks!!!