Dog Food For Cats If I Add Taurine?

2 dozen

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I feed almost 35 ferals and have had to cut down the daily feeding, getting too expensive. Bought taurine and am wondering if I add it to the less expensive large cans of dog food, can I feed it to the cats on occasion?
I use dry cat food and a friend gives me leftover chicken when the restaurant she works in makes chicken broth/soup.
I live in mountainous region with many rodents for the cats also, mice, chipmunks, etc so their diet is varied and don't depend on the wet food I put out.
Thanks for any opinions/advice.
 

orange&white

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I wouldn't use dog food, even with taurine. There are other nutrients that have different mins/max's for cats versus dogs. I would think that Special Kitty from Walmart ($1 for a 22 ounce can) would be preferable if you need a really inexpensive way to add canned to the dry diet. Also if the restaurant chicken broth is made with onion and/or garlic, I would not offer it.

Their healthiest component is the mice, rodents and insects. ;)
 

haleyds

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Really with ferals in a mountainous area your main feeding duty is going to be supplementing. They have a lot of things to eat that's provided from the wild and even if you do have to cut back you are still helping with whatever it is you can add. I would not recommend dog food purely because it's labeled dog food for a reason, not for cats lol.
 

LTS3

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There is a brand of canned dog food that can be fed to cats because it is the same formula: Nature's Variety Instinct Originals. However it is pretty expensive so maybe not budget-friendly for a large feral colony, even the large 13 oz cans.

If the cats are getting enough to eat from whatever they catch, dry food would be enough for any supplementation.
 

JamesCalifornia

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~ I feed my cat farm Friskies. But sometimes they like Special Kitty . The 22oz Turkey & Giblets seems to be their favorite.
Tell the manager at your market you are helping feral cats. They may give you a discount on Friskies and/or save the cans with dents for you .
All the best ! :hellocomputer:
 

Lalka

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off topic question but are these feral cats spayed? Is it why you cant afford food for them anymore...you had 10 and now 35?
 

Vega's Dad

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~ I feed my cat farm Friskies. But sometimes they like Special Kitty . The 22oz Turkey & Giblets seems to be their favorite.
Tell the manager at your market you are helping feral cats. They may give you a discount on Friskies and/or save the cans with dents for you .
All the best ! :hellocomputer:
Also ask about damaged bagged dry food. Some stores have discount (not all though. Some would throw it away and any attempt to save would be considered "stealing" :( )
 
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2 dozen

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Thank you all so much for your replies, they were very informative and helpful. I started trapping after I moved here, TNR'd almost 180 cats since 2011, some help from my community but mostly out of pocket. Will be trapping a mama and her 3 kittens soon, organization I use charges only $35 for surgery and a rabies vac. Need to cut back on food expenses but glad to put the feeding in perspective, as supplement. During our winters here in NE Pa I do feed daily but am cutting during the warmer months. We have 2 dogs so the food I bought with the cats in mind won't go to waste.
 

missmimz

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Nope. Just shop around for the most cost effective large cans of wet food. If you have a Tractor Supply near you, their 4health brand has large cans for a good price.
 
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