Help me pick an adult dry food addition to my wet food? Tips on rotating kibble with one cat?

[tikishenanigans]

My approx. 1.5 year old cat, Tiki eats about one 5.5oz can of wet food a day (he leaves about a tablespoon leftover) and I give him about a tablespoon of kibble a day. He does have to work for it though- we throw it and he chases the pieces as a nice game. We've transferred to adult wet food a while ago, but I haven't swapped him off the kitten food (we bought way too big of a bag last time). He's mostly fine with just wet but I'm considering up-ing his dry because he's getting a bit of tartar built up on his upper back teeth and I don't want dental issues down the line. The darn thing is waaay to limber to  brush his teeth every day.

Wet food is rotated/switched but he has had vomit/diarrhea with cheaper foods, but we cant afford $2 a can either. I cant find a particular ingredient but he has done better with more limited grains or no grains so whatever else is commonly swapped out as the quality gets higher must be the issue. We've never has an issue with treats, but normally he doesnt get a whole lot (we did have some meow mix food from a friends cat that he thinks are great treats) Foods he's good with are Triumph brand-beef is his favorite, but the other flavors we've gotten are also good. He also likes many of the Chicken Soup for the Soul food and their flavors. He likes beef, and isn't as keen on fish flavors..

We bought a PetSmart brand kitten food "Good Natured" for kibble before- I forget the name and it's been in a sealed tub without the bag for a while. I would like some recommendations for a comparable level and price dry food to add to him Triumph/Chicken soup wet food. He drinks plenty of water so I'm not too concerned about that part. Also, I only have one cat and Im open to rotating brands/flavors so any cost effective ways to do this would be wonderful. I dont want to hurt his tummy or have way to much food left over where it would spoil.

Short version- what a good medium quality, medium price kibble to add to Triumph and Chicken Soup for the Soul wet foods in various flavors?

 

[catlover1028]

Hi! I feed my cats Nulo Freestyle. It is grain free, no tapioca, no white potatoes, (they do have sweet potatoes) and the first 4 ingredients of the dry recipes are meat based. Nulo also is low carbs, has probiotics, and comes in Duck, Chicken, or Salmon. My 3 cats are on the Salmon Adult Trim recipe and they love it. The only thing is that some cats may not like how small the kibbles are. 1 of my cats is really small for 10 months so she is ok with it. She and her litter mate are rescues so who knows why 1 of them is so tiny and the other is so tall! I also recommend Chewy.com to order cat food on. Chewy.com is just amazing! Here is the link:


https://www.chewy.com/

 

[tikishenanigans]

Thanks- and we love Chewy too. I add in cat/dog toys when i order, but sometimes Tiki is more excited to have to box than the new toy We have some nice cat forts out of Chewy boxes.

 

[kalebkat]

Ive heard a lot about Nulo here on the forums. Right now my cat is still finishing his two bags of dry food mix Blue and Simply Nourish. They are both great brands and Purina Pro is a good one also.

 

[shadowplay]

What's your target price range? Chewy has a bunch of grain free options available! There's a few from Purina: Purina Beyond, Purina Pro Plan, and Purina Muse. Rachel Ray Zero Grain looks decent. Chicken Soup makes a few dry food options. I've also heard great things about I and Love and You, Natural Balance, Wellness Core, Nutro, and Merrick. If you like Hill's, they have a grain free option as well. I've personally had good experience with the Blue Wilderness line. They were also on Simply Nourish for a while. Good brand, good ingredients, but my one kitten just didn't eat it as much. Lots of other cats love it though! I use the kitten formula for my cats under a year old, but they have different protein options in the adult line. Hope you find something your kitty loves!

 

[LTS3]

Canned food doesn't have to cost $2 a can.  Just feed the best quality food that your cat likes to eat and you can afford

There are suggestions on affordable canned foods here:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/308964/healthy-but-affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272192/affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/327692/cheapest-most-affordable-grain-free-or-healthiest-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/330459/...conomical-way-to-buy-friskies-canned-cat-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/306956/new-affordable-petsmart-brand-d

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/292890/4health-now-has-affordable-grain-free-wet-food

Dry food doesn't clean teeth in any way. Keep trying with the tooth brushing. Brushing even just twice a week is better than nothing IMO. The CET poultry flavored toothpaste is popular among cats. If you are able to, maybe kneel on the floor with your cat tucked in between your knees and brush that way. Doing this in the bathroom with the door closed helps keep your cat from wiggling out and running to hide under a bed or something. The CET dental chews are another option you can try.

Wellness is a decent brand you can try.

 

[tikishenanigans]

Canned food doesn't have to cost $2 a can.  Just feed the best quality food that your cat likes to eat and you can afford

There are suggestions on affordable canned foods here:

http://www.thnned-cat-food]http://www.thecatsite.com/t/330459/what-is-the-most-affordable-and-economical-way-to-buy-friskies-canned-cat-food
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/306956/new-affordable-petsmart-brand-d
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/292890/4health-now-has-affordable-grain-free-wet-food

Dry food doesn't clean teeth in any way. Keep trying with the tooth brushing. Brushing even just twice a week is better than nothing IMO. The CET poultry flavored toothpaste is popular among cats. If you are able to, maybe kneel on the floor with your cat tucked in between your knees and brush that way. Doing this in the bathroom with the door closed helps keep your cat from wiggling out and running to hide under a bed or something. The CET dental chews are another option you can try.

Wellness is a decent brand you can try.

 

[tikishenanigans]

Whoops, mobile phone accident. He's way to limber for me. The kneeling over him, feet crossed behind me so he can't back out trap is being saved for if he ever need pills again. (Pill syringes are a lifesaver)
He's the sweetest cat and I hate having to do anything like that. He it good with front teeth touching it's just he doesn't like not chewing when I touch the back, or having anything between his cheek and teeth. I've heard both that crunchies will and won't help with teeth. Any definitive research?

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Price range was hopefully around $2 a pound in the small 2-3 pound bags. For one cat I worry about a twenty pound bag sitting around too long.

 

[mizzely]

Here's some good information about kibble and teeth: http://www.catbehaviourist.com/dental-care-for-cats.html

 

[dorimon]

Here's another article about the myth of dry food cleaning teeth: http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/does-dry-food-clean-the-teeth/

 

[catlover1028]

sometimes Tiki is more excited to have to box than the new toy We have some nice cat forts out of Chewy boxes.

That sounds familiar!

 

[thegreystalker]

For some unknown reason Evolve Chicken flavor kibble for cats is very modestly priced at one of my local supermarkets.  The pet shop price is higher than in the supermarket but it's the same stuff.  My gal really likes this stuff.  I like it because it's inexpensive and it's no corn, no wheat and no soy.  My only complaint is that the supermarket usually only has a couple or so bags (3lbs) on hand.  The price is $5.50.

 

[cat r me]

I have been using Young Again Pet Foods for over 4 years. LOVE IT!!!