Hills p/d vs Royal Canin

[russian blue]

I know cat food has been discussed a million times, but I'm bringing it up again.

Does anyone have experience with Hill's Prescribed Diet cat food? How does it compare with Royal Canin? I gave a little to Nakita and she devoured it!

When we went to the vets he was suggesting this brand (all vets in this area do).

Any opinions / comments?

Thanks!

 

[nern]

Is there any specific reason your vet is recommending a prescription diet?

 

[angelzoo]

Your cat should be on the diet that is the best health wise for her. From there you can find a comprimise out of taste tests.

I'm also curious why your cat is on a perscription diet.

I would have to see the ingredients of each exact packaging you have fed her to make a proper evaluation.

 

[russian blue]

The Hill's Prescription Diet food that he recommends is just the Growth Kitten formula (not because she has some specific problem). The vets just seem to prefer Hill's kitten over other brands.

Here is the ingredient breakdown:

Hills Prescribed Diet

Ingredients:

Poultry by-product meal, ground corn, animal fat (preserved with BHA, propyl gallate and citric acid), corn gluten meal, brewers rice, chicken liver flavor, potassium chloride, choline chloride, salt, calcium sulfate, taurine, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, copper sulfate, manganous oxide, calcium iodate, sodium selenite, vitamin A supplement, D-activated animal sterol, niacin, vitamin E supplement, thiamine, preserved with BHT and BHA, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement.



Royal Canin

Ingredients:

Chicken meal, chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), corn flour, beet pulp, chicken flavor, powdered cellulose, fish oil, brewers yeast, potassium chloride, dried egg product, chicory extract, taurine, salt, choline chloride, DL-methionine, natural antioxidant, iron proteinate, vitamin A acetate, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, zinc oxide, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, manganese oxide, calcium pantothenate, manganese proteinate, niacin supplement, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate, folic acid, biotin, sodium selenite, vitamin B12 supplement.



I was just wondering what other's have experienced when feeding Hill's compared with other brands.

 

[angelzoo]

By a quick look at the ingredients I would say to go for Royal Canine. The first 5 ingredients are the most improtant.

Royal Canin has 2 meat products first, and a corn matter coming in 4th. While Science Diet has only 1 meat, and is followed in second by Corn. Which means Science diet has a higher corn content, corn in various forms is pretty much a filler, and also causes for excess poo's.

I also do not like foods with BHT, or BHA in them, they have been known to cause cancer amoung many other things in lab rats. I hope some day they will be taken off the market just like ethyoxiquin (sp?). Even in human foods, most companies choose not to use them, I normally only see them in cheaper produced foods like your grocery stores brand of cocoa puffs.

Oh how I could SHOOT myself for loosing my list of ingredient details contained in companion animal foods. But I do recall some things from memory and many years of study and just plain asking around.

At any rate, I have fed Science Diet in many forms to my own animals at one point, and I did not see any change other than what you would expect from something like pro plan or iams, eventually my cats didn't want to eat it anymore, they didn't like it. I've had clients who have fed their animals both royal canine and SD formulas, so I'm familure with the reasons why they are on them and to what effect they had.

Not to say anything bad about your vet, but some vets sell/recommend SD so highly because it's the hills company who gives them their course in nutrition while they are going through vet school. So from that, their views of SD being a great food are pretty much enforced on them, and unless the vets take it upon themselves to learn about other foods, they never really get much detail as to what might be better or worse. This is why there is animal and human nutritionist, vets on average are not specialists in these feilds.

Bottom line, I'd say Royal Canine. But feed what works best for YOUR cat. And what you feel comfortable feeding them, ingredient wise.

 

[russian blue]

After viewing the ingredients, that was my first concern also (the by-products and BHT). Plus, I am never one to just "jump" on the bandwagon when a person, such as my vet recommends something. I always figure they are getting "kickbacks" when they put "one" brand before a pile of others.

I always do my research first. That's why I posted here, to start my research!

Thanks for your reply!

 

[alicat613]

By-products are beaks, feet, feathers, unusable nasties.
Corn is worthless.

Your vet generally isn't the best place for nutritional advice if you go to a regular old school vet. Some have chosen to really learn about nutrition, others haven't. Do your own research so you can decide, and also so you can be informed about whether or not you agree with your vet.

(PS That is not meant to be rude to any vets on here or put down vets at all. Human doctors specialize while vets are expected to know all about each aspect of many species' lives. I just don't feel that many vets are very good sources of nutritional advice, so you should be informed so you can know whether or not your vet is giving you good advice or not).

 

[angelzoo]

Hurray!!! Someone else here see's the light.

I feel so alone sometimes Ali.

I'm surprise no one has come running in here complaining to me about my vet statement yet, and now we have two.

 

[biglee]

Royal Canin by far, It is not Royal Canine.  My wife (now deceased) was a cat fanatic.  She raised Persians for 2 years.  We had 8 CFA Persians and 4 other cats we adopted from shelters.  She researched everything , and I mean everything.  Royal Canin was developed by a Veterinarian Team.  Visit the website on royalcanin.com.

We tried Hill's and would not eat it. A few did for a short time and threw up plus had diarrhea.  We switched to Royal Canin Sensitive Digestive Care and have been on it for over 7 years.  All of the cats love it.  Royal Canin has multiple foods for various ages, fat cats, breeds, etc.  The website will guide you to just the right food for your cat.  They offer wet and dry foods as well as prescription foods.  Some of Hill's have vegetables. That is a big marketing tool for some of the newer foods which have vegetables and may also have fruit.  Both are a complete waste because cats do not need them and some are harmful.  

I will never buy any brand other than Royal Canin, and that is proven by 12 healthy cats from 2 through 15 years old. It is expensive, but visit the site, decide which one fits your needs and try a small bag first.  

 

[nomadicthought]

What's with this cookie cutter bull you're giving OP, guys? Cmon..dancing around the bottom line, "you should do your research" "vets aren't really nutritionists" "let me steer you toward rc, the lesser of the two evils". Some of you have spent years on these forums, have done the research and understand these brands and their history and the ingredients present in all kinds of cat food, why not educate someone asking this question? I don't usually like to be judgemental, and believe me if these two brands were inexpensive (that being a reason to consider them, for someone who cannot afford expensive quality foods), I wouldn't say a thing. Everyones situation is different. But rc and hills are NOT CHEAP. OP, you can spend less money and feed your critters high quality species appropriate canned foods. These brands should not even be considered, realistically.

 

[Kat0121]

 
Royal Canin by far, It is not Royal Canine.  My wife (now deceased) was a cat fanatic.  She raised Persians for 2 years.  We had 8 CFA Persians and 4 other cats we adopted from shelters.  She researched everything , and I mean everything.  Royal Canin was developed by a Veterinarian Team.  Visit the website on royalcanin.com.

We tried Hill's and would not eat it. A few did for a short time and threw up plus had diarrhea.  We switched to Royal Canin Sensitive Digestive Care and have been on it for over 7 years.  All of the cats love it.  Royal Canin has multiple foods for various ages, fat cats, breeds, etc.  The website will guide you to just the right food for your cat.  They offer wet and dry foods as well as prescription foods.  Some of Hill's have vegetables. That is a big marketing tool for some of the newer foods which have vegetables and may also have fruit.  Both are a complete waste because cats do not need them and some are harmful.  

I will never buy any brand other than Royal Canin, and that is proven by 12 healthy cats from 2 through 15 years old. It is expensive, but visit the site, decide which one fits your needs and try a small bag first.  

 
What's with this cookie cutter bull you're giving OP, guys? Cmon..dancing around the bottom line, "you should do your research" "vets aren't really nutritionists" "let me steer you toward rc, the lesser of the two evils". Some of you have spent years on these forums, have done the research and understand these brands and their history and the ingredients present in all kinds of cat food, why not educate someone asking this question? I don't usually like to be judgemental, and believe me if these two brands were inexpensive (that being a reason to consider them, for someone who cannot afford expensive quality foods), I wouldn't say a thing. Everyones situation is different. But rc and hills are NOT CHEAP. OP, you can spend less money and feed your critters high quality species appropriate canned foods. These brands should not even be considered, realistically.

Hello and welcome to you both!! 

This thread hasn't been active (until today of course

)  since 2002. It is unlikely that any of the previous posters will reply to this. 

I personally do not feed either Hills or Royal Canin. After reading the ingredients, I don't think they are worth the price tag- it's that and the fact that my cats will not eat them. I agree with @nomadicthought  that there are better foods out there for a better or similar price. 

HOWEVER, If Royal Canin is what works for you and it's what your cats will eat, then it's the right food for you. It's up to each of us to do our research and decide what is best for our pets. I found out the hard way that just because a food is "better" or more expensive doesn't mean the cat will eat it. I don't even want to think about how many cans of high end food went down the garbage disposal because the diva sisters refused to eat them. Food that's in the trash/disposal is nutritionally worthless. 

My cats eat a 95% canned diet. They get dry food every now and again as either a topper to the wet food or as a snack. I buy the Petcurean GO! Fit & Free. https://www.chewy.com/go-fit-free-grain-free-chicken/dp/41296   They like it a lot. 

My cats are VERY picky eaters. We keep a very wide variety of canned foods in the rotation because of this. I do not give them the same food two meals in a row. Our rotation has a variety of brands ranging from Friskies poultry pates to the higher end brands. The girls keep me on my toes, that's for sure. 

Again, welcome to TCS. We're glad you found us and hope you'll stick around. 

 

[nomadicthought]

Hello and welcome to you both!!

This thread hasn't been active (until today of course

) since 2002. It is unlikely that any of the previous posters will reply to this.

I personally do not feed either Hills or Royal Canin. After reading the ingredients, I don't think they are worth the price tag- it's that and the fact that my cats will not eat them. I agree with @nomadicthought that there are better foods out there for a better or similar price.

HOWEVER, If Royal Canin is what works for you and it's what your cats will eat, then it's the right food for you. It's up to each of us to do our research and decide what is best for our pets. I found out the hard way that just because a food is "better" or more expensive doesn't mean the cat will eat it. I don't even want to think about how many cans of high end food went down the garbage disposal because the diva sisters refused to eat them. Food that's in the trash/disposal is nutritionally worthless.

My cats eat a 95% canned diet. They get dry food every now and again as either a topper to the wet food or as a snack. I buy the Petcurean GO! Fit & Free. Go! Fit + Free Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey & Duck Recipe Dry Cat Food They like it a lot.

My cats are VERY picky eaters. We keep a very wide variety of canned foods in the rotation because of this. I do not give them the same food two meals in a row. Our rotation has a variety of brands ranging from Friskies poultry pates to the higher end brands. The girls keep me on my toes, that's for sure.

Again, welcome to TCS. We're glad you found us and hope you'll stick around.

Thank you!

But, I still think you're giving op (and any potential readers) some cookie cutter "pc" stuff here. Sure, if royal canin is the ONLY food your cat will touch, out of literally hundreds of cat food brands and varieties, then that is THE RIGHT FOOD for your cat by default. Statistically id say thats next to impossible. There are MANY cat foods at or below the price range and of higher quality than there garbage "prescription" foods. There is no reason to feed this stuff, a decent amount of research proves this definitively. That is my point.

 

[sargon]

Royal Canin has slightly better ingredients, and hills science diet is notorious for cats hating the taste to boot, so RC is probably the better of the two, but for that price you can get foods with much better ingredients.

Nature's Variety and Canidae Pure elements both cost less and rate better than RC and Hills. Merrick has a grain free kitten specific food that will cost less than RC or Hills, while providing much better ingredients. I have fed all 3 to my kitten and had good results.

 

[FforFeline]

Royal Canin has slightly better ingredients, and hills science diet is notorious for cats hating the taste to boot, so RC is probably the better of the two, but for that price you can get foods with much better ingredients.

Nature's Variety and Canidae Pure elements both cost less and rate better than RC and Hills. Merrick has a grain free kitten specific food that will cost less than RC or Hills, while providing much better ingredients. I have fed all 3 to my kitten and had good results.

Thank you for your help. I am new to owning cats (just rehomed a mummy and kitten duo) and would appreciate all the advice I could get regarding feeding.
So is it not true that more expensive brands are better, cats need to eat less (and poo less).
I wish I did have time to do extensive research of my own. I would really appreciate your experience,