How many people out there have dealt with cat health issues(old age not included) where you feel your cats health issues were a direct result of what you were feeding at the time. No judgements just honest answers.
Thank you for your honest feedback.I fed my previous cat a supposedly premium big name brand of dry food for 8 years. I only occasionally fed canned food. Then my cat became diabetic. From the reading I did online and finding the FelineDiabetes.com and the famous Binky's food charts, I learned that the dry food I had fed for years was extrememly high in carbs and as a result of that put a huge strain on the pancrease until the pancrease failed to work properly. My diabetic cat immediately went on low carb canned food and stayed on that food until he passed away.
I wish the Internet existed back when my previus cat was a kitten with all of the information that is available now so I could have made a better infomred decision on what to feed. I had no idea that dry food was horrible for cat health. Canned food was viewed more of a treat than a meal and was more expensive than dry food.
I refuse to feed dry food now. The only thing dry I will feed is freeze dried raw as treats.
Not sure if it counts as a health issue, but one of my first two cats became obese because of the poor quality dry food she was eating, I believe. My other cat at the time was quite the hunter and ate what she caught, and she stayed slender, with a much nicer coat than the fat cat.
When I started learning about the ingredients in cat food I switched their diet to a better dry food, and saw great results just from that. The bigger cat lost weight without being put on a diet, still being free- fed dry only.
I now believe wet food is much more appropriate for cats, but that was my first lesson in how much the food I choose for my pets matters.
Thank you for your honest feedback.I fed my previous cat a supposedly premium big name brand of dry food for 8 years. I only occasionally fed canned food. Then my cat became diabetic. From the reading I did online and finding the FelineDiabetes.com and the famous Binky's food charts, I learned that the dry food I had fed for years was extrememly high in carbs and as a result of that put a huge strain on the pancrease until the pancrease failed to work properly. My diabetic cat immediately went on low carb canned food and stayed on that food until he passed away.
I wish the Internet existed back when my previus cat was a kitten with all of the information that is available now so I could have made a better infomred decision on what to feed. I had no idea that dry food was horrible for cat health. Canned food was viewed more of a treat than a meal and was more expensive than dry food.
I refuse to feed dry food now. The only thing dry I will feed is freeze dried raw as treats.
Without going into the whole dry food is bad etc debate, yes, there are some dry foods that are better in quality than others. If one has to feed dry food, choose one that is grain free if at all possible and lists real meat as the first ingredient. My two centsSo if dry food must be fed there are some much healthier ones. They are not all the same.
Good to know thanks for your input.It took us two years of my cat throwing up to figure out she couldn't tolerate any canned food that was fish flavored. As her owner, when we figured it out, I was so mad at myself!
I have a cat now who has feline herpes. Changing her diet to a grain-free diet, both canned and dry, was one of the best things we did to help control her herpes. There are many other supplements we've added, but we saw a huge improvement in her health when we eliminated the grains.
I also have another cat who can't tolerate a totally grain-free diet. It caused him to have diarrhea, so we have added a prescription food that contains grain to his diet to keep his stools firm. He's still predominately grain-free, but because of his gastrointestinal needs, we have to feed him some grains.
Lastly, I have seen a vast improvement in the overall health of my third kitty's fur and skin since she came to live with us. Changing her diet has helped her to have such soft, supple fur.
Hi Peaches,I definitely feel that Hill's Weight Control kibble was a direct contributor to Grey's diabetes, and even higher quality kibble led to her kidney failure years later. I tried fountains, water all over the place and she drank well...but ultimately the damage from diabetes and dry took their toll. I made it a point to never feed dry again. Then I got 3 new cats after she died. These 3 cats were on cheap canned but suffered IBS-D, so I ended up feeding raw. My new rescue started on dry (what his former owner fed), but has switched to raw and the pee balls and poops are amazingly different. What's even more amazing to me is how little water they drink/need compared to before raw, and especially compared to my dear Grey.
I have. I was feeding him the calories of a 17 lb cat when he was 18 lb. Too much of a calorie decrease and they will have liver problems. He's on 15 units of Lantus a day some days a little less some days based on his b/g levels.Go grain free canned food and feed less
Actually, I should have mentioned that the vets still complained about Grey's weight on Weight Control by Hill's and I was feeding her the amount for a cat 2/3 her size. I had a hungry and unhappy cat. Now what was the point in her gaining weight and being hungry? Ugh.Hi Peaches,
My Buster Brown is diabetic and obese. I wss finally talked into, by vet, to get the prescription weight loss food. He had gained 2 pounds on the diet I had him on. He was 18 lbs and I was feeding him like a 17 lb and he gained 2 lbs so now he's 20 lbs. He was on a canned diet. I'm not fond of prescriptions but I am desperate. I don't want his life shortened. I'm so scared especially after reading about your Grey. I can't do raw and he won't eat cooked. What or where nexted???
Actually, I should have mentioned that the vets still complained about Grey's weight on Weight Control by Hill's and I was feeding her the amount for a cat 2/3 her size. I had a hungry and unhappy cat. Now what was the point in her gaining weight and being hungry? Ugh.
What canned foods was he eating? What is the prescription food? Since this kitty is on Lantus, I suggest also posting at the feline diabetes message board at http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/.