Some of you may remember a thread I recently posted regarding my concerns over feeding two very picky and finicky cats. The thread can be viewed here: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=196268. However, the general gist of the thread was that I was struggling with feeding my two female cats, Cassidy and Delaney, a diet I approved of since they were unwilling to eat anything other than the Science Diet (a 50/50 mix of the Kitten Healthy Development formula and the Adult Optimal Care formula) that they were given while housed at the local animal shelter. Despite trying numerous different dry food brands and varieties, the only food that I could get the girls to consistently eat was the Science Diet. And, while they are also fed canned food (Fancy Feast typically with the occasional Friskies or Whiskas for variety) I am not confident that they are taking in the appropriate nutrition they need in order to continue to grow and maintain their physical condition and health.
You'll see in the original thread that I occasionally supplement with a raw diet as well as other nutritional supplements, but for many reasons going to an all-raw diet is not appropriate. It may become more of a possibility in the future, but, for now, I am mainly trying to determine what I can do in order to meet my cats' needs as well as my own going forward...
Last week, I was away on a business trip. And, despite leaving detailed instructions on what to feed Cass and Laney, she went out and purchased Purina One (Chicken and Rice formula) when the unopened bag of Science Diet I had been destroyed by her dogs during a thunderstorm. I have tried feeding Purina One before, but my girls turned their noses up at it. However, this time things were different and Cassidy and Delaney took right to the new food and have been eating well. It's now been about a week-and-a-half and they have each gained a couple of much-needed ounces and are still eating the dry food consistency. I'm pleased, but, that all being said, is this food better than the Science Diet I had been feeding? Or did I move them from one lesser quality food to another?
Below are the guaranteed analysis and ingredients for the two foods. The first is Hill's Science Diet's Adult Optimal Health and the second is Purina One's Adult Chicken and Rice.
Nutrient
Dry Matter
%Protein33.5Fat23.7Carbohydrate (NFE)36.5Crude Fiber0.9Calcium0.81Phosphorus0.74Sodium0.37Potassium0.66Magnesium0.066Taurine0.21
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Crude Protein (MIN)34.0%Phosphorus (P) (MIN)0.7%Crude Fat (MIN)13.0%Magnesium (Mg) (MAX)0.09%Crude Fiber (MAX)2.0%Selenium (Se) (MIN)0.30 mg/kgMoisture (MAX)12.0%Vitamin A (MIN)11,000 IU/kgAsh (MAX)7.0%Vitamin E (MIN)100 IU/kgLinoleic Acid (MIN)1.4%Taurine (MIN)0.15%Calcium (Ca) (MIN)0.8%
Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), whole grain corn, fish meal, soy protein isolate, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, caramel color, salt, choline chloride, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.
I am certainly no expert on feline nutrition, but, to me, the Purina One looks like it is a better quality food. Just the fact that the first ingredient is chicken rather than a meat by-product makes me feel better about feeding it. However, based on the guaranteed analysis and the ingredients in both foods side-by-side, which would you choose to feed?
I know neither food is the best available. But, that being said, these are currently my two options as the girls continue to refuse the other foods I offer. I just want to do whatever I can in order to provide Cass and Laney with the best care possible and I figure that this is as good a place as any to discuss their needs and my limitations while receiving input on what I can do in order to better their life and mine.
You'll see in the original thread that I occasionally supplement with a raw diet as well as other nutritional supplements, but for many reasons going to an all-raw diet is not appropriate. It may become more of a possibility in the future, but, for now, I am mainly trying to determine what I can do in order to meet my cats' needs as well as my own going forward...
Last week, I was away on a business trip. And, despite leaving detailed instructions on what to feed Cass and Laney, she went out and purchased Purina One (Chicken and Rice formula) when the unopened bag of Science Diet I had been destroyed by her dogs during a thunderstorm. I have tried feeding Purina One before, but my girls turned their noses up at it. However, this time things were different and Cassidy and Delaney took right to the new food and have been eating well. It's now been about a week-and-a-half and they have each gained a couple of much-needed ounces and are still eating the dry food consistency. I'm pleased, but, that all being said, is this food better than the Science Diet I had been feeding? Or did I move them from one lesser quality food to another?
Below are the guaranteed analysis and ingredients for the two foods. The first is Hill's Science Diet's Adult Optimal Health and the second is Purina One's Adult Chicken and Rice.
Nutrient
Dry Matter
%Protein33.5Fat23.7Carbohydrate (NFE)36.5Crude Fiber0.9Calcium0.81Phosphorus0.74Sodium0.37Potassium0.66Magnesium0.066Taurine0.21
Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Iodized Salt, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with Mixed Tocopherols and Citric Acid, Beta-Carotene, Rosemary Extract.
Crude Protein (MIN)34.0%Phosphorus (P) (MIN)0.7%Crude Fat (MIN)13.0%Magnesium (Mg) (MAX)0.09%Crude Fiber (MAX)2.0%Selenium (Se) (MIN)0.30 mg/kgMoisture (MAX)12.0%Vitamin A (MIN)11,000 IU/kgAsh (MAX)7.0%Vitamin E (MIN)100 IU/kgLinoleic Acid (MIN)1.4%Taurine (MIN)0.15%Calcium (Ca) (MIN)0.8%
Chicken, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, wheat flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), whole grain corn, fish meal, soy protein isolate, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, caramel color, salt, choline chloride, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.
I am certainly no expert on feline nutrition, but, to me, the Purina One looks like it is a better quality food. Just the fact that the first ingredient is chicken rather than a meat by-product makes me feel better about feeding it. However, based on the guaranteed analysis and the ingredients in both foods side-by-side, which would you choose to feed?
I know neither food is the best available. But, that being said, these are currently my two options as the girls continue to refuse the other foods I offer. I just want to do whatever I can in order to provide Cass and Laney with the best care possible and I figure that this is as good a place as any to discuss their needs and my limitations while receiving input on what I can do in order to better their life and mine.