Your opinion on protein rotation

[Sarralucia]

Thank you for accepting me in this rich cat community!

My Ollie is 4 months old and had a post-adoption vet appointment today.

One thing the vet tech recommended is that we stick to one type of protein for kittens. Since Ollie has already shown a preference towards fish, they said there’s no harm in only giving him fish variety types of food. Is that so?

I thought a rotation of protein sources was the best option, but I also know cats are SO different from each other.

I’d love to hear if you agree or disagree with their advice based on your own experience.

 

[Furballsmom]

Hi
I prefer giving my cats different proteins, varieties (pate, gravy) and brands. I think doing this gives them access to a broader range of nutrition, plus when they're young it can provide a better opportunity to help the cat be less likely to be finicky about food.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I totally agree with Furballsmom here. Unfortunately, I did NOT do that with my guys when they were little, and now I have one that is so very picky he drives me nuts. He may like chicken, but not even ALL chicken. He's even picky about just one protein.

Oh, and you don't really even need to stick with Kitten food, as long as the food states it's for All Life Stages!

 

[xenonentity]

Sarralucia I am simply not a fan of feeding any of my animals only one thing, from my cats to my spiders. With the exception of animals that are extreme specialists, animals get nutrients from a variety of different sources in the wild. Cats, while being strict carnivores, are not specialists on one type of prey. In the wild, they'd eat birds, rodents and small mammals, reptiles, and probably even insects on occasion. All of those prey items would contribute something a little bit different nutritionally.

Feeding a cat only one source of protein means they may end up lacking something that isn't found (or is found in low quantities) in that protein. If you're feeding commercial foods, they tend to have added nutrients, so it might not be as detrimental as if a cat only ate house sparrows its whole life in the wild, but there's a higher chance that they'll get less (or more) of certain nutrients than is optimal without the option for variety.

Besides that, I think there's a quality of life aspect involved as well. Food is huge for animals, it motivates them and literally energizes them. So, giving them access to only one flavor, one kind of food, their whole lives just seems like a missed opportunity for excitement and environmental enrichment.

Even my snakes, which do need a very specific diet, occasionally get to eat something new as enrichment! I've offered salmon, tilapia, and small pieces of raw poultry to their diets very rarely instead of only giving them rodents. My lizards and predatory bugs / spiders get different species of bugs as prey. It's fun to watch them interact with different kinds of food!

And on top of everything else, fish especially is not generally considered a natural food source for cats. It only became heavily associated with cats, I believe, when meat was being rationed and thus much more expensive. This isn't to say that there aren't any benefits to feeding fish, because I think there definitely are, but I would never use it as the only source of protein for a cat since as far as I know they aren't even a natural part of their diet.

 

[Alldara]

I go to a cat only vet and I was encouraged to feed a variety. They suggested I pick a few similar but not the same.
They saw a lot of cats during the pandemic food shortages who wouldn't eat either because they wouldn't eat a new food and theirs wasn't available, OR the recipe changed and they wouldn't eat.

Some brands even advertise that they have lines in 2 or 3 different proteins.

I give Purina urinary, chicken and rice as well. We do Iams perfect portions and a few different types of Wureva, but mostly lamb. I also like Beyond Duck. And they get some Stella and Chewy freeze dried mixed in at night to bulk up their food without opening another can (duck is the flavour they like). As a treat they periodically get some Honest Kitchen also.

 

[ClumsyBear]

I always gave a variety of protein to my cat when he was a kitten, and continue to do so.
Was there a specific reason your vet recommended this?
It could possibly cause tummy troubles so maybe sticking with one brand and 2-3 flavours could help? Although I wouldn't switch out dry food that often and without a transition. It seems harder on their stomach than switching wet foods.
I always preferred variety to avoid pickiness and also in case of a recall or if something gets discontinued.

 

[charliana]

I feed mine a variety of proteins and brands and I limit the fish to once or twice a week. My friend laughs at me because it was easy for me to remember to feed the fish on Fridays, so the cats eat fish on Fridays. The variety got low when money ran a little short so they decided they are done with Sheba and Fancy Feast. Now I am starting to buy a bigger variety again. When they are used to a variety of foods, they don't get sick if I have to switch any foods out.

 

[Sarralucia]

Thank you all for your valuable advice! I've been exploring a variety of animal protein foods with Ollie, experimenting with different textures and flavors. It's been fascinating to learn about his preferences and patterns so far! I keep notes of his likes and dislikes on my fridge, so I can have a better idea of how diverse his taste can be. So rewarding to see him happy! <3

 

[maggie101]

Variety being the spice of life! Fish,as a treat only. My 12 yr old cat was fed mostly chicken when she was a kitten. Now she is intolerant to it.go figure

 

[game misconduct]

i regret not getting graycie used to eating different types of meats and brands along with pates/ morsels etc. she is really picky now. also if any shortages happen again like during covid you wont need to stress out over your cat refusing to eat since its used to eating a variety

 

[maggie101]

i regret not getting graycie used to eating different types of meats and brands along with pates/ morsels etc. she is really picky now. also if any shortages happen again like during covid you wont need to stress out over your cat refusing to eat since its used to eating a variety

Ya, it's all live and learn