High quality cat food

[Aspiemum2]

Hoping someone can point me in the right direction for a good quality cat food.
My cat hasn't got a massive appetite and gets quite skinny in summer as she's always off chasing something.

I know the vets will just recommend what they stock (science diet). Shall I put her on that or is there a better one? She only eats dry food as she is super fussy with wet food.

Thanks

[issey6cats]

royal canin is a good dry food a lot of rescue centers use it, if shes on the skinny side get either the queen one or kitten one as these will be a bit higher in protien, not the cheapest but still reasonably priced pets at home sell it or online from i think zooplus

[Aspiemum2]

Great thanks, just what I was looking for. Will get that for her

[kimthomasandaimee]

Why not try her with some raw food if she doesn't like wet?

Dry food is very hard on the kidneys long-term. I feel that it's dehydrating to an animal that is designed to take moisture from it's food.

Applaws and Orijen are better dry foods as they are grain free.

[Aspiemum2]

Hi, thank you for the advice. She does get chicken if I see her but as she is semi feral I don't leave fresh food out as flies tend to descend upon it. This was the trouble with wet food - as she is fussy and just licks off the jelly and leaves the rest.
We managed to get her in to be neutered and that's how we discovered she likes chicken as the vet told us to feed her that afterwards
She is good at eating dry food though and drinks water straight from the nearby stream

If dry food is bad for the kidneys why is it so recommended by vets? (all the foods my vet recommends for cats & dogs are the dry complete type)
Just to say that's a genuine question, not being cheeky

[MultumInParvo]

I reckon they get kickbacks from the manufacturers. Just saying!

A good pet food will specify the meat and percentagebas first ingredient.Ie chicken 60% etc. Derivatives are a no no unless you don't mind feeding whatever's been left on the floor after the meats been mechanically removed from the chicken carcass.

[lljkk]

I buy cases of bozita from Zooplus, either that or Butchers cans in supermarket work out cheapest (the most meat for your money). Bozita doesn't have a jelly they can lick off & leave the rest.

[deliasmithy]

I've not had any problems with royal canin. My cats a thinner breed and just won't put on weight so they are all different. I buy in bulk from zoo plus too.

[SimplyTes]

I second raw food, chicken thighs/ legs great for keeping teeth clean as they gnaw on bones cats thrive on this diet, supplements needed if go all raw, can look up recipe online.

[Soontobemama]

Vets get commission for the food they sell. The big manufacturers also fund the nutrition courses that vets do when they are studying to become a vet. Vets actually know very little about animal nutrition.

Raw is the best diet for a cat, failing that high meat content wet food. Dry food is awful in my opinion. It's such an unnatural thing for a cat to eat and can cause all sorts of health problems.

[Rollergirl1]

I used to buy Royal Canin for my cay when someone at the pet store pointed out that it is full of additives that cats find quite addictive. Just cos it's pricey don't assume that it's good. My cat is now on More and seems very happy with it.

[Tittypulumpcious]

James Wellbeloved is a decent dry food (and wet) contains no fillers or cereals but has kidney healthy ingredients!

[Aspiemum2]

Wet food isn't an option - have tried pretty much all of them.
She will get chicken when I see her to feed her it but again she just eats a small amount, she's only a little thing and eats little but often.
I will check out all the recommendations for dry food though and appreciate the suggestions, thank you

[Irishmammybread]

I use Royal Canin food,I think the fact that is a bit more expensive than some other brands reflects the quality of ingredients used.Not all dry food is bad.

[trinity0097]

Is the vet concerned abut her weight? I'd make an appointment with a vet assistant for a weight check and they can recommend from there.

[deliasmithy]

So in this heat I put out some high quality wet food. Which is high meat content. One cat has sloppy poos now. She never does on Royal canin.
I wonder how easy or difficult it is to tell that an outdoor cat has a sensitive tummy?

[Tittypulumpcious]

Was it a new food to the cat, if do did you introduce it slowly over a few days? Giving cats a different food with no introduction can cause them to have an upset tum.

[deliasmithy]

No, she has a known tummy problem since kittenhood 4 years ago. Just making the point it isnt 'dry bad, wet food good'. I'd actually make the opposite argument.

[GigiDarcy]

Only food that 19 year old Darcy cat will now eat is applaws dry food. She loves it and turns her nose up in disgust if literally any other dry food is offered. She does like their wet food on occasion, think she must be a brand snob!

[itsnothingoriginal]

We've been advised to try dry only diet by vet as kitten has regular sloppy poo and terrible wind (sorry tmi). Applaws was suggested - anyone have experience of this helping?

Bit concerned now reading that dry isn't good for cats in long term

[gobbin]

One of mine was a bit sloppy after changing over from Royal Canin Kitten to Fit 32. Other two were ok. (They also have Butchers Choice can a day between 3).

Changed dry gradually to Applaws and all pooing normally again.