Dry Food vs Wet Food (vs Raw Food)

[theors01]

My sphynx is almost 4 yrs. now. He has been on wet food only for about 3.5 years now. He seems to be a picky eater. I have changed his food brand and food type a number of times. Right now, he is eating "Wellness- Minced Tuna" cans but only in combination with a tablespoon of "Soulistic- Whole Tuna". He eats almost two 3 oz. (85g) cans a day. Is this all tuna diet ok?

Is this diet ok? I feel like the healthiest cat is the once whose diet is close to what they would eat in nature. I feel dry food is highly processed. Wet food seems like it is more natural to real food. I've tried raw (slightly seared) chicken but he wasn't that in to it. The cost and time to prepare a raw food diet is high too. However, if a raw food diet is a significantly better option then I would commit.

Can anyone recommend which diet choice (dry, wet or raw) is the best option for my cat's health? Any evidence or facts to relate to would be GREAT!

I appreciate the help!

-KATO

 

[Xandria]

While this is a massively long read, I do suggest it as a good resource in support of raw: http://www.catinfo.org/

My understanding is that fish should only be fed to cats 1 or 2 times per week.

Preparing raw can be quite simple if you use meat + additive, where the additive is Better in the Raw & Allnutrin.

Hope that helps! I'm sure others will chime in.

 

[theors01]

Xandria! Thank you! Awesome response.

 

[MollysMom]

Feeding them a diet high in fish is not recommended. They can get addicted to the strong scent and develop an aversion to eating anything else.

I second reading www.catinfo.org

A dozen people will have a dozen different views about what is a "best" feline diet.

My opinion (hopefully without offending anyone) is that raw is the best. That being said, it HAS to be nutritionally complete. It must contain proper amounts of bone, organ and muscle meat.

Look into using a supplement such as Better in the Raw.

In the catinfo.org article, Better in the Raw is the same idea as the TC Feline powder supplement that she mentions.

 

[theors01]

Thank you for the response. I will be reading this. Great info! I will get educated on a proper raw diet. In the meantime, I feel I need to reduce the "Wellness Minced Tuna" cans to once/week. I will pick up some chicken or turkey wet food while I get educated on raw diet. Is there a brand of wet food you would suggest?

Thanks!

KATO

 

[MollysMom]

Thank you for the response. I will be reading this. Great info! I will get educated on a proper raw diet. In the meantime, I feel I need to reduce the "Wellness Minced Tuna" cans to once/week. I will pick up some chicken or turkey wet food while I get educated on raw diet. Is there a brand of wet food you would suggest?

Thanks!

KATO

We feed the wellness brand (grain-free) when we give them wet food. As far as price, quality and availability I am pretty happy with it.

 

[Condo commando]

catinfo. org is a great resource but how Dr. Pierson (the owner of the web site) makes her food, it is partially cooked (on the outside). I had a phone consultation with Dr. Pierson and I understand her reasons for doing it that way, but the tyypical raw diet is not cooked at all.

Dry Food:
You would be wise to avoid dry food. Cats on dry kibble have a much higher rate of urinary problems. Not all of them develop a problem, but a lot of them do. Think of it like smoking.....you might not get lung cancer if you smoke but you are certainly at risk.

Raw Food:
There are a couple of myths about raw cat food and I'll just hit them both.

#1 myth is that it is expensive. If you buy commercial raw food then yes it's expensive, but buying basic meats like chicken and making your own food at home is cheaper than canned food and for that matter cheaper than the higher end dry foods. How lucky can we be that chicken is cheap and it happens to be natural prey for cats!

#2 myth is that it's hard to make your own raw food. LOL I am barely functional in the kitchen and I can do this. All you need is ground meat, a powder supplemnt (contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals), and water. You stir the supplement into water, pour the water over the meat, and mix. It takes longer to scoop the food into little freezable containers than anything else.

Canned Food:
If you don't want to make your own food and the commercial raw is too expensive (which for me it is), then feed canned food. Wet food won't cause urinary problems like dry kibble.

In conclusion:
Best = home made
Middle = canned food
Worst = dry food

 

[Yoda mom]

Great advice and links given
I wouldn't mind my naked herd trying Bitr or their U-stew or allnutrin

But.... I would probably get a funny look from my fiancée if I cook more for the herd then for him
I don't want to give him any ideas
I hinted and we both wonder and would have to do more research too about raw contamination, nutrition and taurine met etc since I am not a doctor or feline nutritionist..

I am currently feeding the herd Dr. Tims Chase dry food ( you can call or email and talk to formulating vet Dr Tim Hunt directly) it is made with low ash chicken. I also feed lifes abundance canned food made with organic chicken. Both never recalled.

 

[Hairless Blessing]

They have very healthy grain free dry food. Wellness should have one. Majority of people feed wet 2-3 times a day. Then, free feed dry.

 

[pussiette]

If the tuna food says complete and balanced and meets AA FCO guidelines then they will not develop any side-effects. This is the advice given to me by AA FCO food manufacturer and vet. I also shared the same concerns.