Natures variety

Calicocious · Jul 30, 2013

So I've had some issues with two of my three cats switching to raw(BitR). I've been doing some research and I came across natures variety instinct frozen diet. It's in a small kibble like form. You scoop out the desired amount and it thaws within minutes. I wonder if this would be a good transition for them. Add small amount of the raw in with their dry kibble and gradually increase the amount of the raw. Then it would be an easy switch to the BitR form. Has anyone tried the natures variety instinct? They have trial sized bags for $5 so it would be real easy to try it out. Seems like it would be cost prohibitive in the long run but an easy way to make the switch.

assibassi · Jul 30, 2013

Its super easy, I Bought a Bag and mine wouldnt eat it. I hope yours will.

Ickushouse · Jul 30, 2013

Now in his 3rd day at Ickushouse, Little Eudo seems to like the Instinct Raw chicken more than high quality canned (although, of course, that could change...). The staff is feeding the medallions (1 oz each) which are not unpleasant to humans (not as stinky, squishy as canned) and not too inconvenient to thaw. A bit inconvenient, though, is that the staff must set the timer and pick up any uneaten food after 20-25 minutes (recommended 30 minutes).

Calicocious · Jul 31, 2013

assibassi said:
Its super easy, I Bought a Bag and mine wouldnt eat it. I hope yours will.

Lol that'll probably be my luck. At least it's a small bag so I won't be out too much if they don't. I'm sure Samara will eat it. She a bottomless pit for food. She eats first and wonders what it is after :-D I think she'd eat her bowl if she could!

Franksmom · Jul 31, 2013

My cats use to eat it, them I changed to BitR. I don't think you are suppose to mix it with kibble, they are not suppose to eat kibble and raw at the same time. Try canned food to change them over

Calicocious · Jul 31, 2013

Franksmom said:
My cats use to eat it, them I changed to BitR. I don't think you are suppose to mix it with kibble, they are not suppose to eat kibble and raw at the same time. Try canned food to change them over

I can do the gradual change with Phiona by using canned but poor Phin can't handle canned food. Any more than a couple tablespoons and he throws it up shortly after. I've heard both opinions on feeding the raw and dry. They do digest at different rates but I'm not sure if it causes problems or not. The natures variety is meant to be mixed with their dry kibble. Ugh! Too much info lol. Which do I believe?

Ickushouse · Aug 3, 2013

Well Ickushouse is having to re-evaluate the N.V. Raw. Our little 15-16 week tyke had to get an enema late this morning and we are still waiting for Mr. Poo. :Sad:

The vet said to quit feeding the raw (as she pointed out the bone "chards" in the Xray'd poo). Anyway, just wanted to mention this... a constipated Sphynx kitten. Hummmmmm..... :Question:

Calicocious · Aug 3, 2013

Ickushouse said:
Well Ickushouse is having to re-evaluate the N.V. Raw. Our little 15-16 week tyke had to get an enema late this morning and we are still waiting for Mr. Poo. The vet said to quit feeding the raw (as she pointed out the bone "chards" in the Xray'd poo). Anyway, just wanted to mention this... a constipated Sphynx kitten. Hummmmmm.....

Oh dear! I hope all goes well with it. I use just ground meat to add to my better in the raw so no bone shards to worry about for me. But thanks for the FYI :ThumbsUp:

assibassi · Aug 4, 2013

awww Ickushaus, i hope he feels better soon and goes Poo!

The N.V they do have the Bag of Raw kibbles with the Reg Kibbles, your correct.
Other normal Raw is not meant to be fed with reg Kibble. Because of the Digestion rate. Should be 6 hours between they say.
My Hairy has a Iron stomache, he dont care as long as he eats!! I feed them Raw and we feed our Dog kibble ( she is old and she has been onit all her life so i dont want to change her in her last years ) and so Hairy eats her Kibble too right after eating Raw and it does not bother him a bit. He goes to the Bathroom quite good i say.
So you see it depends also on the Cat.
WHere our Cornie does not do well now on kibble , he eats a bit of kibble and he pukes because he is on Raw. ( When we brought Rooka in, she was on kibble and i had to wean her off it , she was on Raw and then kibble and my house is Raw so now all are back on Raw but in the Transition time Hansel wanted Raw and kibble and well he puked a few times because of it, he has a Sensitive stomache ) .

Calicocious · Aug 6, 2013

Success!! I found an awesome pet food store with very knowledgeable staff. I mentioned trying the natures variety but they only had the chicken and beef flavor as trial sizes. But the store offers a refund on anything if your pets don't like it. So I bought a full size bag of the duck frozen bites. All three love it! Phin even growled at Samara when she came to see if she could steal some out of his bowl. Which he has always let her do. Not with this! He wanted it all to himself. Whew! Finally found something that worked for everyone. It is a bit pricey tho so I'm hoping once they are on this for a bit I can try introducing BitR again with more success. :ThumbsUp:

At least the store has a frequent buyer program.

saymayusf · Aug 6, 2013

Calicocious said:
Success!! I found an awesome pet food store with very knowledgeable staff. I mentioned trying the natures variety but they only had the chicken and beef flavor as trial sizes. But the store offers a refund on anything if your pets don't like it. So I bought a full size bag of the duck frozen bites. All three love it! Phin even growled at Samara when she came to see if she could steal some out of his bowl. Which he has always let her do. Not with this! He wanted it all to himself. Whew! Finally found something that worked for everyone. It is a bit pricey tho so I'm hoping once they are on this for a bit I can try introducing BitR again with more success. At least the store has a frequent buyer program.

Mr. Butters was hesitant at first with the Natures Variety. He wouldn't finish it or I'd have to put a lot of bonita flakes in the raw to get him to eat it. But I stuck with it and I'm very glad I did! He now loves chicken necks and hearts and eats them like a pro. I order from hare today - gone tomorrow as well and mix supplements in myself. I thought it was a lost cause in the beginning. I too had very good results giving him the duck. Now he's had rabbit, chicken, venison, and turkey. He lives for his little snacks of hearts and chicken necks though.

I also randomly give him cans if I'm in a bind or forgot to thaw food. He hasn't had one piece of dry kibble since Sept.

Keep up the good work! I've completely seen the benefits of raw. His skin is great, poop is less and not soft or runny, and his eye goop is almost gone. Once they get used to it, they will forget what it was like to have anything else!

Sara

ojyram · Oct 7, 2013

All this info is great! For the past year I've switched my now 2 year old male sphynx Sir Frumples to a NV diet and he loves it but he has always been very easy going. I recently phased out kibble as anything other than a treat and have just started to introduce him to the NV raw, both the medallion and the little bits which he's eaten without issue. I'm happy with it so far but I will be sure to watch any constipation. Thanks all

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