Some Info on on good cat food please
Discussion
My mum has just got 2 little ragdoll kittens.
they are quite different, they are both friendly when your sitting still and not moving fast, but they both run away when you walk towards them, but they both follow when you walk away..... and im starting to ramble on about them so ill get to the point.
what is the best sort of food for them to have?
the breeder we got them from said she just feeds them kibble, and that its royal canin kitten food.
my mum is adamant that she is not feeding them wet food, or even any raw, ever, apart from a tin of tuna in oil every other week as thats what the breeder recommended.
im just asking people here to try and post some sort of sense on the subject, as there is some wet food that is really very good for them.
for example i have seen applelaws (i think thats how its spelt), that looks pretty good as its got no sugars and other crap in it like whiskers and other brands.
if someone could give a link to a credible info about raw food as well, that would be really appreciated
cheers
slink
they are quite different, they are both friendly when your sitting still and not moving fast, but they both run away when you walk towards them, but they both follow when you walk away..... and im starting to ramble on about them so ill get to the point.
what is the best sort of food for them to have?
the breeder we got them from said she just feeds them kibble, and that its royal canin kitten food.
my mum is adamant that she is not feeding them wet food, or even any raw, ever, apart from a tin of tuna in oil every other week as thats what the breeder recommended.
im just asking people here to try and post some sort of sense on the subject, as there is some wet food that is really very good for them.
for example i have seen applelaws (i think thats how its spelt), that looks pretty good as its got no sugars and other crap in it like whiskers and other brands.
if someone could give a link to a credible info about raw food as well, that would be really appreciated
cheers
slink
For my money, Lily's Kitchen wet food in trays is the best food around. (There's a kitten food in the range as well.)
Bob gets a tray of that a day (AM), a few teaspoons of Lily's Kitchen biscuits (AM), and a small portion of raw meat or fish (PM).
The rationale for the above being that he's getting a diet of known vitamin and mineral content in the wet food, a bit of crunch for his teeth in the biscuits, and a bit of raw (chicken thigh/lamb heart/salmon/steak offcuts
) simply because he likes it.
Mice are eaten as well.
Opinion is divided on dried food. Personally I think that 'thirst' is a weak physiological signal in cats, and they shouldn't get a diet of exclusively dried food because they won't be getting enough water.
The breeder needs shooting for suggesting that cats get tinned tuna in oil. That's a recipe for an upset tummy, plus it's salty as Hell. Tuna is cheap, but it doesn't provide the omega oils that salmon does.
I also think that cats shouldn't get too much fish. It's high in salt, and it isn't what they'd eat in the wild.
Bob gets a tray of that a day (AM), a few teaspoons of Lily's Kitchen biscuits (AM), and a small portion of raw meat or fish (PM).
The rationale for the above being that he's getting a diet of known vitamin and mineral content in the wet food, a bit of crunch for his teeth in the biscuits, and a bit of raw (chicken thigh/lamb heart/salmon/steak offcuts
) simply because he likes it. Mice are eaten as well.
Opinion is divided on dried food. Personally I think that 'thirst' is a weak physiological signal in cats, and they shouldn't get a diet of exclusively dried food because they won't be getting enough water.
The breeder needs shooting for suggesting that cats get tinned tuna in oil. That's a recipe for an upset tummy, plus it's salty as Hell. Tuna is cheap, but it doesn't provide the omega oils that salmon does.
I also think that cats shouldn't get too much fish. It's high in salt, and it isn't what they'd eat in the wild.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Monday 19th August 19:50
Slink said:
if someone could give a link to a credible info about raw food as well, that would be really appreciated
Not sure what you are asking for. Cats, like dogs, are naturally better on raw meat.If you want suppliers, even Pets at Home can sell raw meat in little packets.
I get all sorts of raw meat including chicken wings. some of the rabbit (leg) that the dogs might get can be given to the cats too. I get pet mince from different butchers - one does beef mince the other chicken mince. I also get ox heart from the abattoir do they get heart regularly. they also get kidney now and again too.
Lily's Kitchen I'd highly recommend and if one of the kittens is male it is highly advisable to provide some wet food every day.
Keep tuna to an absolute minimum. It is high in vit A which is bad for cats (as is the high mercury content in tuna).
I wouldn't be so concerned re: salt unless in brine (all meat is naturally high in salt, so animals fed raw get quite a bit of salt)
Keep tuna to an absolute minimum. It is high in vit A which is bad for cats (as is the high mercury content in tuna).
I wouldn't be so concerned re: salt unless in brine (all meat is naturally high in salt, so animals fed raw get quite a bit of salt)
Edited by bexVN on Monday 19th August 22:17
We feed our rag doll on Pro plan housecat, she used to get bog standard go cat etc as we didn't know any better but had urinary problems so we switched to this which seems to have done the trick. It has also helped with hair balls. I take it they will be staying inside and I think it allows to them to eat more without putting on weight as they are less active than outdoor cats. She also gets the occasional bit of wet food and the odd can of tuna in spring water which she loves.
As mentioned above re drinking, don't underestimate the lazyness of cats, have a water bowl on each floor they are allowed on, ours started drinking so much more when we put an extra one upstairs, probably twice as much as before.
As mentioned above re drinking, don't underestimate the lazyness of cats, have a water bowl on each floor they are allowed on, ours started drinking so much more when we put an extra one upstairs, probably twice as much as before.
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 19th August 22:42
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 19th August 22:43
Mobile Chicane said:
Groom them to get rid of hairballs.
A 'Zoom Groom' rubber brush is the thing to get. Once you're done, just rinse it under the tap.
Grooming from when they are kittens is the answer to happy, well-groomed cats.
Great idea but even daily grooming doesn't stop all hairballs! I have a Maine coon I groom her almost every day, she threw up a huge hairball this am!! I have a zoom groom but it really doesn't suit her coat. They can be very good though.A 'Zoom Groom' rubber brush is the thing to get. Once you're done, just rinse it under the tap.
Grooming from when they are kittens is the answer to happy, well-groomed cats.
She seems to be on a never ending moult at the mo!
Applaws is really good food, we sell lots of it in the shop.
Stay away from royal canine as they sponsor bear baiting, our sales of it have dramatically
Dropped since this came to light.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/27/pet-f...
Stay away from royal canine as they sponsor bear baiting, our sales of it have dramatically
Dropped since this came to light.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/27/pet-f...
thanks for the info, and about the water intake/drinking issue, they both seem to love drinking from there water bowl before eating.
their life is a bit like this for the moment.
sleep for 2 hours, go mental for 30 mins, sit on lap for 10, drink, eat, walk about and go a bit more mental, sleep and repeat.
their life is a bit like this for the moment.
sleep for 2 hours, go mental for 30 mins, sit on lap for 10, drink, eat, walk about and go a bit more mental, sleep and repeat.
Bluequay said:
As mentioned above re drinking, don't underestimate the lazyness of cats, have a water bowl on each floor they are allowed on, ours started drinking so much more when we put an extra one upstairs, probably twice as much as before.
I have a water fountain in the kitchen, plus another two bowls around the house, which are refilled every day.The idea being that Bob can't go into a room without passing one, and thinking "Oooh - a drink!"
omgus said:
OK, how have we got this far without the important bit.
Pictures please? I want Pictures of kittens.
Also if my my boy cat goes without wet food for a few days he starts eating wild caught stuff and leaving bits of them on my rug.
I shall make another thread in a min with the the pics Pictures please? I want Pictures of kittens.
Also if my my boy cat goes without wet food for a few days he starts eating wild caught stuff and leaving bits of them on my rug.
and the bringing parts of wild animals in will not happen, as they are house cats.
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