What will they think of next ...

[Traci]

Royal Canin...along with their current line of (non-veterinary) ....cat breed-specific foods, indoor-cat foods, outdoor-cat foods...

It only makes sense they would have to come up with 3 new veterinary prescription diets for the "neutered" cat.

#1 Neutered Cat Young Male (claims to prevent obesity and diabetes)

#2 Neutered Cat Young Adult (claims to prevent struvites and obesity)

#3 Neutered Cat Mature (claims to prevent oxalates, CRF and joint degeneration)

First two recommend feeding "from operation until 7 years of age". Interesting that some vets alter cats as early as 2-3 months of age, therefore requiring kitten nutrient-rich diets......the new diets do not include information for kitten nutrients.

[Tina B and crew]

Pretty soon they are going to have to open their own stores as the pet stores will not have room enough to carry all their "different" foods...and I have to question just how different they all are.

[Traci]

Those are my thoughts, too.

I wish they hadn't taken over Waltham's, IVD, Medi-Cal, Techni-Cal....so many changes, so much confusion

[Marty]

I think it's a marketing ploy.....to make the consumer think they are getiing the absolute best for their pet.

My Vet FINALLY got in Winnie's prescription IVD, but the bag and name has changed slightly. So far as I can tell, it is the same food. Wish I had kept my print-out of the ingredients.

[Marty]

Hmmm, I just heard on another board that Medi-Cal is sold in Vet's offices, which I didn't know. Do you think Royal Canin may be trying to give Hill's a run for the money?

[Traci]

Well, to hopefully avoid confusion, this will explain:

Veterinary Diets.

There are two tables in this link for IVD and Royal Canin veterinary diets, both are combined to include the "complete" line of Royal Canin's new veterinary diets. The products themselves may not change in the immediate sense, but the packaging and labeling will.

Medi-Cal and Techni-Cal are the Canadian equivalents to the USA-sold IVD diets. I think IVD is still selling their branded diets, although at some point, Royal Canin may relabel and repackage those as well.

I have no idea how Waltham's came into the agreement. From what I've gathered and understand, Waltham's and Royal Canin are going to work together in the veterinary diets line, so Waltham's equivalents should now reflect Royal Canin's. (I think Waltham's will begin phasing out their labeling)

So, Royal Canin aquired all of the Del Monte pet diets (veterinary and otherwise) that include the above mentioned. I suppose it's only a matter of time before they are all under one brand (Royal Canin).

Confused yet?

As for a marketing ploy, no doubt. Since Royal Canin now has Waltham's behind them, they will probably market to the hilt. Although I'm not sure how competitive they can be to Hill's, as Hill's is still the top leader in veterinary diets. The only new non-veterinary diet they came out with in recent years is Science Diet's Nature's Best, which I'm sure was a competitive marketing scheme when the "fad" was in full force.

[Cleo]

Royal Canin...along with their current line of (non-veterinary) ....cat breed-specific foods, indoor-cat foods, outdoor-cat foods...

They have it wrong, all wrong. According to Fang Shui by Catfucius it's supposed to be by color. As in black cats can shed on light furniture, white cats can shed on dark furniture and calicos can shed wherever they desire.

So it should actually be round kibbles for black cats, square kibbles for white cats and triangle kibbles for calicos.

Sheesh.

[Traci]

Catfucious is correct, and I was actually thinking Royal Canin would next develop a diet for various colors of cats. After that, I'm sure eye-color and personality-trait foods will be next.