I know that dry is better for cat's but, you guys are always talking about giving kittens canned my kittens (6 weeks old) are eating dry. Should I switch them to canned? And if so how long should I keep them on canned?
Heidi
Dry Vs. Canned
Re: Dry Vs. Canned
Most of the posts you're seeing are referring to weaning kittens and slightly older....most of us wean with canned only simply because kittens at the weaning stage have not developed all their teeth yet and canned is easier on them for that purpose....as well as graduating to solid food after formula.
I usually start with canned and end up with dry by the time they are at least 8 weeks of age. Some kittens prefer their canned longer, but I personally recommend trying to get them started on dry as soon as they are interested. Then, canned can be used as a treat...
Canned is not ideal for some kittens, especially when they have reached 2 months or so....some kittens cannot tolerate the oils used in them, and canned can cause serious gastrointestinal upset in some, including diarrhea, regardless of the brand.
Your kittens are probably doing fine on dry right now, as long as they are chewing and not gulping (resulting in vomiting, etc). Iams Kitten dry, for example, is not too dense, and seems to be easier to crunch for some kittens. Btw, if you switch them to canned now, you'll probably find them to develop soft stools or diarrhea....as long as they are getting their nutritional requirements met, and seem to enjoy their food, are gaining weight and energetic, don't change the diet.
I usually start with canned and end up with dry by the time they are at least 8 weeks of age. Some kittens prefer their canned longer, but I personally recommend trying to get them started on dry as soon as they are interested. Then, canned can be used as a treat...
Canned is not ideal for some kittens, especially when they have reached 2 months or so....some kittens cannot tolerate the oils used in them, and canned can cause serious gastrointestinal upset in some, including diarrhea, regardless of the brand.
Your kittens are probably doing fine on dry right now, as long as they are chewing and not gulping (resulting in vomiting, etc). Iams Kitten dry, for example, is not too dense, and seems to be easier to crunch for some kittens. Btw, if you switch them to canned now, you'll probably find them to develop soft stools or diarrhea....as long as they are getting their nutritional requirements met, and seem to enjoy their food, are gaining weight and energetic, don't change the diet.
..........Traci
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Aimee
Re: Dry Vs. Canned
Actually, wet is better for cats. Here's some links for you:
http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch4.php
http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
http://nss.vet.ohio-state.edu/DDT/new%2 ... Npaper.htm
We've learned the hard way that feeding low-quality dry food has it's consequences. We've lost a beloved kitty from FLUTD, he ate dry Iams all his life untill we learned he had FLUTD and after his emergency surgery and such he was managed on prescription food for a year before he had to be PTS.
We rescued a 4yr old cat who had been eating dry Purina ONE all of his life and as could be expected he had a UTI and was develping crystals and was on the start for FLUTD. After some antiobiotics, we've managed his condition with food. We feed a wet-based diet (Natural Balance and Nutro Natural) with limited ammounts of dry food (Natural Balance) and supplemented with The Missing Link. He's recovered beautifully, and in 2 years is the picture of health and hasn't had any reoccurances. We also have a 13 year old cat whose health problems were brought on by eating low quality dry food most of her life. She has digestive problems and the vlaves in her stomach don't work right. She is also doing well on her wet-based diet and is nearly sympton free (as opposed to when she used to hurl once or twice a day at least, now it's only a few times a month).
What you feed is your choice entirely, but for me the choice is to feed a diet based on high quality wet foods with smaller ammounts of a good quality dry food. Hope this helps you some.
http://www.felinefuture.com/nutrition/bpo_ch4.php
http://www.maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm
http://nss.vet.ohio-state.edu/DDT/new%2 ... Npaper.htm
We've learned the hard way that feeding low-quality dry food has it's consequences. We've lost a beloved kitty from FLUTD, he ate dry Iams all his life untill we learned he had FLUTD and after his emergency surgery and such he was managed on prescription food for a year before he had to be PTS.
We rescued a 4yr old cat who had been eating dry Purina ONE all of his life and as could be expected he had a UTI and was develping crystals and was on the start for FLUTD. After some antiobiotics, we've managed his condition with food. We feed a wet-based diet (Natural Balance and Nutro Natural) with limited ammounts of dry food (Natural Balance) and supplemented with The Missing Link. He's recovered beautifully, and in 2 years is the picture of health and hasn't had any reoccurances. We also have a 13 year old cat whose health problems were brought on by eating low quality dry food most of her life. She has digestive problems and the vlaves in her stomach don't work right. She is also doing well on her wet-based diet and is nearly sympton free (as opposed to when she used to hurl once or twice a day at least, now it's only a few times a month).
What you feed is your choice entirely, but for me the choice is to feed a diet based on high quality wet foods with smaller ammounts of a good quality dry food. Hope this helps you some.
Re: Dry Vs. Canned
Actually, this is not necessarily true. For certain health conditions, canned may be ideal, i.e., FLUTD, oral problems, gastrointestinal problems, etc. There is little evidence that suggests a sole diet of canned food is beneficial for optimal health, let alone for every cat.Aimee wrote:Actually, wet is better for cats. Here's some links for you:
The key word here is "low quality". Yes, there are many types and brands of low quality diets out there for cats. Quality and premium diets are generally sufficient in proper nutrients, balance for optimal health. I think it also depends on the pet owner's perception of quality (hype and misinformation). Also take into account the preference of the cat, health status, lifestyle, age, physiology and general overall health.Aimee wrote:We've learned the hard way that feeding low-quality dry food has it's consequences.
Purina One may not be a premium diet (again, one's perception of premium), but many cats have done well on it. FLUTD is not always a condition that develops as a result of diet, there is evidence that shows physiology and congenital factors play a major role as well.Aimee wrote:He's recovered beautifully, and in 2 years is the picture of health and hasn't had any reoccurances.
..........Traci
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Aimee
Re: Dry Vs. Canned
And I wondered why this board was so bashed at Acme. Geez Traci, it's not like I'm insisting my ways is the way to go or that there is only one solution. I gave my opinions, backed with articles (one from one of the top feline nutritionists around) and said what has happened at our house. I've spent a lot of time researching this, desperate to save Ashely and then once more to try and see if we could correct the problem in Buddy. I've talked to several vets and other cat owners who know a lot on this topic, it's not like I'm making this stuff up. But boy, I guess coming here and offering my advice was a mistake. Sorry to have disagreed with you.
Re: Dry Vs. Canned
I'll disregard your first comment and further comments like that will be ignored or deleted.
As for your second comment, that's fine, good that you are doing your research. I simply feel that you should understand others in the field (including this board) have research, training and knowledge as well. What may be ok for one cat is not necessarily the best for the next cat, as I attempted to outline.
As for a particular link you posted, and I quote:
Sorry, but I will not advocate such information such as the FF site to be true, accurate, least of all, the foremost experts on feline nutrition. If you choose to believe the content on such websites, that's your choice. Tony Buffington does happen to be experienced in his field, but if you follow other text and literature he has published, you'll find that his research is not limited to canned food and FLUTD. You might also consider reading other literature from well-known feline nutritionists, preferrably who have an ACVN accredited research history.
As for your second comment, that's fine, good that you are doing your research. I simply feel that you should understand others in the field (including this board) have research, training and knowledge as well. What may be ok for one cat is not necessarily the best for the next cat, as I attempted to outline.
As for a particular link you posted, and I quote:
This is common amoung sites such as FF, and totally inaccurate, misleading and I won't bother with the rest. Evolution is a common ploy to attract pet owners to a distributor's line of products, and it is simply bogus information at best. If one wants to employ the term, you could also say that domestic cats have 'evolved' with commercial cat foods, and are in fact, living longer, healthier lives as a result. Evolution and what their 'ancestors' and I use the term 'thrived on' loosely, in the wild or over 50-100 years ago is redundant when it applies to new information, applied science and research in feline physiology and nutrition.The truth is, dry commercial cat foods are anything but healthy for cats. First and foremost, the nutritional composition of commercial dry foods does not compare to or reflect the cat's natural diet from which cats have evolved as absolute and true carnivores
Sorry, but I will not advocate such information such as the FF site to be true, accurate, least of all, the foremost experts on feline nutrition. If you choose to believe the content on such websites, that's your choice. Tony Buffington does happen to be experienced in his field, but if you follow other text and literature he has published, you'll find that his research is not limited to canned food and FLUTD. You might also consider reading other literature from well-known feline nutritionists, preferrably who have an ACVN accredited research history.
..........Traci