Friskies Special Diet canned cat food no longer available...

[manxcat419]

I did a ton of research on this when this happened, and contacted friskies and purina. I got the actual food reports from friskies. The Friskies Classic Pate canned food are VERY comparable to the special diet in terms of carbs. They are not quite as low as the special diet but they are all still very low and that is what we are using now.

The regular pates are fine as long as you're not trying to reduce phosphorus as well as carbs - the regular pates are really quite high in phosphorus, where the Special Diet Turkey & Giblets was a low carb, low phosphorus food and was just about the only reasonably priced food on the market that covered both. Purina (who clearly don't really understand the issue) gave their prescription UR food as the alternative but that one doesn't work because it increases urine output which is exactly what kitties with diabetes and CKD (the reason for feeding low carb, low phosphorus food) don't need.

 

[Rachel]

Yeah, I switched to Authority. Not as long in phosphorus but lower at least that Friskies classics are...took some time to get kitties over. I'm just hoping that it does the trick!

 

[manxcat419]

Our lot will only eat Authority once in a while (typical cats). I've had to switch to Wellness Core and Evo (and with 6 cats to feed those get expensive quickly)!

 

[Jillian Keller]

If you can give me your email address I will send you what I have. I have the original composition of the special diet too so you can compare it back. I have Fancy Feast too and they have one or two with 0 carbs. However if you need low phosphorus too they aren't quite as low in that aspect as the special diet.

@Jillian Keller This sounds like good news! What are the carb numbers that you came up with? Is it possible to share the Friskies food reports? Thanks!

The regular pates are fine as long as you're not trying to reduce phosphorus as well as carbs - the regular pates are really quite high in phosphorus, where the Special Diet Turkey & Giblets was a low carb, low phosphorus food and was just about the only reasonably priced food on the market that covered both. Purina (who clearly don't really understand the issue) gave their prescription UR food as the alternative but that one doesn't work because it increases urine output which is exactly what kitties with diabetes and CKD (the reason for feeding low carb, low phosphorus food) don't need.

Sure! It will be easier if you give me you email address and I can email them to you.

@Jillian Keller This sounds like good news! What are the carb numbers that you came up with? Is it possible to share the Friskies food reports? Thanks!

@Jillian Keller This sounds like good news! What are the carb numbers that you came up with? Is it possible to share the Friskies food reports? Thanks!

 

[Jillian Keller]

Yes, the phosphorus isn't quite as low. Special Diet Turkey and Giblets had .24% phosphorus and 1.7 Carbs. The regular Classic Pate Turkey and Giblets phosphorus is .38% and 1.8 carbs. I don't know much about phosphorus and what is considered low.

The regular pates are fine as long as you're not trying to reduce phosphorus as well as carbs - the regular pates are really quite high in phosphorus, where the Special Diet Turkey & Giblets was a low carb, low phosphorus food and was just about the only reasonably priced food on the market that covered both. Purina (who clearly don't really understand the issue) gave their prescription UR food as the alternative but that one doesn't work because it increases urine output which is exactly what kitties with diabetes and CKD (the reason for feeding low carb, low phosphorus food) don't need.

 

[JohnZ]

If you can give me your email address I will send you what I have. I have the original composition of the special diet too so you can compare it back. I have Fancy Feast too and they have one or two with 0 carbs. However if you need low phosphorus too they aren't quite as low in that aspect as the special diet.

Sure- that would be great and much appreciated... not overly concerned about the phosphorus levels at this time... how do I send you my email? Thanks!
.

 

[Jillian Keller]

just click on my picture which I don't have and click private message and PM me your email.

 

[JohnZ]

just click on my picture which I don't have and click private message and PM me your email.

OK- did that- Thanks!
.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

I've been using the 9Lives pates... all very low carbs... the phos numbers are not as good as Special Diet... If you haven't already seen it- you may find the 9Lives wet food chart I put together helpful- link-

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1f2fCxyttT_Ivh_nZyJ1Dm9pIBTzHWLc_okeCuFNjkxA/pubhtml
.

Hi John, I went out today in pursuit o 9-Lives Pates. The calorie count on the cans differ from yours. the Chicken and Tuna is 168, the Meaty Pate w/ Real Chicken is 163, and the Supper Supper is 168. Am I reading your chart incorrectly?

 

[Jillian Keller]

I'm going to load these charts for those of you who don't have them. These are from Purina, they mailed them to me. This one is the special diet for comparison.

 

[Jillian Keller]

Friskies Classic Pate's

 

[manxcat419]

I was just about to ask you if I could see the charts because the phosphorus numbers you've quoted don't look even close to the dry matter value phosphorus numbers on the catinfo.org chart. However, now I look at them, I can see that's because they've given you the typical nutrient value which includes moisture. Once the 78% or so moisture is removed from the calculation, those come in at a much higher phosphorus value - too high for CKD kitties as they need the phosphorus content to be below 1% and preferably below 0.8%.

 

[Jillian Keller]

Fancy Feast

 

[Jillian Keller]

yeah I don't know much about phosphorus. I had only got the charts for carbs. bummer wish it was more helpful.

I was just about to ask you if I could see the charts because the phosphorus numbers you've quoted don't look even close to the dry matter value phosphorus numbers on the catinfo.org chart. However, now I look at them, I can see that's because they've given you the typical nutrient value which includes moisture. Once the 78% or so moisture is removed from the calculation, those come in at a much higher phosphorus value - too high for CKD kitties as they need the phosphorus content to be below 1% and preferably below 0.8%.

 

[manxcat419]

It's still useful - it's always good to know for sure that they haven't changed up the formula too much. And having the exact numbers does mean we can all calculate things for ourselves for specific requirements and figure out whether or not the food will work - all information is good information! And of course I was hopeful that they might actually have reduced the phosphorus, but it looks like they haven't at this point. Oh well, such is life - I guess I'm stuck with the expensive options for now!

 

[JohnZ]

Hi John, I went out today in pursuit o 9-Lives Pates. The calorie count on the cans differ from yours. the Chicken and Tuna is 168, the Meaty Pate w/ Real Chicken is 163, and the Supper Supper is 168. Am I reading your chart incorrectly?

Hi Bobbie,

The calories in the chart are calculated from the protein, fat and carbohydrate food element values and will be different from those on the can. The following thread gets into details… see postings #2 and #24 for a good summary…

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/9lives-meaty-pate-canned-cat-food-carbohydrates.138745/

Hope this helps
.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Thanks for the above John. It's confusing to me because then what calorie count should I use as fed to my cat to make sure he is getting the correct amount of calories a day? The formulas used like in post #2 makes my head spin, LOL........

 

[JohnZ]

Thanks for the above John. It's confusing to me because then what calorie count should I use as fed to my cat to make sure he is getting the correct amount of calories a day? The formulas used like in post #2 makes my head spin, LOL........

Mine to0- it took me a long time (and some help) to work out the formulas for the spreadsheet... perhaps @BJM can explain which calorie count to use... post #2 is by BJM...?
.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

Okay thanks! Don't want to short change The Bubster!

 

[BJM]

The info on the cans is variable, hence the Less than and Greater than statements. This means the can's calorie count is only an estimate, not an absolute number. Likewise, the as fed or dry matter basis numbers are based on the sample tested - and a sample may or may not reflect the majority of the product.
If your cat needs to gain weight, and isn't, you increase the portion, and vice versa. This works best feeding mini-meals so the cat doesn't get too full and vomits.

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

The info on the cans is variable, hence the Less than and Greater than statements. This means the can's calorie count is only an estimate, not an absolute number. Likewise, the as fed or dry matter basis numbers are based on the sample tested - and a sample may or may not reflect the majority of the product.
If your cat needs to gain weight, and isn't, you increase the portion, and vice versa.

They just don't make this easy for us, do they?? He's pretty much holding the same weight. Thanks BJM

 

[Pisces]

I have been finding a few cans here and there and there at the grocery store, and decided it's time to look into. Glad I found this, but very disappointed also. My cat has a urine blockage a few yrs ago, and has done great on the special diet. He dislikes any brand I have given him in replacement. He goes on a hunger strike. Not that I think Purina will change their minds at this point but I have signed your petition.

 

[Ken & Tara]

Purina is doing this so they can provide a more expensive alternative to the Special Diet product. I've been using this product for many years but refuse to buy their new alternative. If I'm going to pay more it will be with another company not one that wants to squeeze every last dime out of those who can least afford it... Boycott Purina/Friskies until they bring it back!!!

In general, all the very large companies are joined together at the top-of-the-pyramid banks. That's why it seems they don't listen, they're listening to their owners, not their customers. From the owner's perspectives, it doesn't matter if you switch companies, they own them as well. In a more specific sense, Purina is owned by Nestle.

According to dogfoodadvisor, besides Merrick, Nestle owns:

• Alpo
• Beneful
• Friskies
• Cat Chow
• Dog Chow
• Purina One
• Fancy Feast
• Chef Michael’s
• Purina Pro Plan
• And many others