Finding a new food for Garland. What is your favorite?

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Violet and Garland

Violet and Garland

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Hi everyone! Garland really loves eating on her own again. But I think she has a small food aversion to the food she ate before getting sick. Which was FF classic (Chicken, Beef, Turkey)

We have been trying new foods/brands and Ive been looking at the Binky chart. But there are sooo many to chose from. I thought I would ask you guys.

What is your cats favorite (not crazy expensive) low carb wet food for everyday feeding? We usually buy at Walmart.... Thanks guys for the help!!
 
Well a few months ago I would say Wal-mart's house brand Special Kitty but the powers that be there decided to discontinue all of...<sigh> So right now with a small furry gang of cats to feed we have gone back to Friskies...primarily Poultry Platter, Country Style Dinner, Turkey & Giblets and Mariner's Catch for those occassional fishy meals. At least for the fur-kids that can have grains...for my one guy that is allergic to grain he gets 9-lives.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
I think the question is, what are our cats' favorites? LOL

Although it may seem more expensive, if you buy the 12.5 oz cans of Wellness, the per ounce cost is comparable to FF and since it's a better quality food, cats may eat less of it, although mine like it so well they probably eat more than they should.

The cost recently went up at my local Pet Supplies Plus store, but it's still on sale through Pet Food Direct online. Look in supply closet for codes for extra percentages off from time to time. Some Petco stores may carry it also.
 
My diabetic ate mostly Nature's Variety Instinct and Innova EVO, with a few other brands give on occasion.

Brand of food doesn't matter as long as it is low carb and your cat will eat it. That's the most important thng :smile: You can stick with one or two brands and occasionally give another brand so your cat doesn't get bored.

Do you prefer to buy from a pet store or big box store like Wal Mart? Some brands are sold only in pet stores, the high end premium brands sold only in specialty pet stores and boutiques. Big name brands like Fancy Feast and Friskies are available in supermarkets, corner stores, pharmacies, Wal Mart, etc. And most brands can be bought online from PetFoodDirect.com, or OnlyNaturalPet.com for the high end brands.
 
Mine (and Bandit's Favorites) are Merrick's Cowboy Cookout, Surf and Turf, and 96% Turkey. However, those can be a little pricy. I would suggest Wellness or EVO in the big cans, which will be the same or cheaper than Fancy Feast. You could also try different glavors of Fancy Feast that she hasn't eaten yet? The grain free flavors are here: http://felinediabetes.com/glutenfree.htm
 
Harley still loves FF but also EVO 95% chicken. He loves Special Kitty from Walmart - I did not know they were no longer available. Or are the "powers that be" your kittie - Momma of Muse. I will be sad if Walmart is stupid enough to get rid of the stuff.

pattie
 
We would also agree to wal marts special kitty turkey and giblets, but our store also no longer carries that flavor, and I think they are stopping the other flavors too .. We have moved onto 9 lives chicken .. mocha is less then thrilled with it .. she'll eat it, but it takes her three times as long cause she leaves and comes back .. it's like she can't handle the taste all at once :sad:
 
Unfortunately Wal-mart was stupid enough to get rid of all their Special Kitty flavors, as far as I can tell they are still carrying the dry <bangs head on desk> but have gotten rid of all the canned, most of their 9-lives flavors and about half of the Friskies Pate style stuff...90% of what is still on the shelves is the Friskies new Tasty Treasures and other gravy coated junk.

And of course they are also getting rid of their Old Roy dog food as well, which just happens to be the only dog food on this planet that I have found that my drooler will eat without having to order his food online as our nearest thing to a petco or petsmart is 200 miles away. Guess it is time to dig out the credit card and start ordering all my pet stuff online.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
We buy ff My grandmother makes a trip to Sam's just for us and picks up a box of 48 cans for 18 bucks.

On a side note, I bet those people at Sams think she's eating the cat food She only goes in there to buy the cat food and she always buys 2 boxes for me, I'm waiting for the day the police show up at her door asking questions and find no cats at her house!
 
I've been checking a variety of the low carb turkey & giblets options to find something all 12 (+1 outdoors) will eat without vomiting or having diarrhea.

9Lives had a firm texture, and contained soy. Someone here said their vet said soy was toxic to cats, which I find odd given that it is in a commercial pet food. Citations of research on this would be helpful.

Before Grain 96% was very, very mushy and unless mixed with FF, caused diarrhea drawers on the long haired cats.

Evo Cat and Kitten was somewhat mushy, and mixed, has not caused the diarrhea drawers on the long haired cats.

Sophisticat had a firm texture and is both low carb and moderate in fat, so it takes more to meet the caloric needs of any underweight cat (so I've been mixing with the BG).

Merrick Grammy's Pot Pie (not just turkey) is firm, and when mashed up, has small chunks of food, rather than a fine mince, or a mush.
 
BJM said:
9Lives had a firm texture, and contained soy. Someone here said their vet said soy was toxic to cats, which I find odd given that it is in a commercial pet food. Citations of research on this would be helpful.
Click to expand...

This is from http://catinfo.org/:

Soy contains phytoestrogens and soy also negatively influences the thyroid gland. Given how common hyperthyroidism is in the cat, soy has no business being in cat food. Unfortunately, soy is a common ingredient used by pet food manufacturers because it enhances their profit margin.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I haven't researched this topic on my own so I don't have any actual studies to cite. I just decided to stay away from it based on Dr. Lisa's site.

BJM said:
Before Grain 96% was very, very mushy and unless mixed with FF, caused diarrhea drawers on the long haired cats.
Click to expand...

All of the Merrick brands are pretty mushy at room temperature. I put them in the fridge before opening them and it keeps the food nice and firm to portion (and I warm to room temp in the microwave). I've never had diarrhea problems with the 96% Turkey, but the Turkey is considerably lower in fat than all the other BG 96% foods. I've noticed Bandit gets diarrhea from the high fat foods like EVO 95% and Wellness if I don't mix them with something lower in fat, like Fancy Feast or some of the lower fat Merrick flavors.
 
Thanks everyone! Wow, yall sure know your cat food :)

I wanted to try the Special Kitty, but my Walmart didnt have anymore :(

FF is what we have always fed her. I want to continue with it, but she doesnt seem to like it anymore....

9Lives has soy??? YIKES

I noticed the Gravy obsession of Friskies.

I would like to be able to just buy it at Walmart... I may just have to keep trying the FF

So if a lot of you do the Special Kitty now, what do you think yall will switch to?
 
we have been going between evo 95% chicken and turkey and the wellness turkey the larger cans....although they are more expensive they last longer and fill them up better
i called around and found a all natural pet store that actually gives discounts when you buy a case and then after spending $175 you get $10 off the next order

i was spending close to $50 a month on the FF and have now gone down to about $35
 
Well right now it is Friskies, until we finish off what we have on hand, then we will be ordering Evo Chicken & Turkey. I figure it is worth the extra price not to have to drive clear across town and if I'm going to have to order food online might as well get them better food.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang
 
We prefer Merrick BG Turkey (well, I do. Not Willie's favorite) and Blue Wilderness Duck as they are low in phosphates and thus good for the kidneys. While they definitely are pricier, I find that Willie eats less of them because they are more nutritionally dense... the water content is much less. Once you find something you like, definitely look into online options!
 
And Grammy's Pot Pie (somewhat chunky/textured) mixed 50/50 with Sophistacat Turkey and Giblets (a pate style) resulted in vomiting profusely in 1 cat and I came home to that this afternoon. *sigh* I think it was Precious, Spitzer's mom; she doesn't seem to do well with anything textured.

I checked spitzer's glucose, just to make sure he was OK and he was.
 
Wow!! Thank you everyone for all your wisdom and advice!!! (((HUGS))) You all are AMAZING!!

I think the EVO is our next try. I hope she likes it, cross your fingers LOL

She ate more of her FancyFeast today than she usually does. Im really hoping she just goes back to liking that one again.
 
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