Another good versus bad food question?

Question

I have a 5 week old kitten that I have been feeding 1/4 can of newman's own premium organics with Iams dry on the side to free feed throughout the day. I am switching his Iams to Natural Balance today but keeping him on this Newmans until 10 or 12 weeks when I know he will be eating the dry well.

Here is my question....Is my kitten going to turn out bigger, prettier, and healthier feeding him this regimen versus if I had him on canned 9lives and some cheap dry food?

Im wondering if spending $1.00 a can and buying expensive dry is really worth it.....

Answer 1

HI,

It's great to hear that you would want to feed your kitten the best way possible. Yes, opinion may differ on the subject of feeding so you will get a lot of conflicting answers here. I can tell you what I know and hopefully, it'll help you.

I have heard numerous myth when it comes to feeding both dry and wet. But for now, let me address the myth when it comes to eating exclusive wet (no dry). Many people believe that if your kitten eats only wet, he will not get enough nutrition because wet food is mostly water. That is untrue. It is correct to say that wet food is higher in moisture content, up to 70% to be exact but this cannot be confused with wet food as consisting only water. Pet food has to abide by the AAFCO rules and regulations and must consist balance and complete nutrition for each cats' life stages. So, when you purchase wet food, make sure it carries this certification and your cat will not be short charged when it comes to nutrition. In the wild, a cat's prey consists mainly of water, protein and fat, with less than 10% carbohydrate (starch, sugar and fiber) content.

Also, some believe that wet food will lead to diarrhea or loose stools. I can tell you that it is untrue. My cats are all on an exclusive wet diet and their stool consistency are solid, well formed and has minimal odor. :) Litter box cleaning has also become easier because of less excrement - high quality wet food leads to maximum absorption of nutrients, thus less wastage, less stool.

And lastly, the claim that wet food created bad breath and rotten teeth. Again, this is untrue. Dental care has to be provided irregardless of whether your cat is eating dry or wet. And wet food is not the culprit when it comes to periodontal diseases, but because of lack of dental care and maintenance.

WIth all that said, there is absolutely no need for you to be feeding dry food at all. Your cat will do much better on an all wet diet and of course so much healthier. Like I've mentioned, I only feed 100% wet. I came to this conclusion after doing my own research and getting to know pets that suffer dire consequences as a result of being fed exclusively dry. These websites has great information if you are interested in learning more about feline nutrition and the proper diet for a cat.

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac...

http://cats.about.com/cs/catfood/a/canne...

http://cats.about.com/od/catfoo1/tp/tpca...

http://www.catinfo.org/

http://www.naturalmatters.net/article.as...

http://www.traciehotchner.com/cb/QandA.h...

Natural Balance is a wonderful brand, so instead of dry, get the wet and phase out Newman's Own. The reason is because it is laden with grains which your cat does not need. Although it is suppose to be a better brand because of better meat source, you the amount of grain is alarming.

If however, you absolutely feel like you cannot just feed your cat all wet for whatever reason known only to you, then you really have to purchase high quality dry food and must supplement with high quality wet food as well. What you feed your cat really determine his health, so I hope you will do the right thing.

Answer 2

At five weeks old, shouldn't kitty be on KMR kitten formula?  Also, they need high protein kitten chow at that age mixed with the formula if they are already able to eat on their own.  They should be on kitten food for the first year, no matter what brand you use.  Stay away from canned food.  There is not enough protein in them for a baby kitten's needs.

My five week old kitten was still feeding from the bottle at that age.

Answer 3

Everyone differs on this question so I asked my vet.  She said get the best quality dry food you can because every cat she has treated for a urinary infection has been eating the cheap dry food.  As for the wet, she said feed 'em whatever catfood they will eat (except real tuna), even the cheapest.  And always keep them eating wet food as well as dry because she knows cats who only got dry food and when they get sick, they won't accept wet food because they are not used to it.  So supermarket wet food is OK, but not the dry, and I feed the best wet I can find within my budget, and vary it.

Answer 4

yes it will save you money in vet bills down the line.

Answer 5

It is worth the extra money. Benefits range from good health to lower vet bills. He may not be bigger, but he will be healthier, have a nicer coat, and love you all the more for it!

Answer 6

better for the cats quality of life yes its worth it