Comments on: Expert tips on helping cats make the diet switch

By: Sammy

Sammy — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:26:52 +0000

It’s crazy that the animal species we have domesticated thrived for millions of years on a particular diet and then we decide that we’re going to feed them something different. Just as we’re learning that humans health suffers when diets are rich in refined carbohydrates which have only become available recently, we’re learning that (surprise, surprise!) our pets can only thrive when fed a diet close to their natural diet. Thanks for this article.

By: Evelyn

Evelyn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:25:18 +0000

Since this posting, I am trying to encourage my cats to eat more human food or at least canned cat food.

My vet technician hates me to mention I feed human food to my felines, Sophia and Inca, but my vet believes wet food is better for the teeth.

I will struggle a bit more, now, to get them to eat human regular food or at least Fancy Feast in the can.

Kibble is easier and cheaper to give the cats and it can stay our a long time on the floor. However, it is not so easy when the beloved animal is sick from said kibble only feeding.

Thank you for this posting, Phyllis.

By: Cericat

Cericat — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:01:37 +0000

Another problem with kibble is when eaten, tiny crumbs can be forced down into the gum line in the cat’s mouth. Some researchers into feline tooth and gum disease believe kibble crumbs contribute to cervical neck lesions. Also, kibble forms a pasty substance which tends to coat the teeth, much like snack foods and cereal coat human teeth unless rinsed out of the mouth. I used to feed my cats both kibble - because it is convenient - and a 6 oz can of canned food a.m. and p.m. split between three cats. Recently one of my cats developed a calcium oxalate stone in the bladder. My vet took Misty off all dry food. It wasn’t difficult getting Misty to eat canned food only and one of the other cats didn’t mind no dry food. But i have one cat - the fattest cat - who loves kibble and would take only a few bites of canned food “to be polite.” It’s been sheer hell trying to get Ziggy to eat canned food only. I finally had to resort to getting my vet to give me appetite stimulants to get Ziggy eating a sufficient amount of canned food. We are finally over the hump and he is eating canned fairly well. But Zig is not real happy about it. I try to feed a variety of brands and flavors of canned food because i don’t want the cats to become hooked on any one brand/flavor. During the major pet food recalls several years ago, i tried to get the cats to eat home-cooked and the raw foods. None of them would touch any of it. I think kibble must be like crack for cats!

By: Margot

Margot — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:54:36 +0000

I’m glad that vets are finally discovered what their predecessors knew 50 years ago.

I cannot stress enough how angry it makes me to see cats being fed kibble and vets encouraging it. Sure, many cats survive to a healthy old age on kibble. Lots of people survive to 100 smoking 2 packs a day, too, but you don’t generally find doctors encouraging the habit.

Cats do not require vast amounts of water. In the wild, most of their liquid intake came from their prey. Domestic cats, in general, do not drink enough water to keep their urinary system healthy. They need wet food.
If you can’t change to raw, at least change to canned. I would feed my cats the “worst” canned (and have) before I would give the the “best” kibble.

Sorry. The mention of kibble and cats in the same neighbourhood always sets me off. :-)