Why do my cats like the 'cheap' cat food better?

[spikespiegal]

I volunteer at a few animal shelters, and our resident vets are regarded as the best in the State. They've discussed this with us many times and don't get kick backs from food makers as accused above.

All the shelters in my area feed Science Diet - period. We get cheaper food donated to us, and we use them as treats only. It's flavored to make cats like it more while they are trying to digest something even a goat would have trouble with because of all the filler.

Food allergies and digestive issues abound with cheaper food. When you have 200 cats in house you see (and smell) the differences between cheap dry food and Science Diet. Not to mention the cats on SD in the long term have fewer health issues.

My own cats prefer Iams, which I feed them.

Can food occasionally gets a bad rap because it doesn't smell very good, but our vets advise it to be part of a diet if possible.

 

[SunnyD]

"What most consumers don’t know is that the pet food industry is an extension of the human food and agriculture industries. Pet food provides a convenient way for slaughterhouse offal, grains considered “unfit for human consumption,” and similar waste products to be turned into profit. This waste includes intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and possibly diseased and cancerous animal parts.

So basically the same things that your pet, if they were in their natural wild habitat, would normally eat?

 

[Heller]

you think thats weird, my mother has a little toy shih-tzu, (they keep her in a "puppy cut" so it doesn't look like the behemoth on the dog shows)she only eats human food, we've tried every single brand of dog food from vets rec to cheap walmart brand, still no such luck, the little bitch(literally) bites anyone but my mother or father or grandmother, ut only if your to loud (she must get scared) or your getting to close tyo my mom or dad, she will be literally on her little bed besides my parents bed, and when i go home to my house, i like to give my mom a hug and kiss and if its late at night shell be in bed (my mother) so as i go to lean over the bed to kiss my mother snaps and gets me in the hand or the leg every single time. my mother always punishes her for it, but the little fucker never learns, she is now almost 7 (human years) and now she is so finicky my mom just gives her left over supper or just some cold cuts with ketchup(she goes crazy for marinara sauce or ketchup)im glad i moved out, im not gettin bitten anymore (unless i go overm my parants-(which i do atleast once every week or so, im young and were still very close family, and my sisters studying abroad in shanghi from last june till this june(she is also making money teaching 12 year old Chinese students the basics of english with her fiance)all they get to do is skype so my mother get emotional cause there so close and she misses her so much. anyways thats my werid pet story.


as for looking for my very first big dog, im looking at labs, my ex roommate had a black lab that was sweet as sugar wouldn't hurt a fly but would also be an extra set of eyes in the house god forbid anything happened. anyone have experiences with bigger dogs, i had small toy dogs all my life and i finally have a nice enclosed big backyard for a big dog to roam and play but i don't now much about the temperaments of bigger dogs or much about them in general, im not looking for no pit-bull or rottie, i want some sweet and playful, not just something to scare the shit outta the little childrn in the community.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Applied Chemistry


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[amdhunter]

I always joke with my wife that we should substitute the expensive vet only food we feed our cats with Walmart's Ol'Roy (and put our pet lizzard on it as well) for $15 a bag.

I bet your cat would love some tasty Lizard. Just saying...

 

[unokitty]

I volunteer at a few animal shelters, and our resident vets are regarded as the best in the State. They've discussed this with us many times and don't get kick backs from food makers as accused above.

All the shelters in my area feed Science Diet - period. We get cheaper food donated to us, and we use them as treats only. It's flavored to make cats like it more while they are trying to digest something even a goat would have trouble with because of all the filler.

If vets didn't profit from selling Science Diet, they wouldn't sell it.

If you were to check the published literature, you would find passages such as:

"Relatively recent additions to the pet food market are "premium pet foods" represented by such lines as Purina Pro Plan, Iams Eukanuba, ANF, Science Diet and so forth. These products are generally composed of high duality meat source ingredients, have a high digestibility, and generally contain more fat than standard manufactured dry pet foods. They are sold exclusively through non-grocery outlets such as pet supply stores and animal hospitals. Currently, sales of these products are increasing at a rate of about 15% per year even though they carry a price premium compared to standard pet foods.

For most adult maintenance type situation, it is unnecessary to use such products. If a client prefers such a product, calculate the caloric need and recommend an amount to be fed daily. These products do tend to be very palatable, thus the probability for excessive weight gain may be increased if they are fed free choice."

No doubt that Science Diet is a premium pet food brand and that there are many lesser brands. But attempting to imply that Science Diet is somehow superior to all other premium brands just isn't supported by any scientific evidence.

No doubt also that the Science Diet Salesmen, er Vets, that you deal with may feel differently.

But if it comes down to believing claims from a person selling a product or claims made in the scientific literature, I'll be believing the literature.

Uno

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Yup. My boy just cost ~$1,500 to fix. I still say "prescription" food is bullshit though. Purina bladder formula is very close to Hill's, but much cheaper.

That's because Hills is terrible too. We fed my dog Hills Science Diet his whole life and now that I know how crappy it is I feel guilty about it.

 

[lord_emperor]

If you want to feed your cat the healthiest food possible give it nothing but live mice and some grass to chew on.

 

[brigden]

I love the premium cat foods with peas and carrots in them. Yeah, just what my cat needs.

 

[brianmanahan]

for the same reason i prefer taco bell to chipotle

 

[wirednuts]

I volunteer at a few animal shelters, and our resident vets are regarded as the best in the State. They've discussed this with us many times and don't get kick backs from food makers as accused above.

All the shelters in my area feed Science Diet - period. We get cheaper food donated to us, and we use them as treats only. It's flavored to make cats like it more while they are trying to digest something even a goat would have trouble with because of all the filler.

Food allergies and digestive issues abound with cheaper food. When you have 200 cats in house you see (and smell) the differences between cheap dry food and Science Diet. Not to mention the cats on SD in the long term have fewer health issues.

this makes the most sense. just like humans. a lot of us live just fine on fast food. but at the same time, a lot of us just live and have tons of problems because of it. why put your digestive system under that sort of stress to only hopefully be ok?

 

[HeXen]

this makes the most sense. just like humans. a lot of us live just fine on fast food. but at the same time, a lot of us just live and have tons of problems because of it. why put your digestive system under that sort of stress to only hopefully be ok?

It's because many people have a lack of self discipline and willpower. Their much like little kids in that respect. Give a kid freedom to choose candy and they will rarely choose a health bar which is understandable due to their age...but to see adults do it is pretty sad and shows much of what is wrong with America today.
A cat however is never much more mentally than a small child in that respect, they don't have the mentality to consciously will or discipline themselves, so it's understandable and tolerable behavior for animals of such, however for adult humans, imo it's pathetic.

I know a guy who drinks anywhere from 6 to 12 soda cans a day. That my friends is a weakness that lead to a mental disorder. I however gave up such and only drink water and sometimes coffee. I believe everyone should always strive to better themselves each year they age from the previous, however food in America is an addictive drug and is worse than cocain imo.

 

[wirednuts]

It's because many people have a lack of self discipline and willpower. Their much like little kids in that respect. Give a kid freedom to choose candy and they will rarely choose a health bar which is understandable due to their age...but to see adults do it is pretty sad and shows much of what is wrong with America today.
A cat however is never much more mentally than a small child in that respect, they don't have the mentality to consciously will or discipline themselves, so it's understandable and tolerable behavior for animals of such, however for adult humans, imo it's pathetic.

I know a guy who drinks anywhere from 6 to 12 soda cans a day. That my friends is a weakness that lead to a mental disorder. I however gave up such and only drink water and sometimes coffee. I believe everyone should always strive to better themselves each year they age from the previous, however food in America is an addictive drug and is worse than cocain imo.

actually i think 6-12 cans a day is still within the tolerance range for caffeine, and the rest is just sugar. i think the real issue is those who drink that much soda dont really drink any water, which causes habitual dehydration and thats what really changes their physiology. i drink 3-4 cans a day myself, but i also have just as much water too. if i stop drinking pop, i dont notice a lick of difference other then i feel the sugar loss. i get most of my simple sugars from soda. i know simple sugars arent necessary, but they can make you feel better short term.

 

[ShawnD1]

I love the premium cat foods with peas and carrots in them. Yeah, just what my cat needs.

Cats are carnivores; they don't naturally eat peas or carrots. That would be like adding tree bark to your human diet.

I'm still learning what my cat wants. She hated the store brand "3 flavor" cat food, so that's out. She seems to like Purina Cat Chow, and her shits seem acceptable. She'll eat Whiskas with seafood flavored filling, but it makes her shit stink really bad. The smell bothers her even more than it bothers me.

I should start taking pictures of bags and writing reviews in a blog or word document. That way I won't forget which ones have already been tried.

 

[Jaskalas]

All the shelters in my area feed Science Diet - period.

Funny, cause none of our cats would touch the stuff.

 

[lxskllr]

Funny, cause none of our cats would touch the stuff.

I got cans from my vet when the boy came out. Both cats hated it, but the girl would break down first and the boy wouldn't get to eat. I traded the cans for the dry, and they like that better, but they have to be half starving to eat it. I alternate between Hills urinary tract(they hate it), Alley Cat(they love it), and Purina bladder health(they like it). When the Hills is gone, I won't get it again. I'd use the Purina exclusively, but I have 10 bags of Alley cat I got before the boy got sick. I've been tempted to put vinegar in their water to lower the ph, but I suspect that wouldn't go over well.

 

[MWink]

To the people who think Science Diet is so great, have you actually read the ingredients? It's barely any different from the dirt cheap grocery brands (ok maybe just a tad better). It just has a fancy sounding name and high price.

You need to look at the ingredients not the pictures or marketing claims. You want meat to be the top ingredient not corn or meat by-products. You don't necessarily have to spend a lot to get decent food. Conversely you can spend a ton on crappy food (Science Diet, Iams, and a whole slew of others). If anyone's interested, see the link below for an example of decent quality food that isn't too expensive (~$1.25/pound). It is far from the best but definitely better than the low end foods.


http://www.tractorsupply.com/4health-trade-indoor-adult-cat-formula-18-lb-bag-1153000

 

[HeXen]

I worked with the guy who's brother actually came up with Science Diet after he got hired in. Though i know nothing about that stuff other than what i have heard, the way it sounds at least at one time the stuff was legit, but who knows now, they alter stuff all the time no doubt.

 

[Wag]

There's meth in it.

 

[silverpig]

It's all trans fats, MSG, and cat nip. That's why.

 

[Rakehellion]

Stupid cats... i spend lots of money getting the good food with no nastiness in it, and they eat it fine. Anyhow, was given some free food, its one of those main brands, wiskas or something, anyhow - it's crap, mostly corn and byproduct and whatever... but damn, my cats are going flocking nuts over it - you'd think they haven't eaten in weeks.

The cheap food is made of crap, so they have to put more flavorings in it to get pets to eat it. I tried switching my cats to the healthy stuff and they wouldn't touch it, but it had the noticeable effect of attracting ants, who wouldn't go near the 9 Lives.

 

[Rakehellion]

Cats will also munch on mice and birds, uncooked.
Pet food isn't held to the same standards as human food because it doesn't need to be.

Unfit for human consumption doesn't mean unfit for all consumption.

Diseased and cancerous animals and euthanized pets are not fit for anyone's consumption.

 

[T9D]

Cats are carnivores; they don't naturally eat peas or carrots. That would be like adding tree bark to your human diet.

That's not true in a way. Normally many carnivores actually get vegetation from what is left in the gut of the animals they eat. Even reptiles eat second hand vegetation that is important to their diet and health.

 

[HeXen]

They don't need the vegetation, just the vitamins and minerals that's already in the blood stream of their victim.

 

[ShawnD1]

They don't need the vegetation, just the vitamins and minerals that's already in the blood stream of their victim.

Sort of like how strict vegan diets can cause weird vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Other animals store a lot of good stuff in their liver, so eating liver is a great source of nutrients.

Drinking the blood of my enemies makes me stronger, and I get a rock hard boner.