When my cats were young, the vet recommended that...?

Question

they be placed on dry food rather than canned. I have 2 cats, and only one will eat the dry food. I think the one that doesn't like it will only nibble on it just because she's really hungry, so canned food is basically all she will eat as a meal. Has anyone heard this advice before, and whats so bad about canned food?

Answer 1

Ask them why? They make canned food so why not feed it to them. Unless it is something with your cat. I usually feed them both. But I spoil my cats.

Answer 2

Canned food is not necessarily bad, but dry food helps to remove tartar from a cat's teeth and keeps their teeth strong. The problem with commercially canned food is that it is mostly water so it ends up costing more to meet your cat's daily caloric requirements. Also, there is a greater risk of spoilage if your cat does not eat all it's food immediately. If you're going to feed wet food, I strongly recommend you use a premium brand of food...that means nothing that you can get in a supermarket. These are the brands you need to go to a pet store for. But again, you will be throwing your money away. You can get a premium dry cat food where the cost per meal is still less than the cost per meal of supermarket crap canned cat food.

If there's one thing you can trust me on, it's this...your cat is trying to train YOU. Don't let her! She will cry on you and act hungry and all, but don't give in! She WILL eat. Hunger has a way of manipulating the brain into survival mode. Hold out as long as you can. You may want to try to mix a bit of wet food with some of the dry food at first. Each day give her a little bit less of the wet food and more of the dry, until you are only feeding her the dry food. She will pout and cry and even get down right bitchy, but she will eat, I assure you. Good luck!

Answer 3

Canned food should only be given as a treat, Its full of ash, which is not good, and its awful for their teeth and gums. Try to compromise with your kitty. Poor the dry food in a dish, add some hot water, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then you have a nice soft food, that is a lot better for them then canned food. I give my cats a teaspoon of canned food a night as a treat only. Canned food = Mcdonalds, Dry food= balanced meal :) Ok? A cat won't starve itself to death.

Answer 4

There is nothing wrong with canned food,most vets now know that 95 % of animals do not really chew there food so unless the dry is Hill's prescription t/d for the teeth the dry is not really helping to keep the teeth clean.Brushing is best.

Answer 5

I agree, seek an opinion from a second vet. The reason they don't recommend soft foods is probably because the younger cats' digestive systems can't handle the food and they will get diarrhea. This is the same reason that you don't want to use milk as a food. It will upset their system.

Answer 6

Dry cat food is good for the teeth of the cat. A good cat, ideally, will eat both.
Mine likes catfood that has sauce or gravy--and Fancy Feast is her favorite.
I let my own cat outdoors, and she sometimes eats birds or rabbits in the area. My neighbors love this, because it saves their vegetable/tomato gardens from rabbits chewing up their garden.!.

Answer 7

ive heard that before can food makes a cat fatter quicker also the reason its probally not eating dry food could be doesnt like that particular kind i have my cats on authority cat food (dry) they wont touch anything else.

Answer 8

I don't think canned food is bad, just check the ingredients. Don't buy food that is missing the key ingredients that are necessary to remain healthy. Most foods should have some vitamin content as well.

Answer 9

Have you tried different kinds of dry food?

Answer 10

There are lots of different brands that work better on different cats- I have all kinds and the all seem to like Meow Mix, maybe that will work on yours too