Which wet and dry cat foods are best?

Question

My vet said that brands such as Friskies, Whiskas and Purina were not nutritious and would harm my cat later in life, but recommended the Hills Brand. I did research and found that Hills is somewhat unhealthy too. Which brand of wet or dry foods is best?

Answer 1

I am glad you did your research on Science Diet which vets promote so heavily. It is poor quality and expensive cat food. Iams and Purina are also low-quality foods - they use by-product meat and 2/3 of their foods are corn - a known allergen for pets, very fattening and not nutritious for cats.

So I go with Kyle on his foods. Also Eagle Pack, Naturual Balance, Solid Gold, Felidae are excellent with the first two ingredients from a human-grade meat source and fillers such as brown rice, millet, oat, pea etc. CA Natural is a good food, a little on the pricey side like the Felidae.

I wonder why the vet can't read the ingredient label on the SD to see that it is made from by-product meat, brewers' rice (that's rice with all the nutrient value removed) and corn gluten meal. I would sure like to read that label off to him and ask what he thinks is good about that food.

Answer 2

My cat is on a vet diet from Purina. It is not available in stores. He also eats Purina One. There are different grades of foods from the manufacturers. Some are better than others. I would definately go with something from a good pet store. Your vet knows your paticular cats needs and probably recommended what they thought was best. Just make sure you pick one that's right for it's age and any health conditions it may have. My cat has not been harmed by Purina and he's 14 years old. I do only buy the top shelf kind though. You will have to change the food as the cat ages. Once you pick a brand stick to it. It's just better for the cat.

Answer 3

Your vet is totally right. Hills(AKA Science Diet) is the BEST cat and dog food, bar none. After working in animal hospitals for years and feeding my own animals different foods, I can say positively Hills products are the highest quality and most nutritious foods you can give to your animal. As I said in another question today, depending on the age and health of your cat I would say Science Diet Indoor Cat is my 1st suggestion for indoor cats, I feed this to my cat and have ever since it came out about a year ago. Where did you hear Hills was not good? Someone who obviously doesn't know anything about the health of animals or a employee of competing company.

I have worked with many many veterinarians that have spent DECADES studying the health of animals and they have ALL said Science Diet is the best food available.

Many vets I have worked with stock Purina ONE and prescription diets but they all prefer Hills 1st. If you want Iams brand make sure you get the better Eukanuba line they have such as Eukanuba Indoor Cat Formula.

Answer 4

I disagree with your vet, as most receive a kickback from Hills and Iams for carrying their brand in their clinics. I have an 8 year old who, when I adopted her at the age of 2, had terrible hairballs. She has been eating Purina Advanced Hairball formula for 6 years. She has never had one hairball, gets sick very very seldom, has cleaner teeth, and does not stink up the litter box at all. As far as wet food, she only licks the gravy from Friskies and never eats the food much, but it must be Tuna flavored. All those expensive wet foods are a total waste on her, she won't even lick them.

Answer 5

Purina is great food. A lot of vets, want you to buy their food which is very pricey.

Cats can get all the nutrients they need from Purina, it contains no fillers and is very healthy for them. I have always fed my cats Purina cat/ kitten chow. Wet foods contain less nutrients than dried, but my cats seem to really enjoy Friskies wet food. I give it to them as a treat, rather than regular feeding.

Answer 6

The first vet I tried also recommended Science Diet/Hills Brand. My current vet carries it, but recommends Pet Promise. It was developed in-part by organics-guru Dr. Andrew Weil.
I stopped feeding my kitten Purina. My vet - who I visited just yesterday - informed me that in Europe - you wouldn't ever find it on the shelves - it has too much questionable parts and they only use human-grade products. For example, "by-products" - include heads, feet, and intestines of the questionable animal. Also, brands such as Friskies, Purina, even Science Diet - they will use euthanized animals or other poisoned animals - this was told to me by my vet again. I've tried Purina kitten chow and Science Diet - but they both contain by-products, and both companies engage in animal testing.

Also, my cat won't touch Science Diet (tried it before going to the current vet). I switched him from kitten chow to Nutro - it is chicken-based, and contains no by-products and he loves it. I know someone who has two cats, and was given a sample of Nutro, and he said it is the only food that both of his pets agreed and took to instantly as well. I just tried it and my kitten took to it instantly.

O, and I also buy kitty grass plants, and my kitten enjoys chewing on that also. I also recommend dry food, as did my vet, because it is healthier for your kitty's teeth than wet. The dry will make him/her chew, and the texture will help scrap diet off his/her teeth. You may want to save the wet kitty food for an occasionally treat.

Answer 7

Your vet is bang-on! Purina and other name brand foods are filled with by-products of animals, as well as sawdust and other scraps from the floors of slaughter houses. Have you ever heard the term "meat by-products and fillers?" That's what it is - left over parts that humans would never eat.

If you want the best food, then look for such products from manufacturers like Nutro, Wellness, Royal Canin and others. My kids (3) get a wide variety of both moist and dry foods, but all of them are all-natural and "almost" safe enough for a human to eat since they are all-natural. Petco and PetSmart sell many of these brands and can show you how many others there are out there that are safe for your pet and are all-natural.

Answer 8

Friskies was recommended after my young male cat got a bladder infection. Since then my older, fatter, lazier cat has trimmed down, is more active and both cats are actually frisky again. And, it's been two years now and no more instances for urinary or bladder trouble. Both are healthy and happy.

Answer 9

My Vet actually suggested that I feed my indoor cats Purina One. I have 4 cats and this is what my Vet told me to feed them. I have a cat that used to have chronic bladder infections we have him on cranberry pills now and that no longer happens but I have been feeding them Purina One Urinary Tract Formula and my Vet said that is what I should be giving them.

Answer 10

Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Blue Buffalo are some higher quality, yet still affordable cat foods.