I live in a remote area of Canada, and the only types of cat food that are available locally are the mass market supermarket brands (Whiskas, Purina, Purina ONE, Iams, etc.). The only available premium type brand is Science Diet. I know that a lot of people recommend the all natural brands like Nutro, Innova, etc, and that in the US, these brands are typically similar in price to Purina ONE or Iams. However, the cost of purchasing these in Canada as well as shipping them to my location makes anything not available locally cost prohibitive.
Of the major brands, which are the best for my cats? Looking at ingredient lists alone, Iams appears to heavily by product and corn meal laden. Purina One appears to be somewhat better than Science Diet. Any suggestions?
2007-01-02 10:45:54 · 11 answers · asked by JDH 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Go to the site below. Hopefully, you can get Solid Gold Cat Food where you are. I know it is available in Canada, as the site will show.
As far as which one to buy that is mass marketed? Read your labels. Stay away from any containing Ethoxyquin, BHA, BHT, and any food colorings. By-Products are in all of the ones you mentioned, and typically, these are not good for your pet either. I hope you can find one that is none of the mass marketed ones. If not, take the one that has no ethoxyquin, as that is the worst ingredient by far, and choose one that has meat listed as the number one ingredient and not corn.
Best to you.
2007-01-02 11:52:37 · answer #1 · answered by Animaholic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That one depends on where you shop.
For overall quality, while easy to find, you would need to go with the standard.....Purina Cat Chow. Virtually all stores carry it. Now, personally, I prefer the Cat Chow Indoor Formula, but if you have a kitty that does get quality time outside (hopefully supervised), plain old fashioned Cat Chow is fine.
As for the higher cost brands, such as Iams, Science Diet, Eukanuba, or other supposedly "Vet Recommended" brands, they really are NOT all that much better that standard Cat Chow. They just happen to cost more due to where they are available (primarily Vet Offices or specialty shops).
I have 3 cats, aged 2 to 5, and they are as healthy and happy as a kitty can be.
2007-01-02 10:53:01 · answer #2 · answered by Critter Lady 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purina one is probably the best out of the super market. Iams has corn (which you already stated).
Do you have a Costco there? Kirkland dog/cat foods (Which is a Costco brand) is actually very good food.
Also, do you have a local feed store? Your feed store if you have one, might have a larger variety for you and they can also order food for you as well.
2007-01-02 10:49:31 · answer #3 · answered by zawni2004 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most of them are really not as good as they could be but most are adequate. being really good is cost prohibitive many of us are trying to live and take care of families and also enjoy the companionship of a pet and are not rich in money. HOWEVER IAMS should be drummed out of the business they are notorious and use the worst ingredients its all intestinal stuff. Science Diet is very good, so is Nutro. I use them when I can afford it I I use purina pro plan dry all the time but use Friskies right now for my canned cat food as I have to go with what I can afford
2007-01-02 10:54:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My two cats are doing just fine on Purina One. It also seems to have the least impact on the litter box, if you know what I mean. That can be a big deal if you have a small house. The litter box is in my son's bathroom (they sleep in his room) and Nutro just about drove all three of them out of there. Haven't tried the others, we are leaving well enough alone.
2007-01-02 10:52:24 · answer #5 · answered by Denise T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not opposed to feeding your cat wet food, Meow Mix Market Select foods are by-product and corn/wheat free.
2007-01-02 11:17:47 · answer #6 · answered by Melissa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can cross Science Diet off your list. It is no better than Iams or Purina. One poster mentioned Solid Gold - if that is available to you it is a high quality food and much better than Iams or Purina. It does not contain by-product meat.
2007-01-02 12:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm sure Iams do or did abuse animals
or something
Do you have Felix cat food over there?
Its rather popular here
they have loads of different dinners for cats
mine absoultely loves their treats.
2007-01-02 10:55:31 · answer #8 · answered by Choco 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Science Diet is over-priced and isn't any better than the other supermarket brands, they use the same basic ingredients.
2007-01-02 11:05:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
for me its not really the brand, but its the formula that is best for your cat. is it a kitten? then the kitten formula would be best. is it overweight? then a wheight loss one would probably be best.
since my cat is old, he does best with the senior formula, becuase if he ate regular cat food, hed get too fat!
2007-01-02 11:06:33 · answer #10 · answered by ... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋