is what i am feeding my cats good enough?

Question

ok i have two cats one is a slinder very rambunctious and the other one is a big lazy one and i use to feed them fancy feast, but i switched to the good life recipe and now my big cat has lots of energy and is up running and playing......i know its a good thing but does the good life recipe mixed with whiskers packaged food have enough neutrients and stuff? and can a better food give them more energy?

and whiskers is not tainted with chemicals or poison...... if that was true they still wouldnt be selling it in the stores...remember they took all that **** off the shelves

Answer 1

Most commercial cat food is full of carbohydrates, which will do the same thing in a cat as in a human... Within a very short time after excessive carb intake glucose levels rise rapidly because carbs are digested very quickly. When glucose levels are back down to normal, insulin levels are still near maximum and continually storing glucose in fat cells. As a result, glucose levels fall below normal, and hunger occurs again soon.

This is my kitty diet recommendation that I posted in response to another cat food related question:


Most commercial pet food (regardless of whether it's generic, grocery, or premium) is full of corn, which is of no nutritional value to cats and loaded with carbohydrates. (A veterinarian may tell you differently in an effort to persuade you to purchase food.) Overloading a cat on carbs will fatten him/her up just as it will a human. And some experts agree that too many carbohydrates can lead to a UTI.

This is what I recommend:

25-50% of your kitty's diet should consist of meat. The bigger your kitty, the more meat he should eat. I suggest boiling boneless chicken until it's cooked medium (pink). Serve the broth to kitty as well. Many cats do well on raw meats, but don't switch kitty to raw immediately. If you do it, it should be done gradually. (Don't feed kitty tuna or liver. Tuna can cause steatitis (yellow fat disease), and liver can cause vitamin A toxicosis. And large amounts of fat can cause pancreatitis, so go easy on the fat.)

Commercial foods should consist of no more than 25% of kitty's diet. A superior diet doesn't include ANY commercial food, but we all know that sometimes we're in a pinch for time and sometimes need something quick to toss in kitty's bowl.
This is okay as long as commercial foods are kept to a minimum. When buying commercial foods, check the ingredients. Don't buy anything that lists corn as the first ingredient. This always means that corn is the primary ingredient. Look for foods that list meat or poultry as the first ingredient.

Leave grains out if at all possible, with the exception of white rice. White rice can help with digestive problems, but use it sparingly. Veggies should be routinely added to kitty's diet. Of the veggies, include broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, and peas. But be sure to shred/chop and cook.
It's not necessary to feed all of the above veggies every day. You can feed one or two one day, one or two the next, and so on.

I usually tell people to avoid dairy products since cats are lactose intollerant, but occasionally feeding yogurt and cottage cheese (very sparingly) won't hurt and can sometimes help with an upset tummy.

And, while it's best to avoid feeding too many carbohydrates, cooked and mashed sweet potato occasionally fed in small portions is okay if your kitty likes it.

Eggs are a great source of protein and can be fed cooked or raw, but try not to feed eggs more than twice per week (especially if fed raw).

But remember, sudden changes in diet can cause any number of problems. So "ween" kitty onto his new diet by mixing the ''new'' food with the food he is accustomed to and gradually increasing the amount of ''new'' food, and decreasing the amount of ''old'' food, with time as you notice positive changes.

Some people will say that bones are necessary for calcium and will add that cats have always eaten them. Firstly, broccoli and green leafy veggies, for example, are good calcium sources. (And, as someone kindly reminded me not long ago, you can purchase bone meal powder which is a great natural source of calcium and phosphorus.) Secondly, no one can state with authority that no cat is ever harmed by a bone splinter. It can, and does, happen. I realize that cats eat bones in the wild, but it's better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

Others will say that a cat should be fed a diet consisting completely of meat. However, too much fish and meat (animal protein) causes excessive acidity. (And too much plant protein causes the urine to be too alkaline.) It's important to consider this when choosing kitty's diet because the most common cause of cat UTI is urolithiasis (which is the formation of stones in the urinary tract.) Struvite is the most common stone and is made up of minerals such as magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. The acidic and alkaline properties of these minerals upset the pH level in the urine, which is also influenced by the proteins present in kitty's diet.

Answer 2

At six months old they are starting to hit puberty and should be slowing down on the amount of calories they need in a day. Each cat is different in the amount of calories they need. It depends on their age, size and activity level. Look on the bag of dry food, there should be a chart that tells you how much to feed in a day. The chart is just a basic guide, not an absolute. And be sure to measure the amount of food you are putting out; use an actual measuring cup to be sure you are getting to same amount each feeding. Some cats prefer "fresh" food more than once each day, so try dividing the daily amount of dry food into two feedings. To know if they are getting too much or not enough, run your hands over their rib cages. You should be able to just feel the ribs. If the ribs are protruding, they are not getting enough. If you have to dig through fat to find their ribs, they are being over fed. Cats are just like people, too much food and too little exercise will make them fat. And despite what others have said, cats do not self regulate well. Ask any vet and they will probably tell you one of the biggest health problems at their clinic is overweight pets. If cats self regulated then there wouldn't be a need for cat foods designed for weight loss. Stop feeding the canned food, it is mostly water and can contribute to dental problems and picky eaters. If they are trying to get into the trash, it may have more to do with something that smells good or simply looking for something to do. Put the trash where they can't get to it to prevent any accidental poisoning and provide plenty of toys and interactive play. If they haven't been already, get them spayed/neutered, or you will end up with more kittens soon or the ever lovely problem of them marking everything they can. Good luck.

Answer 3

The good life recipe is better than fancy feast. I would urge you to take a look at Blue Buffalo cat food. I started feeding my cats(and dog) this all natural food and I have been amazed at the results. My cats all have more energy, there coats are a lot shinier, they shed less, and seem to be in a better mood. My dog used to sneeze all the time and she always had liquidy eye drainage, now she no longer sneezes and her eye drainage is gone. I urge you to look into Blue and read some reviews. I think you will be very satisfied.

You can see it here (make sure to read the buyer's reviews)

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441813179&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033692&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1182856048261&itemNo=14&Ntt=blue&In=Cat&previousText=blue&N=2023690#detail

Happy feeding!

Answer 4

Sounds like you did the right thing. A better food can definitely give your cats more energy. It is very bad for their health to be lazy!! Good job.

Answer 5

aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh...why would you feed whiskas...total chemically laced crap.Try Wellness, Evolve Felidae, Natural Balance or Merriks all are top quality foods.

Answer 6

I feed mine Science Diet, she's always playfull.

Answer 7

I use the Purina one indoor formula for mine and they are in very healthy shape and rambunctious.