Is Science Diet not that great for a cat?

Question

I always have thought that SD is great cat food, but apparently a lot of people say that it isn't really good cat food at all. Is this true?

Answer 1

There seem to be as many opinions on cat food as there are stars in the sky. The minute you give an opinion on a particular brand, there is somebody ready to send you multiple e-mails telling you how bad your cat food is and how good his is, trying to convert you to their position. I don't have much respect for these people -- they aren't scientists. Their so-called "test" can be faked easily.

Personal experience for me is that Science Diet is one of the foods recommended by my vet. You have to wonder why that is? Because the vet can make more money? Nope, not ethical. I've used Science Diet for certain medical conditions with good results. They have a food with larger pieces for dental care and it works well.

My personal experience also tells me that when I use IAMS the litterbox is a lot less stinky, the cats have shinier fur and seem to be very healthy. I've showed cats before, and the IAMS seems to be perfect for my needs (and the needs of my multiple cats). I have virtually NO vet bills other than spay/neuter and routine vaccinations.

Dry food is better for their teeth and promotes better muscular development in kittens (by my personal experience raising cats). It is more affordable and easier to feed. There is less chance of spoilage, too.

If you disagree with my opinion, don't bother to try sending me an e-mail because I've disabled it -- too many crackpots.

Answer 2

More and more research is leading to the conclusion that high protein food is healthier for cats in general. Unfortunately, SD does not have very much high (at least 40%) protein cat food, either wet or dry. Most of the mainstream brands do not. After the pet food recalls, I started doing some in-depth internet research on brands, processes, and formulations, and I found that the misconceptions about high protein and wet food were false. Feeding only dry food can cause liver and kidney failure over time, and feeding only wet is not actually going to make their teeth fall out (not getting their teeth cleaned does that). I still feed half wet half dry, but the important thing is feeding them food with no grains (only potatoes) and with over 50% animal protein from high quality sources. I am using Evo, by Innova, and I like it a lot. Also, my cats almost COMPLETELY stopped shedding once I started feeding it to them. Just be conscious that because it is higher in protein and fat, which is more natural since they are carnivores, you don't need to feed them that much. And of course, never free-feed. In terms of wet versus dry, the main argument against dry is that it is low protein, which isn't true if you have done your research and buy good food.

The bottom line is, if you have a specific condition that your animals needs to address, the prescription Science Diet is probably fine. But in terms of quality of food, remember that your cat is not an omnivore like a human or a dog. He/she needs meat first and foremost. Many brands out there offer that, and if you do a little research you will find one that suites your needs. If you balk at a light increase in cost, think about whether you want to keep your companion happy, with less shedding, and possibly a longer life-span! Good luck.

Answer 3

Well when you look at cat food there are lets say different levels. There is the grocery stores own brand, consider that eating out of a garbage can, "upper" grocery store brands like Iams, consider that McD's. Then you move to pet store brands and now you branch into "traditional" and "holistic". On the more "traditional" side you have things like Science Diet and Nutrience, consider that like a generally balanced home cooked meal. On the more holistic side you have Innova, Wellness and raw foods consider that a balanced home cooked meal made with foods from a natural or health food store. Then you move into foods only available from the vet, like Medical, consider that having a nutrionist come to your house and cook for you. The choice is up to you. I use Medical but use Science Diet when I don't have time to swing by the vets office.

Answer 4

When I had a cat I fed him Science Diet. He liked it and lived until he was almost 20 years old. There are special formulations for cats.

Answer 5

Nutrition since there are so many bad things out there is very important to your cat’s health
Contrary to what you may have heard, dry foods are not a great thing to feed a cat.
Dry foods are the number 1 cause of diabetes in cats as well as being a huge contributing factor to kidney disease, obesity, crystals, u.t.i’s and a host of other problems. Food allergies are very common when feeding dry foods.
The problems with it are that they are loaded with carbohydrates which many cats (carnivores) cannot process. Most of the moisture a cat needs is gotten
out of the food and 95% of it is zapped out of dry foods in the processing. Also, most use horrible ingredients and don't use a muscle meat as the primary ingredient and use vegetable based protein versus animal. Not good for an animal that has to eat meat to survive.
You want to pick a canned food w/o gravy (gravy=carbs) that uses a muscle meat as the first ingredient and doesn't have corn at least in the first 3 ingredients if at all. Fancy feast is a middle grade food with 9lives, friskies whiskas lower grade canned and wellness and merrick upper grade human quality foods.Also, dry food is not proven to be better for teeth. Please read about cat nutrition.
http://www.newdestiny.us/nutritionbasics.html
http://www.catinfo.org/feline_obesity.htm
http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm#Dry_Food_vs_Canned_Food.__Which_is_reall

Answer 6

That is true.

First off, dry foods in general are not good as a diet staple. SD does offer canned versions too, but they're not much better.

The reason is due to the ingredients they use. For example, look at the ingredients for their Savory Chicken Entrée Adult:

Water, Chicken, Turkey Giblets, Meat By-Products (WHICH BYPRODUCTS???), Liver, Corn Starch (HUH?), Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), Corn Gluten Meal (BAD), Soybean Meal (BAD), Wheat Flour (BAD), Chicken Liver Flavor (HUH?), Fish Meal (HUH?), Titanium Dioxide, Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Brewers Dried Yeast, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan (BAD), Calcium Sulfate, Iodized Salt, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Potassium Citrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Manganous Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid, Sodium Selenite.

They've added all three of the most well-known allergens - corn wheat and soy. Not only allergens but grains which are carbs which turn into sugars and contribute to weight gain and potentially diabetes down the road. Carageenan can lead to stomach problems like ulceritis. Byproducts per se aren't bad but they should be named. For instance, you could say that liver is a byproduct. Liver isn't bad. But WHICH byproducts are they using???

All in all this isn't the worst food you could find, but you can find SO much better!

EDIT: And once again, dry food DOES NOT CLEAN THE TEETH. Why oh WHY won't that myth die?

Answer 7

Someone in my Family has 6 Himilayan cats. The seveth recently died at 17 Years. The next oldest is 14. Others are up in age.

These cats have never eaten anything in their lives other than
"Science Diet" cat food. They love it.

Answer 8

Ther eare many differing opinions on many different brands of food. For example, i've heard many people say that Iams is a bad food, but then my sister's vet told her it's one of the best for cats. I think you just need to follow a vet's advice for your animal and/or find out what your cat likes best. Each animal has a different digestive system and can tolerate different things (kinda like humans...i.e. some can tolerate dairy products and some can't) and you just need to find out whats best for your pet. Read the ingredients as well to make sure there are more natural products and less byproducts.

Answer 9

Find out who really makes it. What is the first ingredient? Meat by products, grain(rice, corn or wheat of some kind) not good. The web site below provides disconcerting information on pet foods.It will educate and help you to judge your pets food better. Do you know what is your cat's food? Would you eat it? Hope this helps. God Bless.

Answer 10

Hills science diet is perfectly fine for your cat.