Conference misery::feline_v1

    As long as you leave plenty of fresh water for them, I
    doubt there's any problem.  Most dry food today has
    the full complement of vitamins and minerals.  Besides,
    we all know what's best for the kitty is what the kitty
    likes best....;-)
    
    You're not a bad Mom.  I used to feed Science Diet dry
    and Triumph canned, but had to switch to Kal Kan/Whiskas
    canned food because both expensive foods for four was just too much.
    We all do the best for our kitties we can, and they know
    and appreciate and love us for it.  As long as your kitties
    are happy and healthy, you're a purrfect Mom!
    
    Mary-Michael

    Hello Donna -
    
    First of all I would like to address the cost of dry food. I have
    two cats (full grown) and they have IAMS in the dish at all times.
    A 10 pound bag last them a month and 3-5 days. The IAMS we buy
    cost $11.45, divide that by 31 days and that comes out to .38 cents
    a day, plus we buy Sheba and split a can of that between the two cats
    in the morning and Sheba is .50 a can, so it cost us .88 cents a day
    to feed both cats. My vet said if you feed IAMS you really don't need
    to feed them anything else, and that would be .38 cents a day. I
    "think" they should have something else besides dry food, that's the
    reason they get Sheba. 
    
    My vet said, None of the dry foods that you buy in the grocery store
    is balanced enough to just feed them that, neutrient wise they need
    something else.
    
    The breeder we got our Himalayian from agreed with the vet. She feed
    her cattery IAMS at all times, supplimented by 9-Lives. She said,
    you have to remember that breeders have to be cost effective and at
    the same time their cats have to be healthy, and have great coats,
    so they are good ones to copy your feeding program from. She wasn't
    pushing one good dry food over the other or canned either.
    
    Hope this helps. Just gives you and idea of the information I have
    collected and what my feeding program is.
    
    Barbara

    
    I, too, feed my cats either IAMS, Science Diet or Acclaim dry foods
    (got a coupon for Purina Pro Plan and may give this a go).  I find
    that when I let them free feed off the dry (approx. 2 cups/day split
    between two cats), they don't need/want as much canned food.  They
    each only eat 1/4 of the can (9-lives or Whiskas/Kal-Kan).
    
    Escho and Brandy also tend to suffer from diarrhea when I give them
    Friskies canned food.  My first cat Harry had poops that could wake
    you from a comatose sleep, INSTANTLY! When traveling, I kept a heavy
    duty Stick-up on the dashboard.  I found that with the dry food
    and the specialty food (ie-IAMS, Science Diet, etc) the smell was
    greatly reduced.
    
    If it's the price that keeps you from buying the specialty foods
    take heart in knowing that you do not feed the same quantity as
    you would with off the shelf stuff.  Since it is nutritionally balanced
    you actually feed less (see directions on package).  Also as stated
    previously, with whatever dry food you go with, you will need to
    make sure that they have enough water.
    
    Hope this helps.  Good luck in whateveer you decide.
    
    Roslyn, Escho and Brandy
    
    P.S.  Dry is also supposed to help with reducing tartar build-up.
    (For those kitties who refuse to use tartar control crest. heh heh)  

    
    re: .2
    
    A 10 lb bag lasts a month???!!!  T.C. is such a pig ... I go through
    an 8lb bag of Thrive (their absolute favorite) in 2 weeks!!!
    I was buying Iams for a couple of months but I had two problems.
    First of all, Rocco didn't like it and also I was paying approx.
    $12 for a 7lb bag (or so).
    
    As far as the wet food goes ... is Whiskas suppose to be better
    than the rest???  Whiskas (Kal Kan) makes Rocco toss up every
    time no matter what the flavor!  The only thing they both like
    and can handle if Friskies.
    
    
    Donna

    RE: .4
    
    Have you had your kitties checked for worms lately?  Nippa
    was infeseted with worms last fall and she was eating like
    a pig (like how you described 8 lb bag in a couple of weeks).
    I just switched to Iams and she is eating roughly 1/3 cup am and
    1/3 cup pm with an ounce of boiled chicken breast(and she
    is a big cat 12 lbs).
    
    Where do you live?  Are there any grain stores nearby?  I can get
    a 4 lb bag for about $6, and an 8lb bag for about $10 at the feed
    store.  they are a couple of $$ cheaper than pet stores.  Also Spags
    sells it cheap, when they have it.
    
    Michele & Nippa

    
    RE: .5
    
    Feed store?? In L.A.?? I think that's what we call McDonalds. 8^)  
    T.C. doesn't have worms ... he's just a major pig!!  He is on
    the heavier side (approx 14lbs) but his brother gives him 
    enough exercise to keep it down I guess.
    
    Thanks for the input.
    
    Donna

    Perhaps one of the california breeders can help you by suggesting
    a good place to get the Hills or IAMS. We have four cats, feed
    Hills C/D Dry & canned (which is a little more expensive than
    the science diet, but not much) and not only do I NOT find 
    it that much more expensive, but I've noticed a definite improve-
    ment in their health.
      My kitties range in age from 11 mos to 11 1/2 years.  There's
    been an improvement in their coats, their energy levels and their
    teeth!  especially in the older two.  Mao had a definite tarter
    problem before I switched to the Hills and they were getting dry
    prior to that.
      If you don't want to buy the more specialize foods, at least
    get a recommendation from your vet as to the better store brands.,
    I believe 9 Lives is one of the good ones.
      Good luck
       Nancy DC
    

As for dry...
How's Purina Cat Chow?
I feed Tsunami Science diet moist in morning and at night but leave 
Cat Chow for her to nibble on.  Is Nine Lives better?

    There are feed stores in LA, believe it or not.  Check your local
    phone book. I have seen them when down there for shows.  If we can
    have them in Silicon Valley, we can have them in LA.
    
    Up here, try An-jans feed store on Monterey Highway in San Jose.
    They have great prices.  I have about three feed stores to choose
    from in Morgan Hill.  
    
    Also, buying cat food at a cat show can be less expensive.  There
    are 3 shows in the LA area in the month of April.  I will be down
    for all 3 it looks like.
    
    Jo

    Re: IAMS and cats not liking it.  
    
    It is a rare animal that will not eventually eat what you give it...
    and no, they don't starve in the meantime.
    
    When my cats "switched" to IAMS, they did not "like" it either,
    altho I am guessing it was so because they kinda looked at it, then
    looked at me.  My vet also warned me that cats how are used to tasty
    canned food don't take that well to IAMS at first...BUT, if one
    sprinkles just a little bit of water on it, it makes it smell
    considerably more appetizing and the cats will eat it.  once they
    eat it, they keep eating it--it's just a switch from "cereal with
    suger" to "plain old cereal with just milk!" routine.  The cats
    have to get used to it.
    
    IAMS does alleviate smelly poo and runny poo, too.  You do feed
    less even tho you pay more for the same amount...in the long run
    it's a push.  The droppings are alway small and hard, unless kitty
    is upset inside.
    
    That's my experience.  You can get IAMS or other speciality foods
    in most pet stores, or feed stores (such as Well Pet, Cindy's or
    An-jans).  I'm sure they have feed stores in LA, too.  :)
    
                                                         ---kim

    You can always try popping the dry stuff in the Microwave for about
    10 seconds.  It makes it smell better....gets the oil cookin'!
    
    

    I know of two feed stores in Orange County (slightly south of LA).
    There's one in Newport Beach, of all places, and one in Costa Mesa.
    As a matter of fact, that's where I went to buy sheep shears to
    groom my dog.  Jo, are any of the shows in Orange County or just
    LA?
    
    Linda

    One of the shows is in Ventura (April 9th).  The other two are the
    weekends of the 14th and 15th, and the weekend of the 29th and 30th.
    I don't remember where those two are, will have to check my schedule.
    I think one is in Pasadena.  The other could be anywhere for all
    I know.  I just get on highway 5 and go south til I get there.
    
    ;^)
    
    Jo

    I have an older cat that we adopted. Junkyard was a street cat for
    many years and he has lost nearly all of his teeth. I have to feed
    him wet food all the time because he has such a hard time eating
    dry. This causes a real problem with his dumps. EXTREMELY smelly
    and runny. I can relate to the person who said it wakes you up from
    a deep sleep. This has happened many times. (sniff, sniff, dream,
    dream, sniff, sniff.....OH, JUNKYARD!!!! AGGGGHHHHH!!)
    Does anyone have any suggestions on feeding that will firm him up?
    
    Kim

    Kim, try Science Diet Feline Maintenance in the cans.  They cost
    about $1.25 at the feed store if you buy them one at time.  They
    are 12oz cans and he won't need to eat as much.  If you buy a case
    at a time it is less exensive.  A case holds 24 cans.
    
    Jo

    
    
    Kim, you might try getting a sample of IAMS or Hills dry and then
    wetting it and making it into a mushy cereal.  That way Junkyard can
    gum it without much of a problem.  I also think the idea of _nuking_
    it in the microwave is a good idea.  You might also try cooked rice
    and cooked (boiled, I believe, hamburger) either separately or mixed
    in with the moistened IAMS.
    
    Short Story:
    
    When I tried to switch my cats from canned (9 Lives, KalKan & Friskies)
    and the dry _junkfood_, my cats just stared at me as if to say,
    "Mom, you really can't be serious. You want US to EAT that stuff??
    Have you completely lost yu grip on reality?!?"  They went on a
    short hunger strike. VERY SHORT  They know that if they don't like
    what's put down, they don't HAVE to eat it now but I'm certainly
    not going to give them anything else. After a day and a half, they
    chowed down the IAMS for dinner.
    
    Now they get to free feed (a cup and a half) on either IAMS, Hills
    or Acclaim and get a 1/2 can of moist food a day. They actually
    turn their noses up at most of the commerical stuff now.  Escho's
    even gone as far as checking out what's in the dish then going
    over to the cabinent where we keep the dry food and try to pull
    the IAMS bag out.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Roslyn, Escho and Brandy

    ... HMM Happy does not care for dry food so what I od is put her
    tami-ami or iams in the microwave, add a little water to moisten,
    let it simmer(pookies phrase) or NUKE IT BIG TIME MOM(Happy's
    phrase) and  then I put in the freezer for few minutes to let it
    cool.. and she likes it that way.. I also leave some dry food 
    for her to munch on during the day,Pookie will not eat wet food,
    she does not like it at all...however I have caught her sampling
    happys  .. and made her some.. you guessed it.. she turned her
    little nose up in the air and sauntered off... :*)))))
    regards
    kate