Conference misery::feline_v1

    I just bought a 10lb. bag of Science Diet Light and I paid about
    $11.40 for it here in California.  The smaller bags (4lbs) go for 
    about $5.60 to $5.90 (can't remember exactly).  Don't know how this
    compares to prices in the east.
    
    Jan

    I buy Hills C/D, dry and canned, exclusively for my crew.  The
    prescription varieties are a bit more expensive.  I know the canned
    Science diet, if purchased can by can, runs around 1.25 for a 13
    oz (?) can.  I'm sure you can get a better price by the case which
    is how I buy it. 
      as far as the dry goes - I know this may sound expensive, but
    you only feed about 1/4 c per cat per meal which is much less 
    than you would feed of the supermarket variety catfood.  
      I LOVE the C/D and wouldn't feed anything else.  Our 10 yr old
    used to have a definite tartar problem about 1 1/2 yrs ago, but
    now that they are on exclusively Hills the tartar buildup is gone!
      Hope it works out as well for your furfaces.
       Nancy DC
    

    I have been buying IAMS dry and Science Diet canned at my grain
    store.  THe SD is 1.05 by the case and 1.15 seperatly.  the 4lb
    bag of IAMS is 6.45 and the 8 lb is 12.50.
    
    Nippa does not like the dry science diet, but I can check the price
    next time.
    
    

    I use Feline Maintenance for Bear and Terri uses the Light 
    for Tia (because she's turned into a blobber) and the prices 
    down here are sort of expensive, about $14 for a 10 lb bag
    (of course, everything in the Tri-state area is outrageously
    expensive anyway!
    
    Bear used to eat canned and hated dry but he LOVES Science Diet
    and it's very good for him.  Tia has been on it forever, she got
    really blimped out over the Maintenance, so Terri had to put her
    on the Light formula.  Neither one of us would use any other type
    of food, I tried IAMS dry on Bear and he hated it, just batted it
    around in his dish and wouldn't eat it.
    
    Tammi, Bear, Terri and Tia
    

    re: .4  Does Terri "free feed" the dry?  If so that's why Tia 
    blimped out.  I did that with the CD dry and could see a difference
    in Isis in one week!  You feed only 1/4 c per meal.  Do NOT leave
    it out and free feed or you will have blimps on your hands.
      Nancy DC
    

    The prices out there in New England seem more expensive than out
    here.  Do you guys buy from feed stores or pet stores or the vets?
    
    We get Science Diet Feline Growth cans for $.99 singly, or for $22.00
    for the case of 24 cans.  The 8 lb. bags of Iams kitten are only
    8.99.  These are feed store prices.  They also give me a 10% discount
    on everything I buy since I spend so much there.
    
    Jo

    I am under the impression that any of the prescription diets, e.g.
    C/D are available from vets only.
     N
    

    8 lbs of Iams kitten, from Erickson's Grain Mill in Maynard is $12.95.
     
    My hubby couldn't believe the price when I also, at the same time,
    bought 25 lbs of Blue Seal Kat Kare for $12.95.  
    
    I have been feeding the Kat Kare now for about 6 months, and I have
    noticed that my cats all look great, with healthy, shiney coats.
    I also think they like the variety.  I continue to feed IAMS, and
    will also pick up samples of other high quality foods at the Cat
    Shows.  They have two bowls, one filled with Kat Kare, and one with
    IAMS or something else.  
    
    cin
    

    Nancy, I buy the C/D and P/D from the vet.  The prices I quoted
    were only for the Iams and SD feline growth cans, which are available
    from pet stores, feed stores, cat shows, and vet offices.
                                             
    Cin, I haven't seen Blue Seal Kat Kare either.  We have a local
    brand out here called Almar the is said to be very low in ash,
    magnesium and stuff, but it is also lower in protein and fat than
    the Iams.  I like the coat textures that I get with Iams and haven't
    found a less expensive brand that has the same guaranteed analysis.
    Oh well, I guess I still have to spend more, but I feel better knowing
    that it could be worse...I could be paying what you guys are paying
    for Iams kitten! ;^)
    
    Jo

    Somebody keep talking about the Blue Seal product. While purchasing
    my onion sets last year at a Blue Seal feed store the owner told
    me about it. He pointed at the store cat, a male that had had cystitis
    and then pointed out the analysis on the bag, it was low in ash. The
    price was especially interesting but I have never seen it mentioned
    in this notes file.

    That's Blue Seal Kat Kare.....I feed it to my crew, although it's
    not the only thing they eat.  It's a great maintenance food, but
    not enough for growth, like for young kittens or pregnant queens.
    Along with the Kat Kare, I feed IAMS kitten or cat, plus Purina
    100 canned. 
    
    Blue Seal Kat Kare is a great food, that's low in ash.  It's grain
    based, rather than meat based like IAMS or Tamiami.  My cats really
    seem to like it, and the litter box is the same as when I was feeding
    IAMS alone.  And you can't beat the price....I bought 25 lbs this
    week at Ericksons in Maynard for $12.95.   8 lbs of Iams kitten
    was $13.50.
                                               
    I've also been told my cats look pretty good!!!
    
    purrs
    cin
    
    

RE:  < Note 2453.10 by HPSTEK::TBOWEN >

>    Somebody keep talking about the Blue Seal product. While purchasing


I bought the Blue Seal Kat Kare for my menagerie, I was looking for a low-
whatever food that has less fat than the IAMS.  My cats liked it, they 
seemed to be losing those few extra pounds and I was very satisfied.  

Then I had trouble with two of my males having mild cystitis, doses of 
an acidifier was all they needed.  But as soon as I stopped the acidifier,
they had trouble again.  They have never had problems with this in the
past, it came as a total surprise.

My vet (Janet Merrill at Wilton Animal Hospital) blamed it on the food, 
she said her experience was that although it said it was low-whatever 
the cats just didn't react to it that way.  I switched to Science Diet 
Light and have had no further problems with either weight gain or cystitis. 

I guess I can't recommend the Blue Seal, especially if you have any cats
that are prone to cystitis.

Jan   who_loves_her_less_pudgy_furfaces

    Well, with the Mg. and ash being as low as they are in the
    Kat Kare it's surprising.  Quite a few vets are now thinking
    that it's not what you feed - if a cat is prone to those
    problems they will have them no matter what you feed.