Cat Food

[MissBritt]

Hello. Long story short, we have 5 "rescues". They have all been through TNR, live outside due to allergies in the family, and stick close to home. They are all happy and healthy, and have essy access to the garage for sleep and safety. However, with the colder weather they are eating more than ever. 4 are technically still kittens... two are 6 months and two are about 18 months. Any ideas on how to cut the cat food bill? They currently consume thirty large cans (13oz? 15?) of wet and 16-20# dry per month. I realize I could do all dry and they would live but the two girls are horrible about drinking so I am okay with a split can of wet daily.

 

[Hiitsme]

Please reconsider leaving these kitties outdoors. It will considerably lengthen their lives. They can be hit by cars, eaten by larger predators and get diseases like rabies, feline AIDs and feline leukemia. Allergies can be controlled by limiting where the cats hang out in your home. Maybe don't permit them in the bedrooms. If that's difficult, try using mattress and pillow protectors.
You maybe going through a lot of food because wild animals are enjoying it too. I have 4 rescued cats, 2 males and 2 females all spayed and neutered. They are all indoor cats. They eat about 2- 3 six oz cans per day. The dry food is used more as a treat because it's not very healthy for them. Think of dry food as being like potato chips or cookies for them.

 

[abigail12]

Is it OK to feed a chicken meat to a cat?

 

[Hiitsme]

Is it OK to feed a chicken meat to a cat?
[/QUOTE
Table scraps will have spices or other things of that nature that aren't really good for your cat. If your buying raw chicken try boiling it and cutting it up for the cat. Don't let the cat have the bones. These can splinter and cause all kinds of issues.

 

[MissBritt]

Please reconsider leaving these kitties outdoors. It will considerably lengthen their lives. They can be hit by cars, eaten by larger predators and get diseases like rabies, feline AIDs and feline leukemia. Allergies can be controlled by limiting where the cats hang out in your home. Maybe don't permit them in the bedrooms. If that's difficult, try using mattress and pillow protectors.
You maybe going through a lot of food because wild animals are enjoying it too. I have 4 rescued cats, 2 males and 2 females all spayed and neutered. They are all indoor cats. They eat about 2- 3 six oz cans per day. The dry food is used more as a treat because it's not very healthy for them. Think of dry food as being like potato chips or cookies for them.

I totally 100% get your heart on this, I really do. The last time there was a cat living in the house, it necessitated $60/month Rx eye drops and that's not a trade-off we are willing or able to make. We are in a semi-rural area, only 2 neighbors in the area for traffic, but not wooded enough to have large predators. Most we've seen is armadillos. They have a kitty door into the garage where you can find 2, 3 or more of them 90% of the time, and they finish their food as soon as it is served morning and evening. They stick very close to home and get affection, regular meals, shelter from weather, soft spots to lay, toys, and freedom to explore. They have pretty good lives for former strays, my momma heart just wants to be sure they are full to the best of my ability without compromise to the needs of the humans in the house.

 

[tasha99]

Is it OK to feed a chicken meat to a cat?

Not without supplementing it. You can grind it with the bones (some, not all of the bones) and add individual additives (taurine, various vitamins, fish oil, organ meat etc--there is a recipe on catinfo.org). Or, you can buy a premix supplement. My vet is a fan of the premixes, because it's easy to get the ratio off on small batches when opening pills. Cats love chicken, but eaten as a main part of their diet without the bones or other calcium and without vitamins and taurine, it can eventually kill them from malnutrition. We are trying a premix called EZComplete Fur Cats in January to use with cooked food. I tried the recipe at catinfo.org, and one cat was okay with it, but the other got diarrhea from it. Truth is, I'm uncomfortable feeding raw to a cat who licks my face in the middle of the night, so we are doing the premix with cooked food.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Where do you get your food? We found Chewy to be quite a bit cheaper than the pet store or even Target.

 

[afan]

Where do you get your food? We found Chewy to be quite a bit cheaper than the pet store or even Target.

Not always. Amazon was always cheapest for my dogs blue buffalo dry food but now his flavor is only available through amazon fresh for 57 when I got it for 45 a few months ago. The same 30lb is 52 at chewy if I don't autoship which I won't for a few reasons. Bit frustrated since other flavors are still available through regular Amazon. Petco amd petsmart are the same as chewy. Frustrates me because my kroger chain did b1g1 on their food a couple months ago but we were barely mid bag so I didn't worry about it. Wishing I'd gotten 2 of whatever their biggest was now. We'll see if Amazon goes back to normal as I've got a few more weeka on this bag.

 

[imbatman]

@MissBritt Hooray for rescues! All of my kitties are rescues.

I have two outside kitties and two inside (because they are literally terrified). My outside kitties started on wet and dry food. I weaned them to less and less wet as they aged. I have their water and food set up high and near the back door so that other animals don't get into it. We switched all the cats to grain free (don't shoot me, haters, it's working well for us, thank you) and the outdoor girls' coats stay nice and shiny and thicken up nicely in the winter. We aren't particularly cold in the winter, but on the coldest days, I get mushy and put a heating pad under their beds (also next to the back door).

 

[Disneyfan754321]

When I was feeding the neighborhood kitties I use to buy in bulk .. the larger bags were cheaper per lb. The outside kitties did not get wet food except on special occasions
(Now that it's just my one kitty she gets better quality food )

 

[MamaBelle4]

Do you have a tractor supply near you? Their brand, 4H is actually pretty good. The ingredients are comparable to Blue Buffalo, but the cost is much closer to Purina.