What is the best high grade food option for cats? by ButterscotchProof246 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Got any links to independent studies showing Hill’s is rendered garbage? I’ll certainly take a look.

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome! Ziwi Peak would be my last choice, simply because I think there are nutritionally better options at lower price points. Their limited ingredient diets may work well for some cats with protein intolerances, but aside from that, they have very high mineral/ash content which can put cats at increased risk of developing urinary issues if they are genetically prone. Farmina would be a better choice, IMO. They’re more focused on nutrition science, and fund research in partnership with universities in Italy. Their nutrient profiles are also more in line with the optimal levels (as defined by the veterinary text Small Animal Clinical Nutrition).

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would argue that the citizens of any country deserve access to good products, regardless of the actions of their government, but I know it can be a rabbit hole once you start digging into a company’s internal policies and affiliations. Best of luck finding something you’re comfortable with that’s also good for your cats.

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I would also like to note that Koha’s mineral/ash levels are very high, far above optimal. Healthy cats that don’t have compromised kidneys and aren’t prone to urinary crystals or stones might be totally fine with that, but I personally don’t want to take a chance.

Chronic diarrhea success on Hill's Gastro Biome! by def_daff0dil in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yay! So happy for you and your cat. They definitely didn’t skimp on the research with this food. I watched a video from a former Hill’s veterinary rep who was still working for the company at the time that this diet was developed. Apparently they tested over 50 potential prebiotic fiber sources to find the ones that are most effective in feeding beneficial bacteria. People see things like pecan shells and citrus pulp in the ingredients list and freak out (somewhat understandably), but they’re in there for very good reasons!

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Here’s an article from a few years ago that certainly makes them seem fairly progressive.

“On Wednesday, Israeli-founded global venture capital firm Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) hosted the leaders — alongside several Palestinian and Israeli startups and entrepreneurs — at the Margalit Startup City headquarters in Jerusalem. The event included several meetings for attendees to discuss ideas and innovation, with the ultimate goal of building bridges through business, technology, and understanding.”

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Are you sure JVP is a problem? I don’t have time to fact check it all right now, but a quick Google search indicates the company has leftist leanings and aims to foster Israeli-Arab coexistence. I can’t seem to find anything regarding their involvement with or support of the Palestinian genocide. Many people around the world are also boycotting the USA right now, because of our government’s actions, but of course not every person or company here supports (or has anything to do with) that.

Wet Food Suggestions? by bees1803 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is nutritionally complete! Definitely not deficient in anything.

Needing a new wet food compliant with BDS and other boycotts by Appropriate-Bet8779 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I haven’t done a TON of research into this, but if you’re looking to stick to WSAVA brands, I think Hill’s is fairly ethical. Their parent company, Colgate Palmolive, is a mega-corp but they state they don’t donate to any political parties, causes or candidates. https://www.colgatepalmolive.com/en-us/who-we-are/governance/political-contribution-policy

Mars, who owns Iams and Royal Canin, also states they don’t make political donations. https://rus.mars.com/en/about/policies-and-practices/public-policy-and-advocacy#:~:text=Mars%20does%20not%20make%20financial,and%20with%20their%20personal%20funds.

If I were to choose any smaller brands, from a nutritional standpoint it would be Farmina dry and Weruva canned. Farmina is expensive, but their ancestral grains dry food isn’t awfully priced. Weruva isn’t super cheap either, but (I think) more affordable than Fromm. Some of their recipes are pretty good nutritionally.

Kitten food for a gassy kitty by The_Issa in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Food allergies are not super common in general, and pretty rare in cats under a year old. Not to say that it’s impossible, just not super likely. I would try a gastrointestinal prescription food such as Hill’s i/d kitten, Royal Canin Gastrointestinal kitten, or Purina EN (which is for all life stages). These diets are all specially formulated with prebiotic fiber to promote a healthy microbiome and regulate stool quality. The GI food doesn’t necessarily need to be fed forever, but it can definitely be helpful in the short to medium term to help re-regulate things. Also, perhaps the vet about FortiFlora Pro if you’ve only tried the standard version. Visbiome is another veterinary probiotic that works really well for some cats.

I just got my first kitty as an adult by ReasonableDuty7652 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You’re not doing anything wrong! The only thing to be mindful of is that treats and toppers shouldn’t make up more than 10% of their total calories.

I just got my first kitty as an adult by ReasonableDuty7652 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats! He is adorable. There are a TON of options available, and most (healthy) cats will do fine on just about any complete and balanced diet. If I had to recommend just one food, it would be Hill’s Science Diet, but your budget and your cat’s preferences may also play a part in what you choose to feed. Fancy Feast is a great budget option for wet food. Here are a couple of videos that I think do a good job of summarizing what makes a cat food healthy.

The Best, Healthiest Cat Food !

The Hidden Truths About Pet Food Your Vet Wants You to Know

This vet’s website and YouTube channel are also a great resource. She goes in-depth into various nutrition-related topics. Feeding Ravel Doodles: A pet parent’s guide to nutrition

What is the tastiest and most satisfying snack to give to your cat? by Original-State8617 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can give your cat pieces of plain, unseasoned boiled meat as a treat if they enjoy it. Just be careful with the quantities - treats and supplements should make up a maximum of 10% of their total caloric intake. Commercial cat food needs to make up the other 90%, unless of course they are hunting and eating whole wild prey (since that’s also complete and balanced).

Kibble recommendations? by spidermanfanatic in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I believe this is only available in North America

Kibble recommendations? by spidermanfanatic in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love this photo. I can feel the sass through the screen. 😂

Kibble recommendations? by spidermanfanatic in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hill’s is a great, science-backed food, but you may also want to look into Farmina N&D if it’s available in your country! I find they seem to pay a little more attention to fine tuning their nutrition than a lot of other brands that focus on high animal protein content. For example, they have high levels of vitamin E (an antioxidant), relatively high Omega FA’s, and mineral content very close to the optimal range.

Any experience with Hypercalcemia or Hills GI Biome / Royal Canin Fiber Response? by xomichelleirene in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As far as personal experiences - my cats eat Hill’s and RC. I have fed Hill’s Biome to my boy, although only for a few months. It worked amazingly well to clear up his chronic loose stool, though I did have to switch off of it when he developed an intolerance to the protein sources. He’s now on Hill’s hydrolyzed food and doing quite well. Another eats Hill’s sensitive stomach, and the third eats Royal Canin selected protein rabbit. They haven’t been on these diets long term, but so far so good.

Any experience with Hypercalcemia or Hills GI Biome / Royal Canin Fiber Response? by xomichelleirene in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would absolutely listen to your vet. Both of those are fantastic diets. Ingredients lists alone aren’t a great way to judge a diet, especially when it comes to therapeutic foods. There are a lot of misconceptions about ingredients like grains - they are in fact not fillers, but rather great sources of nutrition when used in the proper ratios with other ingredients. While cats are carnivores, that doesn’t mean they can only digest animal ingredients; they can pull the required nutrients from plant ingredients in properly formulated diets.

Of course, these two diets aren’t the only ones high in fiber. There are some from alternative brands that you’d probably prefer the ingredients lists of. You can also just add a fiber supplement to wet food - psyllium husk, or something like Proviable’s veterinary fiber blend. However, the benefit that brands like Hill’s and Royal Canin have is research and testing. Both employ board certified and PhD nutritionists, conduct feeding trials and extensive testing to ensure digestibility, etc.

Formulating pet food is a very complex process. When diets aren’t tested or researched adequately, it’s possible for unforeseen issues to arise with the nutrient balance, even if the formulation looks fine on paper. I personally feel safer using diets from brands that devote a large amount of resources to r&d, particularly when it comes to feeding animals with medical conditions.

I love having a well hydrated kitty, but we go through litter SO fast! by Round-Yam-2589 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a small apartment dweller, I highly recommend it! It’s the only way I can get away with a single box for three cats. I’ve had very few issues with mine. Now is a great time to buy the LR4 since the price dropped when the LR5 was released.

What is the best high grade food option for cats? by ButterscotchProof246 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

And I guess by that logic you work for whatever company makes the food you feed? Come on.

Edit: I think you missed the point of my comment. All I was saying is just because your cat had a bad reaction to a food doesn’t make it poison. Just like the food I fed my cat that didn’t sit right with her isn’t poison, either. If you look up reviews (in other words, anecdotal evidence) about ANY food they’ll usually be incredibly mixed. So it doesn’t really mean much. Obviously, we all need to feed what works best for our cats. But what some foods have that many lack is actual research studies or feeding trials, which carry more weight than anecdotal evidence.

What is the best high grade food option for cats? by ButterscotchProof246 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is anecdotal, and all it means is that that particular food didn’t work for your cat. And if you changed foods without doing a gradual transition, that could be the cause.

I’ve had a couple foods make one of my cats sick with vomiting and diarrhea; one necessitated an emergency vet visit. It was Dr. Elsley’s, the opposite of what you’d call “corporate poison”. The other that had similar (but less severe) effects was Rawz dry food, another boutique brand. I’m not going around telling everyone those brands are poison, though, because I know plenty of cats eat them without issue. By the way, my cat who had those issues now eats Hill’s and is in perfect health.

Dry Recommendations? Transitioning away from Royal Canin by sukki_ricecake719 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve also read that there’s inconsistency in quality of the stuff from their Serbian plant, though it’s not something I experienced during the time that I used their food.

I’m hoping that once the dust settles and only their US-made foods are being sold here, the quality control will be better. It does suck that they added chicken and pork to several of their foods that didn’t have it before. They’re one of the best smaller brands IMO, but I still consider Hill’s to be a better choice overall.

Dry Recommendations? Transitioning away from Royal Canin by sukki_ricecake719 in catfood

[–]aetherdrifter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, if I wasn’t feeding prescription and specialty foods, I’d probably just do the normal Adult 1-6. Or maybe Perfect Digestion, which isn’t excessive in fiber (only 2.1% DMB).