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I used the chart for some Rachael Ray wet and it came up 16%. I'll try the fancy feast pate classic.
Thanks for the help. I saved the chart.
I'm not familiar with the Rachel Ray product, but fed in a rotation with other, lower carb, wet foods, it wouldn't be horrible. Most cats appreciate variety.
Variety helps prevent boredom and reduces the chance of allergies or intolerances arising from having it too often, prevents that "he'll only eat this one thing" syndrome, which can be catastrophic if the "one thing" gets recalled, discontinued, or they simply change the formula of it. And speaking of recalls, if a product is recalled, the risk of the cat being affected is reduced, if it is only one in a rotation of foods that is fed.
I'm aware they have to lose slowly. Will a postal scale weigh over 20 lbs?
Yes. Mine weighs up to 75 pounds. They are less expensive than a baby scale, which is why I bought a postal scale instead. Get a cat-sized box, put it on the scale, tare it out, then put cat in the box. Most of the time I could get te weight before the cat figured out what was going on.
Here's a sample scale from Amazon. Weighs up to 65 pounds. Wow, prices have really come down. I paid around $45 for mine years ago.
Yes. Mine weighs up to 75 pounds. They are less expensive than a baby scale, which is why I bought a postal scale instead. Get a cat-sized box, put it on the scale, tare it out, then put cat in the box. Most of the time I could get te weight before the cat figured out what was going on.
Here's a sample scale from Amazon. Weighs up to 65 pounds. Wow, prices have really come down. I paid around $45 for mine years ago.
On the other hand, having to use a box and all, that's a lot of hassle, especially if the cat doesn't want to be weighed.
The baby scale is so easy. I lift my cats onto it, because they are used to it, and can make note of the weight in the split second before they jump off again, but I advised a friend to train her cat to get on it by luring with a treat, because she does give her cat treats like that. (I don't).
If using the lure method, train the cat to get on the scale by putting the treat on the scale. Set the scale somewhere the cat can't just reach and grab the treat off, or use something the cat has to lick off the surface. .After doing this a few times to ensure it goes smoothly, only use the 'trick' at weighing time.
Turn on the scale to tare, put the treat on, when the cat gets on to eat the treat, make note of the weight.
Or pick up the cat, say "weighing time!" and put the cat on the scale. If the cat needs a treat after, to acclimate to the process, use it. I never bothered treating for weighing, though I do use a special "after-incentive" for nail trims and ear drops.
Best site on the web for feline diet info. There is a whole section on weight reduction.
Step 1 - Get rid of the kibble. It is in no way species-appropriate, and actually contributes to obesity in felines..
I agree that's a great website! And I second getting rid of the kibble. We had a cat who gained 6 pounds on prescription "diet" kibble. With the help of a friend, I switched him to canned food and we slowly lost the weight over a period of a year. It wasn't easy--he was a dry food addict--but it was worth it.
A tip: you can add a little water to the canned food to make it seem like more. That worked great for us.
Instead of adding water to the food to make it feel like more, I'd suggest adding bone broth. It supplies nutrients for them, as cats in the wild eat their prey whole, including the bones and organs.
Compare the crappy ingredients from that Iams brand:
Instead of adding water to the food to make it feel like more, I'd suggest adding bone broth. It supplies nutrients for them, as cats in the wild eat their prey whole, including the bones and organs.
Compare the crappy ingredients from that Iams brand:
Really? If you let a cat loose on a farm, is it going to go for the corn first? You gotta be kidding! It's almost like junk food for cats.
Only the first ingredient is real meat and the rest is cheap filler. You want animal proteins as your first several ingredients.
Compare that to the much superior meat ingredients from a premium brand like Orijen:
Chicken, chicken liver, whole mackerel, chicken bone broth, fish bone broth, chicken heart, whole sardine, egg, taurine, salt, vitamins, etc..
They don't just include a lot of animal proteins, but they also include the whole prey and organs for complete nutrition.
No. Orijen is still kibble. It's still dry, species inappropriate, it's still processed by extremely high heat and extrusion, so the nutrition has to be added back in, and they use way too much fish besides.
It's just higher priced and they advertise themselves as the best, so people believe it. Some of their advertising really pushes the boundaries of the law, actually. It's still kibble. It's still dehydrating and difficult for a cat to digest.
Adding a little bone broth to some of the canned meals isn't a bad idea, as long as it's done in moderation, and a plain broth is used. Homemade is best, but if buying, nothing in it but a single protein broth. No salt or spices or other flavorings or ingredients.
And it does have to be used with caution. Bone broth is high in minerals, so use caution in older cats whose kidneys might be at risk, and can lead to constipation in some cats. It's very healing to the gut though. My late cat who had IBD (her digestive system was permanently damaged by a Hills "prescription" kibble for the first 6 years of her life) benefited greatly from the bone broth I made for her. I portioned it into ice cube trays, then bagged it up once frozen, so it was very easy to add to a meal (she was raw fed). By the time she was 16 though I had to cut back on the bone broth quite a lot.
I'm very highly suggest slowly switching to a grain free diet. It pays off in many ways: cats are satisfied with less food, less waste in the litter box, less smelly waste and I believe, a better behaved cat. The price point will be higher but will pay off in less vet visits and better health overall.
Fancy feast is loaded with chemicals ad carbs which are unnecessary and degrading to their health.
I love Merrick and Natural Balance packets that have veggies and gravy along with the protein source. He does get kibble: Whole Foods 365 Grain Free Salmon and Pea.
Last edited by earslikeacat; 07-24-2023 at 06:11 PM..
Reason: Typo
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