Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    
    RE:1
    
    When I put down the feedings in the first note, they SHARE that one
    can in the morning and also the small can.
    
    Just wanted to clarify that.
    
    thanks

    
    I feed my neutered male cat (Fudge) and spayed female cat (Squiff)
    about the same as you do
    
    They eat the following
    
    Morning :
    
    1 std tin of (wet) cat meat
    
    2 separate small bowls of dried food are replenished daily, but often
      there it a moderate amount still remaining
    
    1 Large bowl of water refilled.
    
    Evening :
    
    Dried food topped-up
    Occasionally (on demand!) half a std tin of cat meat - this is normally
    in colder months.
    
    My cats weigh about 9lbs and 8lbs respectively, so they are 
    lightweights really.
    
    Fudge, the male cat, eats much less dried food than his
    partner, so if this is anything to go by it seems that
    if male cats do have a problem with dried food, they can
    regulate themselves accordingly.
    
    Hope this is helpful
    Graham Warnes, Warrigton UK

    Chris,
    
    The problem that you heard about is probably FUS, a bladder problem
    that all cats can get, but males have more trouble with due to their
    narrow urethral opening.  If you are concerned about Tigger having
    this problem, the best way to prevent it is to get him on a premium
    dry food.  The Iams Light or Science Diet Light would be an excellent
    choice.  9-Lives dry food is higher in magnesium and ash than the
    premium brands, and that could contribute to and FUS problem.  Your
    cats could probably due well on a diet of all dry, but I would strongly
    suggest that it be a premium dry.  Why not call up your vet and
    talk this over with him/her?  The vet probably could give you some
    suggestions.
    
    You are feeding your cats more canned food than I do, but 8 pounds
    doesn't seem like that much to me.  If the cat is rotund, then fine,
    but if he is just a solid cat, then he doesn't need to lose any
    weight.  Again, your vet is the best person to ask.
    
    Jo

    I agree - talk to your vet about whether or not you little "pudge" 
    is actually overweight.  
    
    My cats seem to enjoy the Iams light.

    1-1/2 year old Lionel gets Science Diet Light, and about 1/8
    cup of regular IAMS.  No wet food at all.  When I took him
    home in April he weighed in at about 8 pounds, and has since
    blossomed out to 11 pounds.  (He was getting all IAMS at
    first, but I was afraid he was going to get fat, thus the
    new diet.)
    
    karen

    Tubbs weighs 15 lbs and the vet during our last visit said that he
    could really stand to lose some weight.  Over the summer he seemed to
    slim down, but I know he'll pack it back on for the winter.  Tubbs eats
    dried food and an 1/4 of one package of Tender Vittles.  Being a male
    he has had blockage, only at the start of winter (he takes medication
    and is fine afterward).  When this happened it was suggested he go to a
    low ash food (IAMS or CD), at the time he was eating Friskies, or
    whatever dry you can pick up at the grocery.  He was eating a bowl or
    two a day.  The vet explained that the food that is sold at the grocery
    store is never recommended by vets or true breeders.  He called it
    "filler" food, it is equivalent to potato chips, pretzels, popcorn.  It
    wasn't satisfying his appetite.  I know the Tender Vittles aren't good
    for him, but he eats so little of it, it is really given as a treat. 
    But back to your question about male cats eating wet compared to dry,
    it really doesn't matter as long as it is the good stuff, yes a little
    more expensive, but Tubbs eats only 1/2 bowl of dry a day and that
    isn't much when that is all he is eating.  It took him a while to get
    used to the change in food.  A ten pound bag at $18.00 lasts three
    months or so.  He used to eat IAMS, but was switched to C/D because of
    the reoccuring urinary problem.  Oh oh, it is about that time of year
    again.
    
    But he's worth it.  And I kind of like him big and heavy, his name sure
    does suit him!  There shouldn't be a problem putting both cats on the
    same food.  When you give them their biggest meal give less to the one
    that needs to slim down and give his portion to the one that needs to
    fatten up.
    
    

      
      .6 has it pin-pointed correctly. What yuo have to be careful in males
    is the ash content in the food...the LOWER the ash the better. What
    happens if the ash is too high is they form bladder stones, ant eh
    urethra can get blocked, causing them to be either unable to urinate or
    making the act extremely painful. I had a male Siamese that we had to 
    put to sleep because it got so bad. Poor Rama used to sit on my lap and
    literally cry near the end, and it got so it was tearing my heart out
    to have him hurt...so we did what we had to do. I still miss this guy
    and this was over 15 years ago....
    
      I don't even feed my males dry food now, because all of them contain
    SOME ash..I coultn't go through that again...
    
    JMcD

    Even more important than Ash, is magnesium.  The ash can be within
    limits, but if the mg. is too high problems can be created.

    Are Tender Vittles considered Dry or are you talking about the hard
    dry food?
    
    Sandy

    re: 9
    
    I think tender vittles or the packet type food is considered moist.
    
    wet = canned
    moist = packets/envelopes (moist meals,tender vittles)
    dry   = hard/crunchie

    I had a serious problem with Sam (12 year old male) with his
    kidney's and at first I was told that I had to watch the ash content of
    food and NOT to give him dry food (i.e Purina Cat Chow, 9-Lives, IAM's
    etc.) at all.  I was also informed not to let him eat any fish variety
    wet or dry.
    
    Then, after he got his clean bill of health (he has put on about 3
    (healthy) pounds) the vet said that ash is not the problem but
    protein is.  He can have wet and/or dry - as long as the percent of
    protein is 12% or less.  He does not like fish - prefers beef (I
    thought beef was high in protein but what do I know...I read the labels) 
    and he will eat chicken and turkey.  He does not care for the DRY food - 
    his teeth aren't the best) and drinks plenty of water - fresh from the 
    spiggot (he also has a fresh bowl every day).
    
    My other male - Otis - prefers wet and has had no problems (except for
    a bout of vomiting that cleared up after he got off an antibiotic). 
    The vet did tell me, however, that there is something in Tender Vittles
    that is a binding agent and I always keep some on the shelf in case any
    one of them have a minor digestive problem - it works.  They do not get
    a steady diet of it, however.
     
    Tiffany is about 2 pounds overweight and will not touch wet - eats only 
    dry.  She is the insecure one of the bunch and tends to run to the 'bowl'
    when she is feeling secure (not insecure) .... believe it or not.
    She gets lots of exercise - her metabolism just might be off.
    
    Just like kids - each one is different and has their own preferences.
    
    M
    

    Isf the problem that you are trying to prevent is FUS or any of
    the related bladder problems, then ash and magnesium are the items
    to watch for in the diet.
    
    If the cat is having kidney problems, then a diet lower in protein
    will put less stress on the kidneys and may help prolong the cat's
    life.
    
    Aside from these general rules, each cat is different.  Some cats
    are so prone to FUS and blockage that they cannot eat any dry food
    at all.  But, those cats are the exception, not the rule.  Most
    FUS prone cats can eat a premium dry food and not have recurrent
    blockage problems.
    
    Comparing a 3.0 ash content on a can of wet food to a 7.0 ash content
    on a box of dry food is like comparing apples to oranges.  They
    aren't the same thing.  You would have to convert the ash in the
    canned food to a dry matter basis, then you could compare the levels
    of ash in each. 
    
    If you have any questions about your cat's diet, you should check
    with your vet.
    
    Jo

    >Comparing a 3.0 ash content on a can of wet food to a 7.0 ash content
    >on a box of dry food is like comparing apples to oranges.  They
    >aren't the same thing.  You would have to convert the ash in the
    >canned food to a dry matter basis, then you could compare the levels
    >of ash in each. 

    Most canned food is about 3/4 water (usually a little more). Let's
    suppose the can you are talking about is 75% water and 3% ash.
    Converting the wet food to the dry basis for comparison shows that
    wet food (as compared to the dry) is about 12% ash! And if you look at
    some of the store brands/generic boxes of dry cat food, you will see
    some of them report up to 10% ash!

    Dry C/D, by the way, is 5% (and it has the benefit of acidifying the
    urine so that the magnesium stays suspended rather than crystallize);
    Dry Science Diet (also by Hill's) is 5.5%, I think. Iams is comparable.

    Deb

    Sorry about the late reply -  hope you see it , haven't had time for
    notes lately.  I have a 17yr. old cat who is in excellent health (he is
    still climbing trees and wakes up at dawn each morning).  He had 3 FUS
    attacks in his early years. The vet after the last attack recommend
    Friskies Turkey & Giblets or Beef & Liver with C/D Dry food when
    necessary - as when I go away for a weekend.  After switching to this
    diet he has had no attacks in the last 12 years and seems to be in good
    shape.