Conference misery::feline_v1

    consumer Pets in westboro 
    

I understand SPAGS carries IAMS cat food.

Many Agway stores carry IAMS.

Paul

  Is IAMS really better than most dry cat food that you get in a supermarket?

  If so, why?

  George

    
    All I know is, my 10 year old Siamese can eat it and not throw it back
    up immediately like she does with every brand of grocery store food
    I've ever tried (including canned food).  (She has a stricture of the
    esophagus.)
    
    Just that alone is enough for me to keep feeding it until I find a real
    good reason not too.  (She now weighs in at 6.5 pounds instead of 5.)

IAMS and other "quality" pet foods are made using REAL meats/grains/rice, etc.
Most commercial pet foods are made using "other" (government approved) sources
of protein....the primary one being chicken feathers.  Yep.  They are a
legal source of protein and they are cheap.  Chicken feathers, flavorings,
and supplements meet the govt. requirements, BUT they may not be really
easily digestable to many cats.  Some cats will react negatively and 
upchuck the works (my cats do) and some cats are sensitive to the food
dyes and artificial smells included in the commercial brands to make the
food appetizing to the HUMAN buying the food.  IAMS has no added dye,
and no artificial "smells".  It does have preservatives (which a note
addresses at some length - I don't know which one), but I still feed
IAMS because my cats can keep it down - my vet said the preservative
is better for the cat than rancid food.

There are foods out there that do not contain preservatives, and are
quality foods....but you won't find them in the supermarket.

  So where do you get IAMS and how much does it cost compared to other dry
foods?

  Here's another odd thing I noticed. My cats are crazy about the canned
wet 9-lives. In fact, they like it better than fresh chicken or cheese.
If I give them a scrap of chicken, turkey, etc they sniff it and may or
may not eat it. But wet 9-lives, they practicly jump in with their front
feet. What's in that stuff that attracts them like that?

  One other somewhat funny note. One of my cats likes junk food. I was
supprised at this (being a beginner with indoors cats). She'll eat pop-corn,
cookies, cake, etc. She won't eat much but more than just a nibble. Maybe
I'm a bit over protective but I don't let her eat sweets very often. Most
often it happens when we bring something sweet home in a bag and she gets
into it before we get a chance to put it away.

  George

    re: .-1
    Most of the commercial "wet" foods, like 9-lives, add things like fish
    oil to the food -- this creates an incredible odor that the cats go
    crazy for.  Scraps of "people" food just don't have that kind of aroma.
    
    Thor is our "junk-food", eat-anything cat.  He'll eat alfalfa sprouts
    and carrots and other veggies (peas are particularly favored, as 
    *they roll*!)  But he truly *loves* popcorn!  Of course, he feels that
    he has to kill it first.  He'll take a piece, and begin batting it
    around on the floor with his paws, making chirping sounds, until, in
    his usual clumsy manner, he manages to whack it too hard and smash it.
    His "oops, its dead" chirp is followed by contented munching of the
    pieces and a search for another kernel...

re: .-2

"junk food" is probably no worse for a cat than a human EXCEPT for anything
with chocolate or caffine in it....both can cause severe illness and even
death....so, keep these items completely away from kitty munchers.

Of course, any junk food is probably loaded with fat/salt/sugar so we
know it's not good for us OR the cats....8^}

			D-who-hates-plain-unsalted-popcorn

    Hi!  Thought I'd let everyone know that I have been using Perform
    Dry Cat and Dog Food for about two months now.  I really have seen
    an improvement in Oliver's coat.  His fur is really silky and it
    seems as thought his dry skin problems have just about disappeared.
    In addition, he's seems to be livelier.  I love to watch him play
    "can you catch me".  He actully looks like a hopping rabbit but
    with a big fluffy tail up in the air.  What a doll baby.  I'm still
    feeding him canned food, but leave him the dry Perform for free
    feeding.
    
    I hadn't mentioned Oliver's best friend before - Geronimo.  He's
    my 12 year old Collie who loves to groom Oliver.  He was having
    dietary problems and has been living on rice, hamburger, pasta and
    similar foods.  I've added about a cup or two of canine Perform
    to his food each day, plus the addition of a few vitamins and he
    is acting at least a few years younger.  His breath has improved
    - poor guy had bad breath, but Oliver didn't seem to mind - his
    coat is beautiful, etc., etc.
    
    Happiness is seeing your animals happy and well.  I love this file.
    
    Thanks all.
    
    Flo & Oliver + Geronimo

    How do you buy Perfrom Dry Cat Food?  Is it usually at animal
    feed places or do you have order it?  I tried to find this once
    here in San Jose and had no luck.  Does it have ethoxoquin in it?
    
    Thanks, 
    
    Jill
    

    Hi Jill,
    
    The only way to order Perform is to order by Phone.  Call: 800-828-3500
    
    It doesn't have Ethoxyquin.  If you give them my id # 9463810 they will
    send you a free bag with your first order.  
    
    They have it in both dry and canned, for cats or kittens.  With
    shipping, it runs just a little less than Iams in price.
    
    cin
    

    Gee, I think the number is:
    
    800-858-3500
    
    E.

    Thanks.  I'm going to give them a call this coming week.  
    
    Jill

    Yup, your right, Elaine....I always screw that up!!!!
    
    cin
    

    I've been feeding my crew Perform dry for a while now, but the vet said
    I was to feed Trouble only canned low ash food as we think she has a
    urinary tract infection.  My question, Perform lists 6% ash for their
    dry food.  Is this low or high for dry food?  What the vet wants is 3%
    or lower for canned and I know the ratio is different for dry.  
    
    Thanks for any help,
    
    Bernice
    Mother_of_Trouble_Becky_&_Velcro

    Perform dry is specially formulated to keep the urine acidified, which
    should help prevent FUS.  It's low in both  magnesium and phosphorum,
    which I believe are the important minerals to watch.  A food can be low
    in ash and still have high magnesium or phosphorus.  
    
    Perform also has a few canned varieties.
    
    cin