Conference misery::feline_v1

    
        I give mine the canned food in the morning (1/4 can each) and then
    put a half of a cup of either IAMS or FROMM.  They are both the same,
    but FROMM is cheaper.  Hills Science diet is if your cats have had that
    bladder problem that is associated with having them fixed.
    

    Hills CD is available from your vet only as it is a prescription food
    for cats who suffer from FUS.  Hills Science Diet is available at pet
    food stores, as is IAMS.  I feed my two adult "slightly chunky" cats
    IAMS Less Active Formula and my kitten IAMS Kitten Formula.  Hoover
    gets Hills CD because he did have a bout with FUS.
    
    I started all 4 of them out as kittens with IAMS and I swear by it.  I
    did try the Hills Science Diet for about a month but I prefer the IAMS
    because the Science Diet left a kind of film in their dishes.  I assume
    there is maybe more fat in the Science Diet than in the IAMS and that's
    what this film is.
    
    I swear by IAMS.  Because it's so nutritious they eat less than they
    would commercial food.  The litterbox deposits are less and, best of
    all, the odor is negligible.  I figured out that over the course of one
    year, I fed 3 cats on $4 per week.  I just adopted the kitten so he
    doesn't figure in the equation.
    
    My vet recommended IAMS to me and I figure if it's good enough for his
    cats, it's good enough for mine.  In answer to your question as to
    which is better, Science Diet or IAMS, they're probably equally as
    good.  It would boil down to what is your, and more importantly, what
    is your cats' preference.
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Terry, Nymets, Sidney, Hoover & Mike
    

    I prefer IAMS too, I once took Sparky off IAMS and he got the blatter
    infection.  Then the vet recommended either SD or IAMS.  I have never
    tried SD and probably never will since I am very satisfied with IAMS.
    Most of my friends use IAMS too!
    
    Monica 

	My guess is that they're both high-quality foods, and that the
	most important thing is whether or not your cat likes it.
	Terry's (-.1) vet likes IAMS; our vet recommended Science Diet.
	I usually alternate between the two and the cats seem to welcome
	the variety.

	Sandy

    All my guys love their SD.  I have tried Iams and they do like
    it...but prefer SD.   Beware ...they gain weight fast and of
    course nobody likes the LITE!!
    
    Sandy
    

    My cats like both... so I compromise and give them SD canned and Iams
    dry.  But if I'm at a show I'll grab a ton of SD dry sample packages
    and mix that with the Iams and also some Max Cat which they love too. 
    I only buy Iams and Max Cat dry and SD canned... and pick up the rest
    at shows!  I usually get enough at shows to last a few months!!  (gotta
    be a sneaky spectator to do this as they limt the quantities per
    person)!
    
    Both Iams and SD are good quality foods... and as Sandy said... go easy
    cause the LITE is not on the list of purrfurred choices.
    

    All of the premium foods are good.  I have had problems with FROMMS 
    dry causing alot of gas and very stinky stool.
    
    Right now my cats get Old Mother Hubbard Canned in the morning and
    MAX CAT in the evening.  I like the MAX CAT alot, but also feed Iams.
    
    I use the OMH because it naturally produces an acidic urine which 
    helps prevent the formation of stones and other problems associated
    with FUS.  Bob has had two bouts of FUS and seems fine as long as
    he gets his OMH and I stick to a LOW ASH & LOW MAGNESIUM food.
    
    I am extreemly pleased with the condition of my cats and apparently
    the judges are too since Shadow got a BEST CAT and Dundee got a
    2nd Best cat at the last show.  :^)
    
    Nancy DC
    

    I also like the Science Diet and if I could afford it I would feed
    nothing but Hills C/D which is one of the prescription diets.  My 
    previous vet felt it was the best food on the market.
      Nancy

    
              I give my cats IAMS and they seem to love it and it is
              a little bit cheaper than S/D. 
    
              I can beleive that you only pay $15.00  for a bag of 10 lbs 
              in canada we pay $35.00 for a 10 lbs 
    
              

    I think that was 15 pounds, not 15 dollars, which would
    put the cost about the same, I believe....
    
    L

    I buy SD by the 20lb bag...and it cost about $28.50.   I have
    checked all places in our area and found this price to be about
    the average.
    
    Sandy

    Wow...thanks for all the replies.  I think I wil try the Iams.  Lisa
    has kindly offered me a sample to try.  By the way it is 15.00 pounds
    not dollars so it is about the same cost.	
    
    Thanks again and I'll keep you posted on how I get on.
    
    Sharon and boys xx

    
    If you want to try some Max Cat let me know and i"ll give you some
    samples.

    I'd like very much to try some but I don't know if it is available in
    the UK...I've never heard of it before.  Have any UK feliners heard of
    it/know where you can buy it??
    
    Sharon +D+Sxxx

    Well, Sharon, I may be able to send some to you, but that probably
    won't help if you can't buy it.  SD & Iams are both very good foods.
    

	Sharon, I have found that Tadley pet supplies - Tadley 71971 sell most
	things, try giving them a ring.
	Even if they're too far for you to travel, they may be able to give you
	the name of the suppliers, and you can ask them of the closest outlet.

	Let us know how you get on,

	Heather

	PS Whiskas now sell "cat milk" - milk for cats!!!!!!!!!!

    Hi -
    
    Poppy has a problem (ahem) with keeping her weight down. Her vet
    recommended mixing Iams regular and less active half and half, which
    we've been doing, but she still struggles with weight. He suggested
    we try all low-cal. 
    
    She really doesn't like the Iams less active much. When we mix it,
    she picks out all the regular and leaves the less active. We've 
    tried it alone, and she's not wild about it. 
    
    We got samples of Pro Plan and Max Cat Lite, and she seems to like
    both. 
    
    Does anyone have experience with or recommendations of either? 
    
    Thanks,
    
    Kate (and Poppy, who thinks the humans are imagining all of this)
    

    My crew always ate Science Diet....but I have a few cats that had
    put on a little extra weight.  When I was at a cat show I spoke
    to the Science Diet representative and he suggested to buy the
    Light.   I told him I had tried that before and my crew wouldn't
    eat it....so he gave me a helpful hint.   
    
    He suggested to buy the light...and heat it up in the Microwave
    for less then 1 minute.  By doing this...it stirs up all the oils
    and smells.   Well my cats chowed it all down....so I continuing
    doing this for about a week...and now they eat it without even
    heating it up!!    I am happy to say...my little Chloe (who's 
    belly was getting very big) has shed a few pounds!!
    
    Try it with the Iams light and see what happens.
    
     Sandy

    re: .17 
    I feed my gang Max Cat dry almost exclusively.  (FOr canned they get
    Old Mother Hubbard).  They LOVE it and are in excellent condition.
    
    re: Proplan - it my be my imagination but it seems that evertime I
    feed proplan for any extended period of time Bob (my FUS cat) has
    another bout of FUS.  So I've stopped  feeding it to my group.
      Nancy DC
    

    >re: Proplan - it my be my imagination but it seems that evertime I
    >feed proplan for any extended period of time Bob (my FUS cat) has
    >another bout of FUS.  So I've stopped  feeding it to my group.
    
    Kostas and Nikoloas experience this pheonomona with anything except
    C/D. In fact, Kostas will react in about two days. (He does seem to be
    able to tolerate his daily side order of vegtables without side effects,
    though I think that it is because the tomatoes help acidify his urine)
    
    Deb

    	We were using Max Cat lite for a while, but Kai was starting to
    look a little to thin so we switch back to regular Max Cat. Our boys
    love it. They even cut down on the can food to 1/3 a can in the am and
    pm. We went to the lite because we were told it was better for an
    altered cat. When they get a little older we'll switch again to the
    lite. 
    
    Mike

    Well, I guess this is a good place to put this note.
    
    Last weekend Pippin went into classical FUS.  She's 7 eyars old and has
    never had signs of ths problem before.  After talking with our vet and
    explained the situation that lead up to this (new carpeting, doors
    being sized and the bathroom sink backing up which needed an
    electrical rooter to get it unstuck) and much commotion, he believes
    that it was stress that sent her into this.  Almost to quote him:  It's
    like people getting stressed and breaking out in cold blisters.
    
    So she's been on medication and is doing very well - the only problem
    is finding a food that will appeal to all three.  They are turning
    their noses up at everything.   In the wet, forget the C/D, Proplan, or
    Iams Canned.  They liked one flavor of Lick your chopps, and will eat
    Expert Conditioner by Wiskas.  I'm on the West Coast and have found one
    pet supply that carries Old Mother Hubb. and am stopping off there
    tonight to pick up a can of each flavor and see how they like that.
    I'm not having any problems with dry food as they aren't too picky
    about that but do not and will not eat it exclusively.
    
    Can any body out there tell me the foods they know of that are low in
    magnesium?  I know that Friskies has two, Turkey and Gibblest and Beef
    & Liver.  I dont have time to call 800 numbers today so any response I
    get from you would be much appreciated.
    
    I've even tried zapping the food but it doesn't work.  They've been
    spoled for too long.
    
    Thaks you so much,
    
    Giudi + 3 Hard Headed Cats (soon to be skin and bone)

    About once a year Little Bit gets FUS and all three cats go on Stone
    Diet for a few weeks, since they eat out of each other's dishes.  I
    just grit my teeth and pu tup with the wails and not eating for the
    first day or two.  They do eat if you tough it out;  mine do anyway.
     

    Guidi,
    
    I have started feeding my gang Triumph, and they LOVE it.  I used to
    feed them only P/D wet and IAMS but they started to get sick of it
    because it was so bland.  Triumph is low ash AND low magnesium, and
    it is made in Canada I think.  A big can (the 14 oz, I think) is
    89 cents, but it also comes in two smaller sizes too.  I feed my four
    a can a day between them and supplement with dry P/D and IAMS kitten.
    
    Anyway, your guys may like this, as it is wet and smelly and wonderful
    and comes in assorted flavors too!
    
    Nancy

    When you say P/D are you refering to the Science Diet P/D?  That is the
    pregnancy diet and is higher in calcium and minerals for pregnant cats.
    I think it is higher in protein and fat content too.
    
    Jo

    Hi Jo,
    
    Yes, my vet had wanted me to keep my three kittens on P/D till their
    first year ended.  They came to me sorely in need of vitamins and
    good food; suffering from upper respitory problems, fleas, mites,
    conjunctivitis (sp?) and coccidia.  Two were strays, one was a feral.
    I have now added a fourth stray/feral and he seems pretty healthy.
    I have ceased the P/D wet because I could no longer afford it at
    $34 a case.  I switched to Triumph, as it is only $20 a case.  I still
    feed them the P/D dry mixed with IAMS kitten dry.  I figure at least
    they are getting the prescription diet into them some how....even if
    only a little.
    
    All are rambunctious and have shiny gorgeous coats and bright eyes.
    I think they'll be o.k.
    
    Nan

    
    So one could feed a pregnant queen Feline Growth or P/D?
    

    Yes, the P/D has slightly more calcium, fat, protein and certain
    minerals than the Feline Growth.  I would feed a pregnant queen Growth,
    at the very least, P/D if it was available.  You usually have to have
    your vet order it for you.  My vet doesn't have a lot of breeders in
    her practice, so she only orders it on an as needed basis.  It is a
    prescription food and only available from the vet.
    
    Jo