Do you feed your pets grain-free kibble?

[Bertha Venation]

I have a serious feeding problem in my house. Ten cats, and one is obese. We started her on a diet but the only way to do so is to feed the other kids the same. Just a few days later and we realize it's not working -- they're all hungry, not just O'Malley.

Someone suggested grain-free kibble as a way to get her to lose weight (because she compulsively eats kibble; that's why she's so big). And if we free-feed it the other kids won't be hungry.

Do you feed grain-free kibble? What is your pet's/pets' experience with it?

Thanks.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I do not now feed grain-free to my kitty,

but I did at one point. He had so many problems, and the vet thought it could be food allergies. (It turned out not to be allergies, but I did the grain-free.) I did not notice any difference with his hunger level though. Once my kitty got his digestive system better, he started to gain weight quickly.

I now feed diet food to him, but I only have the one cat at this point. My suggestion, if you don't like the way all the kids are reacting to this food, is to feed whatever they all like, but no free-feeding. Watch the quantity that you give to your overweight kitty (I measure exactly now and I was shocked about how much more I gave than I was supposed to give). Put food down for a set length of time, then take it back up so chubby can't eat more. You might have to feed chubby kitty in a separate room until the food is all taken back up. All the cats will get used to eating this way, although it may not happen immediately and the pickers will be hungry until they get with the new program.

[Bertha Venation]

3. Good advice, Curmudgeoness. Thanks!

[Voice for Peace]

2. I do and it's all I have ever fed them.

I switch brands once in a while but I always get
high quality food for them. I see it as an investment
in their health that will pay off in fewer problems
down the road.

I also give them usually once a day a bit of
wet food or tuna. None overeat (or if they do it
comes right back up on my floor). They've all
got beautiful healthy coats and bright eyes.

I'd have ten cats if I could afford to feed that
many..

[Bertha Venation]

4. thanks, Voice for Peace

I gave them their first grain-free kibble last night. They tore into it. We'll see if they still like it in a week...

[RavensChick]

5. It's a grain free world for my baby!

When I took my 3-yr. old Raven to the vet a while back I was told he was around 11 pounds, which for any cat at that age is not good. I was feeding him Purina One Beyond (which is now like me eating fast food every day), and that's how he was gaining weight. So, after a few minutes it was suggested that I try to have him eat grain free dry food instead. Thankfully it worked because he's now at roughly 9.5 pounds and for him, that's good.

I only feed him at least twice a day and as long as he has grain free food and plenty of water, he's good.

[DainBramaged]

6. I've had obese kitties, my vet said they are just like humans, sometime no reason

unless you feed your kitties on a schedule (twice daily) and can regulate the food in separate rooms, it's darn near impossible to get them slim. If they would just walk on a leash.....


My Picasso, a big fatty, lived to be 13 wound up with a tumor in his throat and we had to put him so sleep. He was a rescue and I rescued him extra large. He was my head butt buddy, couldn't wait for me to get home so he could jump up on my desk and give me head butts.





I also forgot my Roscoe, 18 lbs, rescued him at 7 years old, he lived to be almost NINETEEN. My sweetie has Nugget, TWENTY TWO lbs, and can look OVER the kitchen counter when he stands on his hind legs. Our vet says he is simply gigantic.

[get the red out]

7. I feed grain free kibble to my dog

She does great on it. She is a very active 3 year old dog, the vet says she is in great shape.