How I Ended the Food Fights - I Got a Second Cat

[SoDesuKa]

Otis was getting really spoiled. I'd put food down for him and he'd just look up at me as if to say, I'll never eat it. I was buying premium dry food, too - because wet food would just spoil in his dish. But then he'd insist that his dry food be fresh out of the bag.

Then I got Gracie, who grew up on the other side of the tracks. She was used to eating cheap dry food, and I saw no reason to start her on anything better. Otis must have thought Gracie's food was better than his, so he started eating it too. Now there's only one dish between them, and they take turns eating from it.

What a savings! The cheap-o bags feed both cats for less money than it used to cost to feed just one. I'm hoping that Otis doesn't teach Gracie how to be fussy. But he hasn't fussed at all since Gracie got here. I couldn't be more pleased.

[Flaxbee]

1. well - glad Otis is eating, but try to mix the cheapo with the high quality stuff --

the cheap food really is not that good for them, but some of ours get stubborn, too, so I'll mix a bag of Cat Chow in with Solid Gold or California Natural (the ONLY two "good" foods the kids will eat).

The cheap food is made mostly from corn, and has a lot of dye and crap in it - bad long-term for health issues, teeth issues (and hence vet issues).

The cheap food is like Big Macs. OK once in a while, but bad as a long-term diet trend...

[SoDesuKa]

2. You Identified the Cheap Stuff

I'm impressed that you knew right away which brand I was talking about. All I said was that it was cheap, but you identified it by name. I didn't know it was mostly corn with lots of dye and other crap. But I know it now, and thanks for the advice.

[Flaxbee]

3. lol - had no idea Cat Chow was what you were using, but it's

one of the ones I'll mix in, and I'll also mix in Purina One just to change things around. We have 7 cats, and they get bored with the same thing all the time, so I have 1-2 "grocery store" brands I'll use (I think Purina One's first ingredient is NOT corn...but might be "chicken by-product" which is probably feet, beaks, non-flesh foods) and then the specialty-store stuff. I'll mix about 1/3 cheapo with 2/3 good stuff. And they gobble it down. Purina is a hardcore conservative company, so I also try to think of that when buying.

You want the cats to eat, but you also want them to be healthy long-term ---

I'm glad Otis got some company! Most cats (we have one standoffish one) like to cuddle, hang out together, etc.

[Kali]

4. some cats do fine on cheap food

but if you start seeing things like a lot of barfing, itchy skin, and especially ear and/or eye problems try the better food for a while.