Good alternatives to Feline C/D? (eating, weight, foods, medicine)
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We have three cats and one had some bladder issues a couple of years back and the vet recommended C/D. So for the past couple of years, we have been feeding C/D and issues are gone. Woo!
But....
I admit that part of it is the price ($54 for 17lb...and all three of our cats are eating it), part is the inconvenience of needing a prescription, part is the fact that our vet told us it is fairly fatty for cat food (and our latest cat seems to have plumped up since she started eating it), and part because I've heard that Science Diet foods aren't the best choice.
Are there any good alternatives? We also feed wet food a couple of times a week (but the wet food isn't C/D, just Fancy Feast, Friskies, 9 Lives, etc)
My 16+ year old cat has been eating Feline c/d for the last 15+ years and is doing fine. He turns up his nose at anything else, even tuna. I also feed it to a couple of neighborhood cats who also prefer it to anything else. None of them seem to know they are "obligate carnivores" and can't live happily on it, but as far as I know none of them can read. I buy it at my veterinarian's office, and I have the greatest respect for his opinion. Yes, it's not cheap, but it's worth it.
And as I said before, I don't want to argue about it.
I have one cat on Hills Prescription c/d. She has FLUTD and the c/d is the only food that keeps her healthy. I hate feeding her this food, but it works for what it's meant for, keeping her crystal and pain free.
While she is not normally a finicky cat, she won't eat the canned c/d, so she gets the kibble.
All my other cats are on a high quality, mostly grain free, canned diet. I wish with all my heart this cat could be on that diet too (and so does she ) but the c/d is the only food that keeps her healthy.
Yes, many cats will gain weight on the c/d. The trick is to control portion size and make sure the cats get enough exercise. My girl is not over weight, but she would be if she was free fed this food. (I don't believe in free feeding anyway)
In the interests of clarity, the second quote above was mine, not hodgemo2's. I of course realize that a prescription is not required for Hill's Prescription Diet cat food. I hope you haven't made anyone else scratch his/her head.
Anyone capable of comprehending contents from 2 out of a total of 4 posts can see who wrote what.
Point was one person "needed" a prescription for the same c/d food.
Reminder that this is a public discussion forum. If one does not want the subject of what they write to be met with differing views, personal blogs are an option.
In the interests of clarity, the second quote above was mine, not hodgemo2's. I of course realize that a prescription is not required for Hill's Prescription Diet cat food. I hope you haven't made anyone else scratch his/her head.
A prescription is indeed required for Hill's Prescription Diets. (or Royal Canin Prescription Diets, or Purina Prescription Diets)
If you come across a store selling this food without a prescription please report it. These foods are not mean to be fed indiscriminately. They are made for specific health conditions, and as such, are only sold by a prescription written by a vet.
Hills Prescription Diets and Hills Science Diet are not the same thing. The ingredients may seem the same, but the foods are formulated differently.
Prescription Diet is by prescription only. As stated earlier, I am not thrilled with the ingredient list, but the fact remains that this food keeps my FLUTD cat healthy. Science Diet is a grocery store food, and as junky as any other.
"Prescription Diet" is technically a trademark of Hill's. It does not mean it requires a prescription in the way of some other things. I don't believe there are any laws against selling this without prescription, for instance, unlike certain medications. That said, I'm not aware of it or the Waltham/Mars or Purina equivalents (known as Veterinary Diets because of the Hill's trademark) being sold anywhere but vet offices. And even if it were (and it may be, maybe I haven't noticed or don't remember), I would agree that it shouldn't be sold or fed indiscriminately. But if they sell this at Petsmart, for example, I'm would gather there's not a process for checking prescriptions. I'm only guessing though. There would be no particular requirement for them to do so, other than an attempt at helping people avoid making stupid decisions, which stores don't normally do.
Of course, after we read the ingredients on these products some of us tend to wonder what the heck in these formulations is really supposed to help with so much corn and wheat and so little meat....
"Prescription Diet" is technically a trademark of Hill's. It does not mean it requires a prescription in the way of some other things. .
It's a gimmick, IMO. There's no drug/medicine in it to warrant what "prescription" implies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by greg42
Of course, after we read the ingredients on these products some of us tend to wonder what the heck in these formulations is really supposed to help with so much corn and wheat and so little meat....
Just reading the ingredients, one would reckon: Get creature with natural low thirst drive to drink more of the water it requires.
Here, see for yourselves. Note virtually iingredient-for-ingredient, and where iodized salt places on the lists. (I would hope that outside cats being fed this stuff are supplied sufficient water.)
OP can find much more species-appropriate diets for the $$$ they are spending, IMO. www.catinfo.org
Last edited by Pamina333; 11-13-2011 at 04:09 PM..
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) but the c/d is the only food that keeps her healthy.
