[polyhymnia]

I went to our local pet health food store today to scout out options for foods for my cat. He's got FLUTD but the vet agrees that once he is down to a normal/healthy weight again we can try to wean him onto a high-quality food rather than the nasty Purina UR special diet he is on now ( I hate supporting Purina, owned by Nestle... and the food is just yucky). They do not carry Innova/EVO. I would love advice on the following foods:<br><br>
The samples I came away with are:<br><br><a href="http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/cat_wellness_dry_healthy_weight.html" target="_blank">Wellness Healthy Weight.</a> This contains no animal by products, corn or corn gluten, wheat, soy, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. I need to check with the vet re: ash and magnesium levels but I *think* it would be ok. We could also go with another Wellness product (I like <a href="http://www.omhpet.com/wellness/cat_wellness_dry_indoor_health.html" target="_blank">Indoor Health</a>) but this is the one they had samples of that would be most suitable for Tom.<br><br><a href="http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?page=1422&-session=naturesvariety:1810605A0a79b2C97ANMv213F742" target="_blank">Nature's Variety Raw Instinct</a>. Grain/potato free. Again, I need to investigate ash/magnesium levels but it should be reasonably OK.<br><br><a href="http://www.breeders-choice.com/cat_products/avodermcatkittendry.htm" target="_blank">AvoDerm Natural</a> - this does contain ground corn, corn gluten meal, ground wheat, etc -but the woman at the store sent me home with it because it's her favorite as her really picky cat will eat it. I am not sold on it but I took it anyway since she seemed really excited about it.<br><br><a href="http://www.wysong.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WOTTPWS&Product_Code=URETIC&Category_Code=FD&Product_Count=15" target="_blank">Wysong Uretic</a> - suitable for cats with urinary tract issues. It does contain ground oat groats, whey, ground wheat, wheat grass products,etc. but the company seems quite ethical in their products in general.

 

[Kitsune6]

I feed my pup the wellness brand but I just found innova evo at a different store so I may switch. My kitty LOVED the AvoDerm wet cat food. She's very picky but started making little growling happy sounds while she was eating it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
The kid at the store also said if you wanted your cat to lose weight to feed them wet food since it's less concentrated than dry and they get full much faster. My cat has always loved to go outside and she ended up being an indoor cat for the last 4 months due to a move. Her svelte figure is gone and now she's porky. We're hoping that the food plus extra exercise (she can go outside now) while help get her back into shape.

 

[QueenOfThePride]

I'd go with the Nature's Variety Raw Instinct. Grain-free is really the way to go for all cats, especially FLUTD cats. The high protein/low carb diet keeps their urine acidic and prevents crystals. It really doesn't have anything to do with magnesium or ash.

 

[polyhymnia]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>QueenOfThePride</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7988964"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I'd go with the Nature's Variety Raw Instinct. Grain-free is really the way to go for all cats, especially FLUTD cats. The high protein/low carb diet keeps their urine acidic and prevents crystals. It really doesn't have anything to do with magnesium or ash.</div>
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Thank you! I thought I remembered seeing no grains was good but now I can't find where I read it, so I thought maybe I was wrong. The magnesium/ash thing is what my vet says is the plus of the "special diet" food he's been on but I think it is not necessarily correct.<br><br>
My vet is fairly reasonable but very mainstream - he is always willing to look at info I bring in for him but he doesn't take the initiative himself, yk? He supports my search for a better food for Tomás but doesn't make any recommendations himself. Ah, well.<br><br>
I will give Tom the Nature's Variety to try. The lady at the pet store also gave me some freeze-dried chicken liver treats. He ate it but wasn't super excited by it. But, they are better than junky treats.