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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat food is BLOODY expensive! What if I...

85 replies

HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 10:58

gave her proper food instead? Is there any reason why she has to have cat food?

She will only eat sheba she'd rather starve than have anything else! but they are 60p each and she gets through 4 or sometimes 5 a DAY!

I worked out I can feed her for half the price if I buy cans of value tuna and bags of frozen value chicken and fish.

But would this meet her nutritional needs?

OP posts:
mrsravelstein · 20/02/2011 11:02

i'm not sure on the nutritional question... but if it helps, my vet keeps insisting cats only need 1 pouch of food a day. i've never been able to get to less than 2, but 4 or 5 sounds excessive, though my cats would happily eat that much especially if it's sheba. the tesco cat food in pouches is the only cheapy brand mine will tolerate...

EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 20/02/2011 11:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:07

I know it soulds loads but those sheba foil things are tiny -they aren't pouches, don't know if you've seen them?) they fit in the palm of your hand - and she is very insistant. Grin She follows me round the house yelling at me!

She's even been known to take a swipe at me Shock

I've tried her on cheaper stuff but she looks at me like I just crouched down and did a shit on her plate.

OP posts:
Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:09

barf diet Grin

I'm happy to cook the food for her, stick it in when I've using the oven anyway.

I just read on cans and things that they've got veg in them. So cats need veg too? and what about calcium?

I realise I know nothing about the nutritional needs of cats!

OP posts:
mrsravelstein · 20/02/2011 11:10

i gave my mog some freshly made salmon the other day which unwell ds2 hadn't wanted to eat for supper. she stomped off in a huff. i am a cruel cat mother.

mrsravelstein · 20/02/2011 11:10

also, she wishes me to know that it is acceptable to give her tuna if i have opened the can especially for her. but if i am merely giving her some leftover bits i didn't want in my tuna sandwich, that is no good at all.

purpleknittingmum · 20/02/2011 11:13

Our cat has 2 pouches a day, one in the morning, one in the evening with biscuits for dinner

Quite often supermarkets do 2 boxes of 12 for a fiver, or if you buy bigger boxes of 24 or 48 they work out cheaper too

Our cat is also a bit funny an likes Whiskas and Felix, tried with with Aldi own brand and he only liked on flavour out of the box of 12! Didn't touch the others and starved until the next meal!

I tried cooking a proper meal once and he turned his nose up at it, rice, bits of carrots and brocolli!

Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:13

Leftovers! Shock I'm not surprised you got into trouble.
Grin

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purpleknittingmum · 20/02/2011 11:16

oops sorry for a few typos there!

mrsravelstein · 20/02/2011 11:16

i wouldn't mind, but prior to being our resident terrorist, said moggy had been living near some bins in a car park... so i don't know how she acquired such airs & graces.

Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:17

She used to like biscuits but she won't eat them any more. I think maybe her teeth aren't up to it (she's 16)

she does like eggs. loves them in fact! She mugs my youngest son for them Grin leaps up onto the table, grabs his egg and saunters off.

If it's someone's birthday, she yells at you until you give her cake! Which she doesn't eat. Hmm but you HAVE to put some on a plate for her. WTF is that about. confused]

OP posts:
Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:17

she's a cat. airs & graces is what they do! Grin

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mrsravelstein · 20/02/2011 11:20

one of my cats, sadly no longer with us, was beautifully behaved in every respect around food, other than that he used to mug us for peas, maltesers and ice cream. not all together, i hasten to add.

purpleknittingmum · 20/02/2011 11:20

Ahhh an older cat, yes might not manage biscuts, our Misty is 4 in April/May

Is IAMS any good? Or is that biscuits?

AintMissBeehiving · 20/02/2011 11:29

We had to take a firm line with ours and switched them to Opticat from Lidl. Looked a bit mournful at first but now eat it.

My dad's cat refuses to eat anything apart from prawns. I despair. But cats are very clever - she'll probably get her own back in some way Wink

SeriousWispaHabit · 20/02/2011 11:32

I must be the least tolerant cat owner in the world. My two get whichever brand of dry food is on offer. They used to protest, but they know now that I am not swayed by their sulking, crying or mass slaughter of local wildlife as protests.

DH thinks I am mean and I think he secretly gives them pouches sometimes Hmm

gemma4d · 20/02/2011 11:38

Sorry if this is daft but have you tried shopping around? My cat only eats gourmet perle which is 50p plus a tin at the supermarket, but at local feed stores I can get boxes of 12 tins from 4.10. She eats 3 or 4 a day!

maxpower · 20/02/2011 11:38

Ditto serious my cats get whatever's cheapest, be that a brand on offer or the value range at the supermarket. However, that doesn't stop them trying to con an extra meal out of DH or I depending on which one of us has fed them Hmm

Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:45

Some of you have very obliging cats Grin

My old gal will not give in! I tried. I've tried the cheap stuff, kitikat, felix, whiskas.. nope. only sheba. grrr. I tried putting the others down at every meal, she walked away. I tried leaving it there and having a 'standoff' - it went off! I was just wasting it. she went four days without food rather than eat whiskas! Shock

I can only suspect that someone, somewhere, must also be feeding her.

I do shop around, and stock up whenever I find it on special offer.

OP posts:
LoisSanger · 20/02/2011 11:47

I think that Tesco is doing 3 for 2 on catfood until today.

PaperView · 20/02/2011 11:48

DO supermarkets do their own brand foil cat food? I am sure there is another next to SHeba in Sainsbo...??

We have only had our cat a few months and already discovered she won't eat anything with gravy and won't eat at her bowl. SHe takes a mouthful and then runs to the back door with it Hmm

Original poster
HecateQueenOfWitches · 20/02/2011 11:54

oh they do their own version but she won't eat it Grin

are they, lois? bugger. can't get to supermarket today.

OP posts:
LoisSanger · 20/02/2011 12:02

I think it is only until today. Did bulk buy of IAMs earlier on this week and seem to remember it saying it was only until this weekend.

pranma · 20/02/2011 13:44

My cat likes fresh pineapple and Pringles :0
I feed Royal Canin dry food.

Baffledandbewildered · 20/02/2011 17:44

Some tuna chicken ect to supplement a cat diet will do no harm. My Siamese cats will not touch fish but love rice and Kentucky!!!!!!!!WTH 4 to 5 sachets does seem a lot what about some dried food ? Good luck oh just remembered mine also love tomatoes real or sauce