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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

Best dry food for indoor cats?

31 replies

EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 05/08/2022 11:30

Hello

I've recently started fostering & have a neutered male who the vet thinks is about three. Because he's being fostered he has to stay inside, so I'm making sure he gets as much exercise & entertainment as possible while he's here - climbing up to reach treats, jumping & chasing when we play with his toys, etc.

I've been giving him Go-Cat for indoor cats because that's what he was on when he came here, but a friend's just told me this is linked to UTIs. What would the Litter Tray experts recommend?

OP posts:
Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 05/08/2022 14:26

Hopeful bump!

OP posts:
Sunshineshimmy · 05/08/2022 20:39

Mine loved lilys kitchen, demolished it everytime

SpittinKitten · 05/08/2022 20:41

My vet basically said anythong upu can't buy in the supermarket is a good bet.
Mine's on James Wellbeloved.

KittyCatsby · 05/08/2022 20:44

We use Royal Canin saviour exigent . It's the only dry food she will constantly eat.
She also eats wet food but very fussy with that.

Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 05/08/2022 21:01

Thank you! I’ll have a look for those in my local Pets at home at the weekend.

OP posts:
se22mother · 05/08/2022 21:02

Royal canine hairball is loved here

Beamur · 05/08/2022 21:03

My cats eat James Wellbeloved.

dementedpixie · 05/08/2022 21:04

Bozita dry and thrive dry from zooplus
My cats like them mixed. There is an indoor cat version of bozita. Mine like reindeer or lamb flavours

asparalite · 05/08/2022 21:08

My ultra fussy cat adores this:

www.canagan.co.uk/cat-food/dry-cat-food.html

Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 05/08/2022 21:12

Is grain-free best?

I had no idea cat food came in reindeer flavour!

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Beamur · 05/08/2022 21:15

Zooplus is a good website for cat food. (And cat trees )

ItsSnowJokes · 05/08/2022 21:18

Grain free dry food is a lot better. With go cat you are basically feeding him mcdobalds for every meal. It's not a good food at all. Get a high protein grain free dry food.

DeanStockwelll · 05/08/2022 22:01

My indoor male kitten has had a lot of bladder problems earlier this year, ( I posted on here and got some great advice ) I also struggle to keep weight on him because he's just a naturally skinny cat so I have to feed him what he likes his Shiba wet food and Go-Cat dry food but he's on urinary health bladder capsules call cystease which work really well for him for him.

sunsetsandsandybeaches · 06/08/2022 07:19

GoCat is really really bad for cats, especially males unfortunately.

I have three indoor cats and they're all fed Purina Urinary food as one was diagnosed with crystals last year and it's easiest to just have them all on the same diet.

Previously they were on Harringtons with no obvious issues!

Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 06/08/2022 09:07

On the bus to pets at home now - I’ll use this thread as reference when I get there!

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dementedpixie · 06/08/2022 09:11

Pets at home won't have some of the food suggested as they are online only.

I've used AVA dry from there (it's their own brand). Applaws and lily's kitchen are grain free I think

dementedpixie · 06/08/2022 09:12

P.s. Royal Canin is mostly not grain free and has less meat for a higher price than other foods

Anonaymoose · 06/08/2022 09:16

I would advise against the new fad for grain free. Grain has lots of vital nutrients for cats like Iron, thiamine, calcium, riboflavin, folate, and niacin. Grain free diets are also currently being linked to cardiomyopathy in cats.
Royal Canin and Hills are decent diets. I've also used James wellbelloved and my current cat will only eat purina, which she has been on for 10 years.
Just as important is how much you feed so you'll need to know the weight of your cat, or their ideal weight and measure food out. Obesity is somewhat of an epidemic in Britain's pets and we're seeing increasing numbers of cats with cardiac disease and diabetes.

PIITORNS · 06/08/2022 09:18

Royal Canin very popular here and the cats thrive on it, lots of different options including British short-hair and indoor; we had a republic of cats subscription but the little blighters have gone off the soft food for now so it's kibble only at present. We mainly buy the bigger Royal Canin bags online from either zooplus or pets at home. It seemed expensive at first but older cat doing very well healthwise for her age and younger one "a fine athletic specimen" according to the new vet at the practice who saw him last time so we figure it's worth it.

Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 06/08/2022 09:24

They had James Wellbeloved so I’ve got him a bag of the grain free turkey. After what everyone said about Go Cat I wanted to switch ASAP.

He has Lily’s Kitchen wet food in the mornings so that bit’s ok.

Thanks so much everyone.

OP posts:
Original poster
EmpressaurusWitchDoesntBurn · 06/08/2022 09:27

would advise against the new fad for grain free. Grain has lots of vital nutrients for cats like Iron, thiamine, calcium, riboflavin, folate, and niacin. Grain free diets are also currently being linked to cardiomyopathy in cats.

Oh no, I’ve only just seen this…

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Snog · 06/08/2022 09:37

I use Encore

Blogdog · 06/08/2022 09:46

Mine is on Purina Pro Plan - it was recommended by the shelter we adopted her from. It’s hard to get and a bit pricey though.

broadsurf · 06/08/2022 18:00

High quality wet cat food plus the occasional human treat and some high quality dry for grazing at night. But never cheap dry only. Leaving a cat alone with dry cat food all day equals cystitis. Stress is not good for UTI health.