A while backed I figured that if I like eating from clean dishes my pets would too. So I got some cheap enamel metal bowls and use clean ones for my dog and cat.
Anybody else do this?
ETA: I’m not weird and I’m happy all your pets get clean dishes. It was weird for me growing up.
Wild felines are use to eating parasite ridden meat. Cats have been domesticated for thousands and thousands of years, lots of cats get sick and die from eating things they shouldn’t outside. You sound very well intentioned and I’m sure you love your cats. I had to learn the hard way when one of my last cats got diabetes and needed shots of insulin twice a day, along with a veterinarian specialist with whom I consulted consistently to keep him healthy and alive. I learned a lot about keeping the little fluffy friends healthy and was probably doing exactly what you are doing now. Middle of the road hard food with free feeding? You probably just keep the bowl topped up and they graze whenever? Sounds about right if you have plump little fur baby. Look, I’m not trying to be mean or win Internet points at all. I fucking LOVE cats, like for real. My two babies are my fucking world. It’s expensive, but I feed them the best grain free wet food I can find, and their treats are just freeze dried raw chicken and salmon bits. We give them a dry food very rarely when we are going to be away and miss a meal or two, if it’s longer, we have someone that’s stops by and gives them wet food. THEY LOVE the dry food, but it’s really not healthy for them, seriously, ask any vet. I want the best for all our little furry friends and something that means listening to them cry for treats for twenty minutes and not give in, because I want them as healthy as possible to be around with me for as long as possible. They deserve! Your cats deserve it! YOU DESERVE IT FRIEND!
I have asked vets several times about diet, none had any concerns about them being fed dry food, or even only dry food. They can’t free feed though because one is a fat bastard.
If I were to feed them wet food I’d have to feed them tiny quantities 10 times a day for them to not starve. Every so often I feed them an offcut of meat or fish from human food, and most of the time they flop it out of the bowl onto the floor, push it around, lick it, and then abandon it.
My boy is border getting a little heavy and he is not happy with reduced rations. But he is losing weight and it makes me proud! He’s going to the healthiest little bugger I he can be if I have anything to do with it.
And I will grant, people think I go a little extreme with it. But when my boy got diagnosed with diabetes it broke my heart, and the specialist wasn’t shy about blaming the diet I was feeding him. As well as going off on other vets that don’t warn people about diet.
Yeah, it’s sad that a vet would tell you that. It is frankly not true.
It’s a tuff habit to break, especially if it’s all they know. But believe me they will eat the ‘health food’ when it’s all that’s on offer and they are hungry, but believe me you will have grumpy cats for a few months. But like anything, once the habit sticks, it’s sticks. I mean this would only be if you were interested in making the change. The rule of thumb is about 0.8 - 1 ounce of wet for per pound of cat, per day. Got lite if you want bigger homie to lose a little weight. We feed three times a day, period. They now KNOW those time and believe me if we are late they let us know. We also do small treats twice a day and same… Cats will fight us if it’s missed lol. But outside that pattern, everyone is chill. Changing established habits are hard for everyone, especially cats, we spoil these creatures… And it shows lolol 😂
I guess I should trust you over the several professional vets I have also asked (in addition to the other persons experience with vets). I guess you’ve probably watched a documentary or something?
Do you brush your cats teeth? Wet foot is much more likely to cause buildup, cavities, and gum disease than dry food is. If you do brush their teeth, that’s great, you do you boo. It’s foolish to correct professionals without any citation, and assume you understand peoples pets diet requirements.
For me, I will have to stick with the prescription dry cat food so my cat doesn’t have to have any more surgeries to remove more bladder stones.
No one was talking to you, I said most dry food people feed their cat is garbage. Of course if you have been prescribed food for you pet you should follow their advice. You seem like an ass so I’ll just block your rather then give you a second thought.
But of course it’s not all they know. I’m not saying they only nibble at wet food out of my backside - I’m saying it because that’s what they did when I give them wet food - as kittens.
In any case, I wish you and your cats the best!