Originally Posted by feline fanatic
Originally Posted by Ramona Byrd
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This makes me ask myself just why on earth am I feeding my CATS grains? I'm going to look at their diets closer...no cats I've seen have EVER, in their lives, hunted for grains. It's lots cheaper than meats, but cats evolved eating meats.
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Wild carnvores (both feline and canine) eat their prey's stomach and stomach contents which usually contain vegetable matter and grains. So evolution does dictate a certain amount of grains in their diets. Cats use less than dogs. Your general assessment is that grains are used as fillers and cheaper is most assuredly correct. There are good premium foods available on the market that the primary ingredients are protien sources not grain sources. Read the ingredient labels and watch for known deceptive tricks like listing corn then a few ingredients down listing corn gluten. Same if they list chicken first instead of chicken meal. To get chicken in the state it is needed to make kibble by the time they are dehydrating it down it would more than likely be the 5th or 6th ingredient by content. If you can get your cat to eat them, raw chicken neck bones, as litacats mentioned, do wonders for dental care.
Actually, cats usually don't eat the stomach contents, cats are obligate carnivores. Grains can cause issues. Kibble is not a good choice of diet for a cat. Cats also need a lot of water with their food and have a low thirst drive.
My cat developed and almost died of IBD until I learned this and when she changed to a grain free wet food she recovered and lived many more years.
Consider a raw diet already mentioned but if you are uncomfortable with that (understandable) feed grain free canned food. Even the cheap stuff is better than kibble for cats.
Please take a few minutes to read this website:
http://www.catinfo.org/