Dry food and male cats help

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Kerry Spain — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:46:21 GMT

All Hill's diets are pH balanced so you should be fine feeding dry food (apart from S/D which is more acidic for the obvious reasons)

It's not so much the food but the water intake which is the crucial point. You can feed them food which is pH balanced (C/D, RCW Urinary food) but if they are not drinking enough water then the urine will be too concentrated and the food is pointless. Encouraging your cats to drink plenty should put your mind at ease, leave glasses or jugs of water dotted around the house/ garden (my house looks like it's been used in the filming of 'Signs' haha) and also the drinking fountains and dripping taps work too.

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Catherine Raymond — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:02:33 GMT

Would go for Royal Canin over Hill's as they have S/O index in and I know it is a great food for cats. Not so sure about newHill's Vet Essentials range as not wanting to change after comparing ingredients etc...

Re: Dry food and male cats help

BengalcatRVN — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 23:27:46 GMT

Both of mine are on a mainly dry diets. Before were fed whatever was on offer, became a trainee vet nurse, switched to hills. My boy did get struvites (along with every other problem under the sun!) But my female as been healthy. I also have a water fountin, he loves it.

He has kidney disease now, and only gets wet for his medication. other than that dry all the way. He prefers dry anyway, and as long as he's happy, I'm happy!

Re: Dry food and male cats help

PHA86 — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:48:22 GMT

Never had a problem with my two 14 year old gingies, I've fed Hill's for the majority of their lives but now are onto Virbac's own brand (because it's easier to get hold of from work) and just provide plenty of water.

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Alison Daff — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 10:51:23 GMT

Hi!

All RC lifestage feline diets have the S/O index. I'd suggest Young Male dry this has S/O which is the guarantee that the diet creates an environment unfavourable to the formation of stones.

hope that helps

Ali

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Fiona Leathers — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:28:06 GMT

Dry food all the way - really loving Pro Plan Aftercare just now & water fountain for juice!!

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Phrin Vernon RVN — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:32:51 GMT

my B&W neutered boy is on dry too, although he does get a pouch or some cold sandwich meat a few times a week - mainly to drum the idea into his feline brain that coming home when i call him is a good idea! he also supplements his diet with rodents and birds

he's only 2, but had no problems so far. he is out a lot and likes to drink rotten stinking rainwater, but failing that a dripping tap will suffice.

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Felicity Caldwell — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:51:22 GMT

Hey,

I've had my boy on dried food only and Ive never had any probs with him. He gets RCW neutered cat and it is S/O index also, which should def make difference. He seems to love it - he does drink loads...but his kidneys are fine!!

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Nikki Graef — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:39:28 GMT

No hes black and white, thats great guys thanks for all your help.

I can switch him on to dry food with a clear consience, think i will get one of those fountains too and keep an eye on his drinking.

Thanks again

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:24:43 GMT

Is he a ginger boy? as they seem to be more prone than others. I have a male that happily eats dry, but we have a water fountain too to be sure he gets lots of fluids in!

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Steph Phillips — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:21:52 GMT

My male cat has ALWAYS been on dry.. I find them much better for his teeth.. like steph says, always have plenty of water!

[quote user="Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA"]Not sure about hills, but most of Royal Canin lifestage diets have an S/O index in it to prevent urinary crystals. As does ProPlan....[/quote]

Yup! :) I feed My cat 'royal canin young male' which promotes Urine dilution

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Stuart McQueen RVN MBVNA — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:48:01 GMT

Not sure about hills, but most of Royal Canin lifestage diets have an S/O index in it to prevent urinary crystals. As does ProPlan....

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:28:52 GMT

3 cats, 2 male 1 female all neutared ranging from 4 - 9 yrs old. all have been on dry hills or rcw neut cat food dry and neva (touch wood) had any probs.

Re: Dry food and male cats help

Steph Worsley — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:28:03 GMT

I think that it is fine, my male cat is 8 and has alwayd been on dry food, and I know plenty of other males who are dry only and have had no probs either, I think you just need to keep an eye on them if he seems to start having probs then add water or wet food to the diet

also always make sure there is plenty of water available gto drink.....prob use a fountain to encourage drinking.

I suppose it all depends on wether he is pre-disposed to probs or not.