Ragdoll Cat Forums

Okay, I was just trying to be clever with the header--ya know, so that people (like you) would be more inclined to open my post.

As a relatively new ragdoll owner (8 months), here are some questions that are either new or have never been resolved to either my or my ragdoll's satisfaction.) Actually, make that ONE question for this post...will address the "longing" part in another.

FEED: Since her arrival into my house, I have been feeding my super lovable raggie, Biscotti, Fancy Feast wet food (half in morning, half in evening) along with Fancy Feast kibble. Before I got laid off in November I was buying her the most expensive kind of Fancy Feast wet food--now, unfortunately (for her), I've had to scale back by buying her the "lower-end" FF variety (from Costco where it's super cheap).

Here's the problem. Last week, I made a BIG mistake and started feeding her human food (what can I say...I'm a frustrated non-grandmother until my girls get married and start producing some human babies for me). What she digs is turkey sandwich meat and salmon (natch). Now every time I go into the kitchen, guess who starts to cry and want the "real deal"? This is most unfortunate for several reasons: (1) she rarely ever cried before, (2) I don't always have human food to give her and (3) she won't eat her own FF food until she is desperate (as in the middle of the night when it finally dawns on her that I won't be giving her any yummy people food.)

I tried fixing this goof on my part by waiting until she finally ate her kitty food, then rewarding her with a bit of turkey or salmon. The thing is I don't know if cats are wired like dogs. A dog might "get" the fact that they wouldn't get their yummy food until they ate their not-so-yummy (comparatively) food. But a cat? I may be wasting this fine object lesson on her.

What do you all think? What should I do at this point? I'm not keen on completely erasing all people food from her diet (she does really love it) but don't know of a way to compromise.

Also, I've been thinking of changing her food anyway. She has never been wild about Fancy Feast anyway and I think it's a bit pricey--even the lower end. Plus I think I can find something healthier. However, I tried the Whole Foods brand of cat kibble (my daughter's dog LOVES their dog food...and it's cheap!) and she absolutely wouldn't touch it. Therefore it sits wasted on my kitchen shelf! So, (a) how do I find a healthy cat food she likes without wasting an entire bag of it ? Do any of you have recommendations on healthy cat food that MOST cats like? Does Petco or Petsmart take back pet food if the pet doesn't like it?

Is there another place to buy whatever cat food your recommend at a lower cost than Petco? Inquiring minds need to know!

OK, I think that what to feed my cat is big enough of a subject to not add another one to this particular post. So, I'll address the "longing" part in another post.
Please look for it, it's about a possible way to let my ragdoll outside without worrying about her running away (or getting attacked).

Thanks for any and all help!

P.S. Hope you like this photo I took of Biscotti "relying" on the Bible to get her through her day. She likes to sit on that particular book!

Ha ha is she praying for her people food to become plentifull for her. I feed mine Wellness kitten health as they are not a yr old yet. Im sure someone on here can give you some food advice, but i know that alot of people food is not good for them, use it as a treat only.

And you're wondering if she'll cry because she'll want outside after you take her?? Take a clue from the food problem!! She's a begger!!

Human food truly is not good for them ,and if you stop feeding it she will eventually get the message. If it makes it easier, close her in a room while you're eating or when she starts begging. Giving it to her any time (even after eating her regular food) is just going to perpetuate the problem.

Yes, I know Petsmart will take back food if they won't eat it - and it may be worth asking though before you actually do that. Is there a food you would like to try? Send e-mails to the manufacturers of it and tell them you'd like to try the food but you have a picky pet and could they send you a sample. You may either get a sample or a coupon for a free bag - never know until you ask.

My DIL did that to our dearly departed Sebastian and until his dying day he would hop on the counter in search of food which meant when we ate everything we had to be covered immediately or he enjoyed. It all started with one bite of Turkey on a holiday.

I do not know of any cheap food. I am one who used holistic foods and Science Diet TD for Wylee who has teeth issues and so he has to have it so they all enjoy it as a treat. Wish I could help more.

Okay, well I did some research and came up with these web sites that will tell you more than you every wanted to do about feline cat food. One lady absolutely pushes a raw meat diet (and she has good scientific data to back it up) while still condescending to SOME commercial cat foods--with reservations.

The raw meat available that you can have delivered to your door is SUPER pricey so I'm going to skip that option...at least for now. I'm going with Natural Balance which still has a lot of carbs in it, but more meat that most commercial cat food.

Anyone use this cat food?

Here is the site that will lead you to all the other sites that explore feline food to the utmost.

http://www.consumersearch.com/cat-food/n...ra-formula

Though I've never fed my boy Natural Balance, I've only heard great things about that product line. Especially if a pet has food allergies.

Well, I tried Natural Balance today and I have to say...it was practically a miracle! Biscotti loved it ... so much all it took was closing her in the bathroom (where her food is) while the food was there and within a few minutes "she licked the platter clean." ( I wanted her to know that particular food was the only option.)

Not only that, when she came into the kitchen she didn't even beg for people food. I'd say that is a ringing endorsement!

Having said that, it is expensive. It's about $1 per can and on top of that I'm supposed to feed her two cans per day. I could supplement it with Natural Balance dry food but that one so-called cat expert claims dry food should never be given to a cat. (You'll have to read her reasons on her web site...see link above which will, in turn, give you the link to her site. She also rates all the commercial cat foods.)

Not sure I can afford to be that much of a purist so I will have to buy Natural Balance Dry Food to help supplement her diet since $2 a day is quite pricey for me right now (Just got laid off).

One thing for sure...I won't go back to Fancy Feast.

(01-07-2011 12:14 AM)piperlori Wrote: [ -> ]Well, I tried Natural Balance today and I have to say...it was practically a miracle! Biscotti loved it ... so much all it took was closing her in the bathroom (where her food is) while the food was there and within a few minutes "she licked the platter clean." ( I wanted her to know that particular food was the only option.)

Not only that, when she came into the kitchen she didn't even beg for people food. I'd say that is a ringing endorsement!

Having said that, it is expensive. It's about $1 per can and on top of that I'm supposed to feed her two cans per day. I could supplement it with Natural Balance dry food but that one so-called cat expert claims dry food should never be given to a cat. (You'll have to read her reasons on her web site...see link above which will, in turn, give you the link to her site. She also rates all the commercial cat foods.)

Not sure I can afford to be that much of a purist so I will have to buy Natural Balance Dry Food to help supplement her diet since $2 a day is quite pricey for me right now (Just got laid off).

One thing for sure...I won't go back to Fancy Feast.

My two are perfectly happy and healthy with the Natural Balance Kitten formula, I free feed the dry and they split a can of wet twice a day. It may be a little more expensive but I find that in the long run, good balanced nutrition leads to a healthier kitten and less vet issues.
Our Dexter is a bit of a begger and he occasionally gets treats, but I don't reward the begging behaviour, he gets the treats when he has stayed down and quiet while we are eating. Like the dogs and Katie, he's learned in time that he only gets a treat if he doesn't make a nuisance of himself while we eat.

I think it depends a bit on what they ate as kittens at the breeders.

Both of my cats came from the same breeder (although Rose Blossom had been to a breeder prior to that for about twelve months I think) and I've continued on with what they used with no problems. They get heaps of variety.

I do use Fancy Feast usually the more expensive ones and when I've tried other brands they haven't liked them, so I just stick with Fancy Feast Royale now. I also use fresh raw packaged mince, Basa fish grilled, bbq chicken from delicatessen at Supermarket and on a special occasion grilled salmon. They also always have IAMS dried food out.

Rose Blossom will sometimes come up when I'm eating and I let her have little bits of it and she's happy. There's not a lot of stuff I eat that she likes but it was clear when I got her that she was used to sampling human food. She just has a sample here and there and she's happy.

Murphy has never wanted to eat the human food (unless I have bbq chicken and that's fair enough because thats one of their regular foods), other than that even though he sees me give Rose Blossom some food he never asks.

They both seem really content with their food, yet they don't overeat and are both at ideal weight. There's rarely any problems with runny poo. There's never smelly farts. So I'm very happy with their food regime.

I do understand though that I'm not much help in the budgeting department as I work in a well paid profession and have no dependents other than my ragbabies.

Good advice re: Natural Balance, thanks Elizabeth! After I gave that glowing "testimonial" re: Natural Balance the next day she did the exact opposite--turned up her little raggie nose at the other flavor of NB--which happened to be Duck a la Orange (kidding ...it was duck and peas though).

So, I went to Petco and decided to heck with it...I'll go for the dry food, and do what you said you do--just give her a half a can (is that 3 oz or 6 oz that you are splitting one of each day/) Also, are you using kitten formula for adults cats?

Then this Petco sales person saw I was looking confused (I wasn't sure which formula she should have) and asked if he could help me. He told me he had a 19-year-old cat who he fed this product called Blue Wilderness Holistic High Protein-Low Carb dry food. I did like the fact that it was 40% protein with NO wheat, corn or soy and very low carbs. (And the packaging is quite snazzy...having been an ad copywriter, I was impressed by that.) So, I picked up a bag (not too horribly expensive though definitely more $$ than Fancy Feast.). Later, he sheepishly (or should I say kittenishly) told me he was a rep for the company--but hey, he was so darn charming in a Santa Cruz give-peace-a chance-and-maybe-him-too sort of way, I forgave him with the knowledge that if Biscotti didn't like it, I could bring it back to Pecto for a full refund. (Or so he told me.)

Now I was going to mix only 25% of the dry food in with her old Fancy Feast dry food but she wouldn't eat it at all that way. So, I decided to put a bowl of the new food on my bed with a half a handful in the bowl and she gobbled most of it all up.

Was it the cat food itself or the fact that the bowl was on my bed that made her eat it? Or the fact my fussy little feline hadn't eaten hardly a mouthful all day and was just plain hungry?

Who knows, but clearly she is one finicky cat. I am most definitely NOT feeding her any turkey lunch meat (which has too much salt anyway) as then she will cry and whine for that in the kitchen. And if I do give her any acceptable treats I will do exactly what you said and NOT reward her crying and whining with the object of her desire--thereby reinforcing her negative behavior. Having raised two daughters, that much I do know!

So, speaking of treats, what kind of human food is acceptable? Fresh chicken given between meals or as you say, when she is not expecting it?

I would love to know!

(01-07-2011 10:36 AM)dextersmom Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-07-2011 12:14 AM)piperlori Wrote: [ -> ]Well, I tried Natural Balance today and I have to say...it was practically a miracle! Biscotti loved it ... so much all it took was closing her in the bathroom (where her food is) while the food was there and within a few minutes "she licked the platter clean." ( I wanted her to know that particular food was the only option.)

Not only that, when she came into the kitchen she didn't even beg for people food. I'd say that is a ringing endorsement!

Having said that, it is expensive. It's about $1 per can and on top of that I'm supposed to feed her two cans per day. I could supplement it with Natural Balance dry food but that one so-called cat expert claims dry food should never be given to a cat. (You'll have to read her reasons on her web site...see link above which will, in turn, give you the link to her site. She also rates all the commercial cat foods.)

Not sure I can afford to be that much of a purist so I will have to buy Natural Balance Dry Food to help supplement her diet since $2 a day is quite pricey for me right now (Just got laid off).

One thing for sure...I won't go back to Fancy Feast.

My two are perfectly happy and healthy with the Natural Balance Kitten formula, I free feed the dry and they split a can of wet twice a day. It may be a little more expensive but I find that in the long run, good balanced nutrition leads to a healthier kitten and less vet issues.
Our Dexter is a bit of a begger and he occasionally gets treats, but I don't reward the begging behaviour, he gets the treats when he has stayed down and quiet while we are eating. Like the dogs and Katie, he's learned in time that he only gets a treat if he doesn't make a nuisance of himself while we eat.