Ozzy's feeding habits

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

 

Don't worry - we have this little "debate" every now and then 

[goatboy]

Wow only been on here for a week and already I am causing agro lol

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

My Vet said this is because wet food causes more harm to the teeth

Ask him for research evidence   

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

Michelle - why would wet food be sticky?  Surely that would be easier to lick off the teeth?  Dry food shatters so the pieces get stuck between the teeth and mix with saliva.  Due to the high carb content of most dry foods that can pose a greater risk to teeth than wet food.  I read a good comparison to humans crunching pretzels 

Good point Susanne.

I can only go on my lot - the ones that only eat dry food have better teeth (no tartar or decay) than the ones that eat wet food.
My Vet said this is because wet food causes more harm to the teeth

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

Michelle - why would wet food be sticky?  Surely that would be easier to lick off the teeth?  Dry food shatters so the pieces get stuck between the teeth and mix with saliva.  Due to the high carb content of most dry foods that can pose a greater risk to teeth than wet food.  I read a good comparison to humans crunching pretzels 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I think its susanne with all the links. 

   I do have a few links but am at work now so can't access them.  Here's one.

http://www.littlebigcat.com/?action=library&act=show&item=doesdryfoodcleantheteeth

I don't believe that dry food offers any dental benefit (talking about regualr dry food here, not specific dental foods).  But I also go along with the idea that food is for nutrition and stuff like logic gel is for dental health! 

Jaffa swallows all kibble whole - including the larger dental varieties.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

The problem with wet food is that is wet and sticky and that is why it sticks to the teeth and causes decay, where as Dry food doesnt tend to do this.

[Millys Mum]

Most cats swallow kibble whole/when they do crunch it, it shatters on the tip of the tooth. Also its grain that contributes to plaque/tartar formation and most kibbles are low on the meat side of things, even the more expensive brands.

I think its susanne with all the links. 

[Hippykitty]

I think it was someone like Ela who said this; not sure though, but it was on purrs. Can't remember the reasoning behind it.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

I've read on this site that it's a myth that dry cat food cleans cats' teeth.

It isnt a Myth that cats on dry food have better teeth, its true.
However, there is also evidence that Dry food can lead to liver problems in later life. (not always)
Using a good quality food can lower this risk though

[goatboy]

thanks for all the advice, I shall be giving it a go over the next few days.
She has a cat-it water fountain so she drinks plenty of water, well she splashes it all over the kitchen floor. 

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

If she will eat both she obviously doesn't dislike wet food, but seems to prefer the dry.  Perhaps you could try going cold turkey and just not offering any dry for a while to see whether she will eat the wet on it's own when there's no alternative.  Have you tried putting wet down on it's own and just leaving it?  You don't want to let her go too long without food, esp as she's little, but if she turns her nose up at the wet I wouldn't offer her anything else immediately.  Give her a chance to realise that's all that's being offered.

But at the end of the day if she's not keen then I wouldn't worry too much.  Keep trying to give her some wet (Mosi eats wet with dry sprinkled on top - I don't think there's any harm in that so long as it's not standing around for long) and make sure she drinks plenty.

[Hippykitty]

Imo you should do everything you can to accustom your cat to wet food, as this could save you a great deal of trouble later in their lives. I've read on this site that it's a myth that dry cat food cleans cats' teeth. But dry food can create a greater chance of developing renal failure when cats get older.

However slowly you have to make the changeover, try to persevere.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Some cats simply dont like wet, but you might want to experiement with different brands - when I got Pebbles, she wouldnt' touch any wet food, I eventually got her onto it, but she would only eat expensive brands. I wouldn't recommend mixing the two though, as it stops some of the benefits of dry, such as being able to leave it down all the time. And I agree with Michelle, to make sure it is a good quality dry, I dont know what Sainsburys are like as we dont have one.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

You might find that she wont ever like wet food !
I have 4 cats like this - they will only eat Dry food, the good thing about this is that they have purrfect teeth !

If she continues to only like dry food try moving her onto a good quality compleat dry food
IE: Hills, James Wellbeloved, Purina One

[goatboy]

need some help here.
If I mix Ozzy's food dry and wet food (sainsburys paws for kittens) she will eat both, but when I seperate the two she goes head first for the dry food, but I don't like mixing the two as the dry food goes soft, and ignores the wet food.
why does she do this?
Will she start eating the wet food when she looses her milk teeth?
What ever I do she eats like a horse anyway so she isn't losing weight. She is growing buy the week.

Cheers
Stew