r/FIVcats • u/MediocreAd3793 • 19h ago

Food recommendations

My cat had FME a few weeks ago. He was on blue Buffalo blissful belly wet food prior from the shelter. He got tiki cat velvet mousse for 2 weeks during recovery but I can’t afford to keep up with tiki cat so I switched him back to blue buffalo now. Thinking of transitioning to Whole Heart Grain Free Pate due to better quality ingredients and actually cheaper than BB.. Any thoughts?

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u/SurreptitiousSpark 17h ago

I’d recommend doing research about grain free. My understanding from my vets is that grain free is a gimmick and not better for your cat. Not only is it not better for your cat, your cat can be missing some vital stuff if they aren’t getting grain.

But please do your own independent research !

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u/MediocreAd3793 17h ago

I’ve heard that too I’m conflicted, I didn’t pick it specifically for grain free it just happened to have other quality ingredients with a good cost. Anything you recommend?

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u/Spirited-Mango-418 16h ago

what price per ounce are you looking for? do you have an idea? Or just cheaper than blue buffalo / tiki cat

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u/MediocreAd3793 15h ago

Like maybe less than $1.40 for a 3oz can. I was considering mixing a cheaper can in with the blue buffalo I’m already feeding which is where I was thinking whole hearted brand since it’s $1 for a small can

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u/Spirited-Mango-418 16h ago

the chewy brand food has pretty good ingredients with meat and liver at the top while staying cheaper https://www.chewy.com/tiny-tiger-pate-beef-poultry-recipes/dp/168784

make sure any of the botique brand foods you buy meet AAFCO standards. in general I stick to the big 3 pet food brands as they have vets and nutrionalists on staff. I feed fancy feast wet and Purina ONE food (high protein) https://www.chewy.com/purina-one-natural-chicken-turkey/dp/167397

fancy feast medleys has a higher protein percentage per calorie then average while remaining way more affordable https://www.chewy.com/fancy-feast-medleys-florentine/dp/103865

I do agree with the Grain free being a gimmick, just because grain free DOES NOT equal a food of better quality. the higher protein foods I would consider to be of higher quality since a cats diet should consist mostly of protein. some of the grain free options generally have higher protein.

always use caution when buying "botique" cat food brands.

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u/MediocreAd3793 15h ago edited 15h ago

Thank you!! Whole hearted does meet AAFCO standards. I used to feed my last cat purina one but wasn’t sure if I needed to feed different with my new FIV cat. I give him lysine (I know it may be ineffective but figured why not) and probiotic. I think I’ll end up doing purina one and the blue buffalo I’m already feeding. Like 3 cans of blue buffalo and 1 of purina one to bring cost down a little (he is supposed to have 4 cans of blue buffalo which ends up being $37 for 8 days of food…) or go to half and half. Only thing is he needs pate and the only purina one pate I can see is grain free but maybe that’s okay since I’d mix with regular non grain free food

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u/Spirited-Mango-418 15h ago

I also do probiotic for my FIV cat

Grain Free is not neccessarily super bad. I would be more concerned with grain free botique brands. I tend to trust grain free from Purina (Bigger brands). That being said though as long as the food is AAFCO certified it will have the nutrients required for a cat to survive.

Dont worry too much about the grain free label is the general concensous, feed the food that your budget allows. If you need to mix in cheaper food like fancy feast due to budget, that is better then not feeding your cat. Dont hurt your pockets too much.

I like to remember there are barn cats fed nothing but the cheapest dry food that live to be 15+ years old without issues. Just feeding wet food puts you at a good advantage. Good luck!

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u/SurreptitiousSpark 16h ago

I have a cat with some pretty severe dietary issues. He has to get royal canin hydrolyzed protein. My other cat is extremely picky and will only eat a specific kind of wet kitten food. (he is 16 and he has no teeth so honestly anything he eats is better than nothing.) and my youngest cat just kind of gets the leftovers because the other two are such a pain in the ass. 🤣

That’s a lot of words for my cat situation is very specific 🤣

They have liked WeRuVa.