Grain Free Cat Food

[Catty1]

This is part of something I posted in reply to Kirsten's thread on Luna. Very good food info here.

My own vet is overjoyed that both my cats will eat the no-grain dry food - apparently it keeps the cat's urine at the right pH so they don't develop crystals. But ask your vet about that.

The great thing too is that on the no-grain food, my boys are leaner and more energetic - and they eat less of the food!

Here are some links that with info you can mention to your vet:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090105040119AAU2sZm

Very good info here on what to look for on a cat food label:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Cat-Food-Factors-That-Discourage-Feline-UTD&id=27939

Very good info here too:
http://www.greenlittlecat.com/?p=56

There are more sites if you Google "cat food and struvite crystals". All the sites I looked at mentioned high protein as preventing the struvite crystals. The crystals themselves are diet-related, say some.

[moosmom]

I've been feeding my cats Wilderness Blue, a premium, all natural cat food and my cats LOVE it!! MooShoo has lost weight on it (which he very well SHOULD, the little porker) and it lasts alot longer because they don't eat as much.

[smokey the elder]

No-grain is probably better for diabetic cats, too. I should see if I can get some for Moby.

[columbine]

I'm REALLY glad that it helps against struvite, because Smudge can't eat his anti-crystal food any more because he turned out to be allergic to it. He scratched and scratched until he had a huge bald spot! Now he eats Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Formula, duck & peas dry and venison & peas canned. He loves it, but definitely seems to find it more satisfying - which is good, as he's a bit overweight and I didn't need him gobbling down gratuitous carbs. It's expensive, but he eats so much less of it that it more or less seems to come out even, and it's not hard to find. I can order the canned from Pet Food Direct, including shipping, for what it would cost to buy locally, and I can just pick up the dry at Petco.

His "bald spot" is now more like a very thin velvet shawl, and he should be his old fluffmonster self just in time for the summer heat & humidity...

Love, Columbine

[Moesha]

I just switched my diabetic kitty, Morgan, to EVO grain-free. He had been diagnosed with struvite crystals and after the SD wouldn't eat his DM anymore. The vet told me to give him whatever I wanted to because his sugar level was good and we'd recheck it in May when he goes for his annual checkup. I'm hoping that this will take care of both of his health issues. He does really like the food.

[katladyd]

My Siamese gets urinary blockages and I would love it if he would eat any grain-free food or other healthy diets. I've tried Science Diet, Royal Canin, etc.... but the only urinary health dry he will eat is Purina One. But, it's been months since he's had any problems, so maybe the stuff works. What's equally important to me is the my orange guy will eat it also! I love not having to buy two different foods. They both love the Friskies Special Diet food for urinary health, as well.

[krazyaboutkatz]

All of my cats have been on Innova Evo for well over 1 year now and they're all doing great.:) Storm had blocked 2 times and had to have the PU surgery. He was then on Royal Canin Urinary S/O diet in both dry and canned. He would still have UTI's and crystals from time to time.:(

Now since he's been eating Innova Evo both canned and dry, he hasn't had any more problems.:) His blood work actually improved from last year too.:) He's 13 years old and he's still very energetic and I think he's in the best shape that he's ever been.:) Another big plus is that it costs less than his other food and all of my cats love it. They only eat about 1/2 cup of dry a day so the bag last's about one month and I have 6 cats. I can't say enough about this food. I'm glad that both my regular vet and my holistic vet approved this food for my furkids.:)

[jenluckenbach]

A slight success with grain free diet.

Biddy has urine problems. Crystals and his PH is too high.

He ate Hills c/d, then we switched to Royal Canin SO, and still his urine PH was too high, and crystals still formed.

So he takes a medicine to acidify his urine, Ammonil.......But STILL his numbers are too high.

So, 3 months ago I switched him to Innova Evo dry (he is suppose to eat wet too, but he won't eat it on a regular basis)

His urine test came back better! Still not where the vet's would like it, but I wanted you to know that this grain free food makes ME happier as it is #1` a better food and #2` helping Biddy's numbers AND #3` is actually less exensive!

One more thing we are going to begin to try to help Biddy, cranberry.

I bought capsules and will split the powder up to get the right dose and slip it into a pill pocket. Maybe this will help his PH come done to a great level.

[krazyaboutkatz]

This is wonderful news Jen.:) I hope that soon Biddy's PH will get within the normal range and hopefully his crystals will be a thing of the past.

I had noticed that my last bag of Innova Evo dry seemed to have larger kibbles than the ones before so I went to read some more info in it but I didn't find any new changes listed. I did find some very good information though and I'll post it below.


The Bottom Line
Innova Evo cat food is closer than other commercial dry cat foods in matching the nutritional quality of a raw food diet. It is very palatable and my test cats eagerly ate it. For cats without a medical intolerance for high protein (such as kidney disease), it's well worth the effort to look for Innova Evo in a feed & grain or other specialty store.

Pros
•Contains no grains
•Highest meat content of any dry food
•Prepared by a special process to preserve natural flavors and nutritional values

Cons
•Some cats cannot tolerate extremely high protein diets
•Not generally available in larger pet supply stores

Description
•Dry Weight Analysis:
•Protein: 55%
•Fat: 24%
•Fiber: 2%

Guide Review - Innova Evo Food for Cats and Kittens

Innova Evo was developed to closely mirror the nutritional requirements found in optimum raw food diets for cats. While raw food purists may argue that fruits and vegetables such as apples, potatoes, and carrots have no place in a raw diet, these ingredients supply antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, as well as dietary fiber essential to a healthy intestinal tract. The top listed ingredients in Evo are Turkey, Chicken, Chicken Meal, Herring Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat, and Egg.
With its low carbohydrate - hi protein content, Evo is an excellent choice for kittens, obese cats, as well as cats with feline diabetes. Evo has also been used successfully for treating cats with Feline IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disorder) and for helping prevent the development of urinary struvite crystals found in FLUTD. (Its targeted pH level is around 6.2 to 6.4. Results will vary for individual cats.)
While a high protein diet is presently not considered optimal for cats with kidney problems, the Natura developers are working with UC Davis & University of Illinois to explore conducting a study to find out the answer to this question.

I am satisfied that Innova Evo is an excellent and convenient alternative to a raw food diet for cats and do not hesitate to recommend it as such. It is well worth the effort to locate, and the company has a store locator on its site for that purpose.

[jenluckenbach]

OK, now here is another update.

JIM......he blockede once, from crystals.'
'
He has been eating the Innova Evo (dry) for the same amount of time as Biddy, but his urine is MUCH worse! :( Totally loaded with crystals.

He is now suppose to eat 90-100% canned food.

I suppose we'll go with the prescription foodl or possibly the EVO canned.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Jen, I'm sorry to hear about Jim.:( I know that all cats are different so hopefully feeding him canned food will help him. I've been feeding Storm both canned and dry food and he's been doing well. I don't know if he'd be doing as well if I only fed him dry though. Good luck.

[kittykatharine]

Thank you so much Catty1 for all the wonderful info. You are always so helpful and really resourceful! Thanks! :love::love::love: