I just sent TopCat a Pm, but see that others have asked the same question. I do NOT like Hills dry because of the BHT, BHA, and ethoxquin that are used as perservatives. I was told to put a cat with bad allergies on their z/d, but refused when I saw that the above was in the allergy diet(z/d). Instead, Tina Peepers is eating the Royal Canin allergy diet. I have 3 kidney cats. 2 will eat the k/d canned minced(and I gag everytime I open up the can), the third stopped eating the k/d and was eating Fancy Feast. I cringed at the 12-17% protein in it. Now, Molly has decided to eat Whiskas and I am OK with the 9% protein. Molly is over 12 yrs and is failing(she gets sub q three times a week). She needs to eat or there goes the liver, and she relishes the Whiskas. The rest of the gang eat Nutro canned and are doing very well on it. I am a RN and REALLY try to give the cats the best I can, but I draw the line at the stuff that Hills put in the dry food. My vet and I have discussed this and we both agree that as long as the cats are eating and not having any adverse effects, let them eat!! I also believe(as I do with someone who is dying)in Molly's case, let her eat what she wants, she is not going to get better with the kidney disease, so she can eat what she wants. Quality of life is what I am aiming for and do not think that I have felt like a criminal giving her the food with the high protein knowing that it just might so her in faster, but by not eating and blowing her liver, she will not have a good quality of life and die much faster. IT IS NOT EASY and the cats do not make it any easier!!!
I hope I did not offend anyone...I do enjoy all the comments and try to think about the other person's feeling when I write a post. Sandra