Hi Freedom, thanks for your reply.
I'm glad it looks like most people here are going to be on the same page as me, so to speak. I didn't want to jump into conversations as a newbie sounding like some know-it-all! There are some pet forums out there that are totally all about the cute and never-mind the learning to take better care of your pets, so they won't listen to anyone elses opinions or advice.

It is a shame most vets are not schooled in nutrition.
Also a shame most don't explain exactly what declawing is when clients want it done.

I definitely noticed a difference in my cats' over all health and also my somewhat overweight one got to a better weight when I switched to scheduled, measured feedings of mostly wet food. I hope so much the DH or myself can find a job soon so I can get off the Friskies. But I must admit, the girls have been doing okay on it.

I was forced to research foods when my recently re-homed Tiger Lily was going through her cystitis issues. But changing her diet wasn't enough to keep her healthy, since the problem was stress related, and the stress was the other cats. All my research told me, and folks who'd been through the problem and shared their experiences told me, cats with urinary issues really shouldn't get dry...So when the vet suggested dry, I nearly fell off the chair but bit my tongue. My vet is wonderful for all medical issues and has a fantastic "bedside" manner.

I'm not much for controversy but if asked my opinion on de-clawing, I will give it. I will also tell folks who sound like they have no idea what de-clawing is, what it really is. Many people are totally shocked to hear it isn't simply claw removal.

I'll also share my ideas on food, even though right now since finances have me feeding Friskies mostly I kind of feel like a hypocrite suggesting people feed good quality food. I usually will use the example of "do you see lions and tigers running to a corn field to eat? read the label of what you're feeding, I bet there are at least 3 versions of corn in it." That will sometimes get people interested enough to listen to more of the knowledge of gained from research.

My Kit had loose, smelly, frequent bowel movements as a kitten. I did consult the vet and with a short course of Fagyl AND getting her and the other cats off Purina dry food and onto better quality mostly wet food diet, the bad stools stopped.