Sorry to start another thread on the subject of feeding, but am confused between what I feel strongly about and my vets advice.

background, we are picking up our 2 cats in 10 days. I saw them a few days ago (they are 2 neutered sisters, both 2 in April, both housecats living in flat).

One is lively, inquisitive and sleek, correct weight for her size. The other is bigger in that she has hanging under her belly, she is semi long haired tho so is hard to see too much about her size but my impression is she carries more weight that is ideal, the owner says she has put on weight since neutering, the other hasnt. Shes a lovely sweet cat who is lazy and loves a fuss, the other more active, although both gorgeous!.

At present they have 1/2 portion each of Whiskas pouch in the morning and then dry JW throughout the day, they have cat milk each day and biscuit based cat treats.

Am, hoping due to move to house with stairs and lots of space, toys, climbing trees and people to play with that our slightly podgy lovely girl will be persuaded to be more active and naturally lose a little (she isnt huge, just a little overweight), but my main issue is diet.

From reading up and also taking on board your views on here, I decided I would continue with JW but in slowly reducing amounts until they are eating a lot less, but still give them half of what they have now, but in the mornings give half pouch of HiLife, then in evening give each some Applaws, and on other evenings give cooked chicken etc. or some raw if I can face it!

For treats Ive bought the strips of dried fish and chicken and the treats which are freeze dried prawns and chicken. Want to replace te carb based treats slowly, and also cut down on too much cat milk.

My goal is to reduce their carbohydrates as understand this isnt ideal and think will really help the tubby tabby a bit.

Problem is I was fine with this until I phoned my new vet today to make appointment to take them for checkup and discuss diet etc.

I was very much told that dry is best - for teeth and overall - I put my views over that I am more comfortable with them having a more natural diet for their species, ie a much better and higher quality of meat protein than they currently have and less carbs, I dont feel they need them, but I got a gut impression Im going to be pushed on the dry. So do I go with what I feel, bearing in mind Im dog and equine literate but new to cats? I cant help feeling 'vet knows best' as some people do with doctors! (tho not me, interestingly!)

Or do I look for a vet who is more sympathetic to my view? this was person who answered the phone, not one of the vets and maybe they themselves will be more open to my opinions, but am a bit worried am going to get strongarmed that dry is best! and am worried if I do what I feel I may be wrong and dont want to do the wrong thing by the cats.

Im having a crisis of confidence in what to do, I really want to give them a proper diet that really benefits them and only minimal dry food to be left out when Im out etc.

Please can I ask what you feel on this? sorry for such a long post!