Since joining this forum, I have been interested in the food threads.
I have always had pets and have always fed them on normal food like Butchers tripe/Pal etc for the dogs, Whiskas/Felix etc for the cats with some better ones thrown in like Tesco Luxurt/Natures Menu just for variety. Lots of different branded biscuits/dried food too.

I have lost 4 of my beloved pets in the last 4 years- the dogs lived to 15 and 16, the cats to 18 and 20. So, I will continue to do what I have always done, with the huge variety of different brands changing them regularly, but must admit I have been thinking that 4% meat in stuff like Whiskas can't be right.

Well I am right, it is 4% of whatever that variety is (chicken/rabbit etc) NOT 4% meat! Then on top of the 4% rabbit etc, is other meats. The woman said they have to legally state what percent of the named meat is in the food.

Haven't got the figures for total meat content yet, Whiskas phoning me to let me know, but if it was 4% meat what would the rest be (cereal?) because my cats wouldn't eat something that wasn't really meat..the dogs would eat anything lol.

So, apparently, these brands shouldn't have the bad name they have.
Will update with the info i get.

my nans persian lived until it was 19 and was only fed on commercial tin food and had no illness prior to that???

That's good cos the lifespan of a Persian is 12 years D

This is interesting. I once had a moggie - a jellical cat called Booboo. Booboo was a little foundling, not yet weaned kitten. I only mention this so you see I have pretty much the full history of his lifetime's diet.

Booboo was weaned on ordinary baby-food mixed with milk - i knew no better cos I had never had a cat before. When he grew up, he was fed on Whiskas or Felix, plus a bit of cooked meat sometimes for a change. When Hills became more widely known, he would have some biscuits too. Booboo lived to be 16 years and nine months old. I think he was generally a happy cat but he died of a combination of things - hyperthyroidism/cardiomyopathy - he gradually withdrew into himself and was in pain so the vet was called. I also believe his kidneys and liver were failing.

I am not sure whether Booboo reached a "good age" or not - the vet thought he was very old at a mere 13 years of aged when he was still darting about in the garden like a kitten. IMHO this is a pretty average lifespan for a cat. If I could have my way, Booboo would still be here (though he would be in his twenties) - whatever age is always going to be "too short".

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Ra

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My darling Puss lived to be 19 on tinned/dried food - the only problem I had with her was her teeth. I choose to feed my dogs raw as I think its natural for them and its not necessarily about longevity of life but more health. I dont think there'll be concrete proof anywhere that one is better than the other - as always its personal choice and I feel my dogs are better on raw diet - the improvement in Bensons coat condition alone would swing it for me

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Jo, Nelly, Bhu and Molly
Some people talk alot.................and say nowt

My last cat lived to be 17, she was fed on tinned food felix and others, she was ferel when she decided to adopt the shed to have a litter , we found good homes for her kitts and she always would only eat tinned food and only ever once needed a vet to get her done.

My boyfriends cat lived till it was 21 on commercial food! But she did have a few problems on the way and i also know of several cats that developed diet related illness' too. I think the thing to remember is that yes some cats can live on a bad diet just like humans but that they shouldnt have to take the risk when there are better alternatives

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But thats the whole point I am making crofty-are the alternatives better?

Exactly, the alternatives for us are better both financially and for our cats,but my mum and lots of other people whom i know have pets that are fed on your bog standard food and live a long and forfilling life Think it's what works for you and your cat/dog..as most pet slaves not only cannot afford to give their chosen pet/s the best and healthiest of foods but haven't got the time and for every bit of internet info that states as many bad things in these foods, their are just as many that state how untrue and why the first is,suppose it's who your getting the best discount off at the time but also DNC'z Whiska's aren't gonna tell you anything different are they-especially when your consulting one of the companys representatives so-if your really that interested then just do as much research as poss,go to different seminars that argue both sides and where you may gather actual solid evidence and make your mind up,i think it's a fascinating subject and find it so interesting but at the mo for us our cats/kitts are fed on the same varied diet and are happy,confident and healthyI suppose it's like humans in a way that some can be ultra healthy in every aspect possible-and still get allsorts of pox etc and some will eat nothing but heartattacks on a plate or buttie and live to accept their 100th birthday card off the queen

yes our old moggie Rocky, lived until he was 21 yrs old and he was on whiskers, felix, sheba and go cat biscuits! he never had any health problems either!