feeding

generally wet cat food isn't a complete food
Which is precisely why as I said in my op I give her both wet and dry food.
I wasn't asking for advice on what to feed, just a census of opinion on whether others allow themselves to be pestered into feeding.

Hi ninathenana, generally wet cat food isn't a complete food.

Bozita (no, no shares in the company), is a complete food without cereal. Cat's shouldn't eat cereal. If a roaming cat eats a mouse at a time, it/they will only contain 1% cereal. It took hours of online research before I found Bozita. So good luck.

Pet food companies bulk their food by adding cereals and other c##p, which shouldn't form part of their diet. Was about to type that cats don't eat veg, yet, a previous cat of ours, used to nibble the tips of carrots .

There have been a few cases when cats had allergic reactions to cereal when added to kibble. Those reactions meant a trip to a vet.

Meat FOR humans, not FROM humans, though perhaps I should call round the back of the hospital and ask for some scraps to try him on. Tonsils and adenoids on Mondays, leg and toes on Tuesdays etc.

OMG - human meat?

My cat won't eat ANYTHING except Felix cat food, which I know is absolute rubbish, and a snack of Iams dry food to get him in at bedtime.
I've tried fresh human meat, he won't touch it either raw or cooked and he won't eat anything fishy.
Nobody can make a cat eat what he doesn't want to.

Tara has been on a prescription diet for years for tummy problems. The food comes wet or dry but she will not look at the wet, will only eat the dry but is very fond of it. I do not think I would be too impressed if I was given the same food every day for around 8 years. She has a bowl 24/7 I just top it up.

I do not have designated meal times for her because I have this worry that I may have an accident, hopsitalised and Tara would be starving.

Since our younger Jack Russell has learned to spring up on top of the tumble drier, where the cat likes to eat her food, I've had no probs with a fussy moggie. It's a case of eat what you get....NOW before that pesky dog appears to finish off any leftovers.

She does have a special place in the outhouse where she can curl up in peace and enjoy treats. We've put her 'igloo' on top of an old filing cabinet which is used to store junk that won't fit in a normal drawer

She's the most affectionate cat we've ever had and I love the way she waits on the work top when she hears me fumbling for the back door key and greets me with a 'high five' and a loud purr that sounds like a squeaky fan belt.

Mine have tinned food around 7.30am and again at 5.30pm.

Digby isn't that fussed about tinned food, but he does like licking the jelly. There is a bowl of biscuits available, and water of course.

However if THEY are out when I go out, it's hard luck, as we don't have a cat flap. Despite these terrible deprivations, Digby still weighs over a stone . Oliver Sprout is much "leaner" than Digby, and seems to be perfectly happy and healthy.

I feed my cats the opposite way round, wet food in the morning and Dental dry at tea time, when they pester me. They were both over weight according to the vet, so I measure the dry according to their desired weight . I used to leave a bowl-full down permanently, but now when it has been eaten I don't top up. I am pleased to say that they do look slimmer. The downside is that Saffron, my Bengal, starts bothering me as soon as it is light in the morning, about 4ish these days!

Apart from scraps of whatever, the occasional tin of tuna is all I have deviated from shop bought tin and dried cat food. I will ask local butchers if they sell meat for cats.

I would let her wait too ninathenana.

Yes soontobe, raw meat. You can buy it ready prepared for pets, even in pouches for convenience, but it's not widely stocked. Some people prepare their own but it's important to make sure it contains everything cats need. There's a lot of information on the Internet.

Fussy thing doesn't eat meat, only fish. We don't eat much fresh fish, occasional bit of smoked haddock. Have offered it to her whilst prepping. She looked at me like I was trying to poison her

Which sorts of raw food nightowl? Raw meat?
I have probably been a bit dim and not thought of anything other than shop bought food for our cats.

Raw food is the way to go, fills them up for longer and much better for their health (and teeth). They still nag but not so much.

I think the problem with commercial cat food, wet or dry, is that it's full of additives which are addictive - like junk food for humans.

They certainly know the time - ours even knows the day!
She has her croquettes all week, water and a little milk, and on Friday and Saturday she also has wet food in the evening. And she knows when it's Friday and Saturday somehow, starts crying for it etc.
No you aren't cruel Nina, it's just the way we train them.
I think that wet food is rubbish anyway.

You seem to have forgotten nina that it is dogs which have owners and cats have staff. She is just trying to remind you of that fact.
In the same vein Purdy Puss is very adept at asking for milk at bedtime.

However, because she's a cat, ninathenana, she won't eat her biscuits and will torment the life out of you until you give in and give her the wet food!