Is My Cat A Kibble Addict?

We all know how much our furry family members love their kibble! I fed kibble for years and I hate to admit that sometimes that is all I fed. However, over the years we added canned food, but my crew always chose the dry food over any wet food. Some sources say that cats can actually become kibble addicts and that was definitely true at my house. A kibble addict is one who develops a strong preference to dry food and my actually avoid all other foods as long as they have this available. Feeding kibble early on to young kittens can start this bad behavior or the many flavor enhancers used on kibble can also reinforce the behavior. Our cat Baxter actually developed stones and sludge so bad that he almost had to have a surgery that basically made him a female so the urethra would have a wider opening to pass stones and crystals that were forming in his bladder. Our vet told us too much dry food was probably the culprit. After taking all kibble away from his diet, his issues resolved and we never had them again. This is when the light bulb went off in my head and I started researching the effects of kibble in the cat diet. I was shocked it could be so bad for them. I'm not saying you can't feed kibble at all, but I believe only giving limited amounts like you would treats would be the best way to feed this type of food. Over the years I went back and forth with the kibble struggle. My cats would look for it and even beg at the food bowl and I knew exactly what they wanted.

Fast forward to now, I had returned to the kibble train but only once per day as a treat. I fed about 2 cups and all my cats had to share that amount. I know its a very small amount, but that way it was like a treat and it wouldn't turn into something they looked for all the time. I have decided this year to completely remove kibble from our feeding routine. After so many struggles with my 4 older cats, who turn 15 this year, I just had to make that decision final. We were dealing with constipation almost weekly and we had several UTI situations to go along with that. I know it was from the fact that they were choosing to eat dry instead of wet food. My cats still beg for dry but I did come up with a better solution, freeze dried raw. It gives the illusion that they are getting kibble but this is much better and healthier for them. You can even rehydrate it in water if your cat prefers.

I want to discuss why kibble is not so good for our babies. Unless you are willing to spend the money, what you are feeding probably has terrible ingredients. The way you read a pet food label is the first ingredient is what there is the most of in the food and so forth.

Lets look at Blue Buffalo. We all see those commercials about how "good" it is. 

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Peas, Tapioca Starch, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Dried Egg Product, Menhaden Fish Meal (source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids), Flaxseed (source of Omega 6 Fatty Acids), Powdered Cellulose, Natural Flavor, Pea Fiber, Dicalcium Phosphate, DL-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Direct Dehydrated Alfalfa Pellets, Potatoes, Taurine, Dried Chicory Root, Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Sulfate, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Vegetable Juice for color, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B3), Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Blueberries, Cranberries, Barley Grass, Parsley, Turmeric, Dried Kelp, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Copper Amino Acid Chelate, L-Carnitine, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), L-Lysine, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B9), Dried Yeast, Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, Dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, Dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, Dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite, Oil of Rosemary.

Its an ok food, but it doesn't contain much protein. Chicken meal, for instance, is likely to be relatively pure, because the rendering plant is usually associated with a slaughterhouse that processes only chickens. On the other end of the spectrum, is chicken/meat by product. It is the “dumping ground” of the nastiest raw ingredients. These may include heads, hoofs, tumors, diseased animals and anything in between. Never feed a product with "by products".

Now lets look at a Science Diet. All the vets recommend these because they seem to make a food to cure any condition, such as sensitive stomach, perfect weight, hairball control, oral care, urinary care and the list goes on forever. I'm not sure why these are recommended because they are all truly horrible.

Ingredients

Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Protein Meal, Powdered Cellulose, Chicken Fat, Brown Rice, Chicken Meal, Wheat Gluten, Dried Beet Pulp, Chicken Liver Flavor, Soybean Oil, Lactic Acid, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Iodized Salt, Whole Grain Oats, Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Taurine, L-Lysine, Dicalcium Phosphate, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), L-Carnitine, Mixed Tocopherols for freshness, Natural Flavors, Beta-Carotene

Although we have chicken as the first ingredient, look at the next ones, grains, corn and rice. Cats are carnivores and have zero need for these in a diet. They may actually cause allergies or stomach issues. 

Now lets look at a more expensive option, Acana.

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken Meal, Catfish Meal, Pollock Meal, Whole Red Lentils, Whole Pinto Beans, Chicken Fat, Pea Starch, Whole Green Lentils, Whole Chickpeas, Rainbow Trout, Eggs, Catfish, Pollock Oil, Natural Chicken Flavor, Chicken Heart, Lentil Fiber, Turkey Meal, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Chicken Cartilage, Turkey Cartilage, Freeze-Dried Turkey Liver, Choline Chloride, Dried Kelp, Whole Cranberries, Whole Pumpkin, Collard Greens, Carrots, Apples, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Taurine, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Biotin, Copper Proteinate, L-Carnitine, Dl-Methionine, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Chicory Root, Turmeric, Sarsaparilla Root, Althea Root, Rosehips, Juniper Berries, Citric Acid (Preservative), Rosemary Extract, Dried Lactobacillus Acidophilus Fermentation Product, Dried Bifidobacterium Animalis Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus Casei Fermentation Product.

We can see they include more proteins like chicken liver and eggs.

Now lets compare the two freeze dried raw products I use, Rawbble for cats. 

Ingredients

Chicken With Ground Bone, Salmon, Whitefish, Pumpkin, Fenugreek Seed, Coconut Flour, Coconut Oil, Salmon Oil, Selenium Yeast, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Calcium Iodate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Mixed Tocopherols (A Preservative), Rosemary Extract.

and Quest for cats

Ingredients

Ground Pork, Pork Liver, Pork Heart, Ground Pork Bone, Goat’s Milk, Flaxseed, Kelp, Taurine, Green Mussel, Inulin, Coconut Oil, Chia Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Ground Eggshell

It really doesn't take much to read labels and decide whether what you are feeding your cat is healthy or not. I do believe that a raw diet is best, but not all cats are going to eat this. Some will downright refuse. So do them a favor and read your labels. Always keep in mind that a cats diet should be high in protein and high in moisture. Kibble is not unless you buy the brands who state that on the bag, such as Acana, who advertises 90% animal ingredients or if you read the label and see all meat ingredients like in Quest.

Cat with diabetes really struggle when put on kibble diets. When dry food is available all the time, cats in particular will  visit the bowl up to 20 times a day. They are grazers. This causes swings in blood sugar and over time causes them to become insulin resistant, which is why kibble plays a major factor in feline diabetes. It has been shown that at least 70% of diabetic cats put on an all wet food diet will go into remission and essentially be “cured”, however their diabetes will return if dry food is added back to the diet. This is a shocking find. 

Lets move on to the biggest problem with kibble, DEHYDRATION! Essentially kibble is cooked at very high temperatures resulting in zero moisture content. Cats were designed to get all their moisture content from the animals they eat which means they have a low thirst drive naturally.  I always think about a cat in the wild when I am thinking about feeding my cats, like a lion or cheetah.  The desert where they are found is hot with little water around and sometimes they go for days and days without a water source. We have all seen those documentaries about the African animals always moving in search of a watering hole. This means that whatever they eat must supply water = raw meat. It seems odd to think of a cat having a low thirst drive because most love water and love to play in it, but when you think of a cat in the wild it makes sense. Also maybe your cat loves water because of the diet you are feeding it is causing dehydration. Dehydration can cause UTIs, bladder crystal and stones, constipation, and eventually kidney disease. 

We also need to be reading our labels for harmful additives and chemicals. Here are just a few to avoid:

-butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

-propyl gallate and propylene glycol

-ethoxyquin- this one has never been tested for safety and is in almost all PRESCRIPTION cat food diets!

In general, when we compare kibble to freeze dried, research shows that freeze dried actually retains most of its nutrients and enzymes, up to 95%. There are also no fillers and more meaty ingredients that your cat needs. 

This was not written to say you MUST NOT and CAN NOT feed kibble, but that you should think about what you are buying because in the long run it will affect your cats health. If you do choose to feed kibble read your labels and you should definitely be feeding a canned food along with it so your cat gets the moisture it needs!