Anyone try Royal Canin Cat or Dog foods? They have breed specific formula

[bettyellen]

food for a few types of cats: Siamese. Persian, and Maine Coons, as well as for many different breeds of dogs. They've only been around for a few years, but seem to be pretty popular in europe, specifically with breeders. Here is their site:

http://www.royalcanin.us/

There looks to be at least 50 different formulas for dogs, and almost as many for cats.
Someone with a Cornish Rex highly recommended a specific formula (Special 33) to help restore as much as possible my crexs' blown coats. A lot of people swear by brewer's yeast and Omegas 3+6 (which this has) as well as garlic. I'm just wondering if it's not too fatty (22% )to be wise to give a cat that is prone to overeating already. At the same time, I was thinking of a multi-cat or weight control formula (of course only one of my two eats to excess- is this always the way? )There's more info here, but I've listed the ingredients.

http://www.feline-nutrition.com/special.htm

Ingredients
Chicken meal, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract and citric acid), rice, corn gluten meal, corn, chicken, natural chicken flavor, wheat gluten, beet pulp (sugar removed), dried brewers yeast, salmon oil, dried egg powder, soya oil, pea fiber, fructo-oligosaccharides, potassium chloride, calcium sulfate, sodium silico aluminate, DL-methionine, choline chloride, L-lysine, sodium chloride, sodium tripolyphosphate, taurine, Vitamins , Trace Minerals .


Anybody who's tried either the cat or dog formulas want to weigh in with their experiences?
Anyone used another brand of super premium dry food that's proven to improve their coat? Anyone have good experiences with a SP dry weight control or multi cat formula? What about brewer's yeast or garlic supplements?

Pls note: I'm not interested in another lecture about raw or canned food here, so please move on, hit ignore thread or start your own where that debate might be appreciated. That is not the subject of this thread, I'd like to stay on topic and avoid getting locked. Thanks in advance for your cooperation, and for keeping it friendly!

[livetohike]

1. I have used Royal Canin for my two dogs

I switch dry dog food on them from time to time. I am using dry Nutro Natural Recipe now (for skin and coat) and their fur is really shiny and soft. I have two mixed breed dogs. One is mostly Catahoula Leopard and her coat is short and flat. The other is an ACD mix with longer fur.

I had success with the Royal Canin Adult dry food. Maybe it's time to switch back now :-).

[bettyellen]

2. wow, nutro gives my gals the mega farts.. and we are indoor, with poor air

circulation. and this was the coldest week of the year. i'm telling you, i cringe whenever i see a bag of that stuff! LOL. that was hard to live with!
tks for the feedback, hiker! i'll have to look up those breeds, wow.
i can't find alot on the web about it, and you know, you go to the site, of course you are going to see biased testimonials, so i figured i'd ask.
:)

[livetohike]

3. I've read good things about Royal Canin - there may be a thread

here somewhere on dry pet food. Sorry I don't have time to search right now. Just taking a break from painting walls :-).

[Jo March]

4. I haven't heard about Royal Canin

I'll do some research on it. I have to believe that there are good dry foods out there.

[bettyellen]

10. i really have to slow down my Caindy with dry kibble.

all wet food seems to be a problem because of her speed eating. this pic is deceptive because she's quite a bit bigger than Sweet Pea, the choc/ white, but it doesn't show here because the perspective is weird. Caindy has a Tom's body, and Sweet Pea is a bit runty.
And also this is before i got them from the rescue, i don't keep them in a scary Silence of the Lambs type basement. ;)
Yeah, I need to get a camera, their coats have come in quite a bit since then.

[bettyellen]

13. why thanks, Arnheim. let me know what you find out!

i think it's hard to find much concrete out there on these newer brands.
because you're not going to find long term studies, right? i was encouraged to see breeders were enthusiastic about the brand. it seems to me that good results seen in a large group would be a pretty good indicator something is working. sometimes a single cat will yield flukey results, you know, so anecdotal evidence is tough to judge sometimes.
i have heard that #33 is their most popular special blend. it's supposed to be gopod for finicky and stomache sick cats, too.
tks!

[MaggieSwanson]

5. I give my cats Royan Canin SO

Available by prescription only.

My little orange tabby boy is prone to urinary infections.

I supplement with high-quality moist.

My experience with Royal Canin is that both cats love it, their coats are glossy, and my newest adoptee (5 y/o British Blue) is dropping his flabby Purina-stuffed belly and is so much healthier & more active for the change in diet.

The afore-mentioned little orange tabby has been fed higher end dry since he came to live with us; Blue Buffalo was unpopular with him, Innova Evo was too rich for his tummy (although I would like to give that one another shot), and he turns up his nose at PetGuard.

The breed-specific idea is an interesting one - I think you should give it a shot. We've had nothing but good from Royal Canin in my household.

-Maggie

[bettyellen]

8. that's interesting, my Caindy eats so fast that the Evo is hard on her

tummy too. I'd have to dole it out a teaspoon or two at a time for her to keep it down. i don't think she chews unless she is forced to, she seems to swallow the wet food whole.

[Lorien]

6. I was feeding my Maine Coon the Maine Coon formula

until I learned that corn products are linked to obesity and diabetes in cats. Now he gets Prairie Nature's Variety and Innova Evo.

[bettyellen]

7. How was she doing on the Coon formula?

Did she gain weight while on it? Did she seem healthy? or were there other problems you noted that caused you to read and look for different food?
Do you think this breed thing is gimmicky or is there any validity to it? I'm curious about that part, because
with my two girls, although they are both Cornish Rex, are very different breed/body types. One is a petite Siamesesque finicky sort, and the other a big horsey smoked torti who eats twice as fast as she should. I don't know if I'm going to find something that works for both.

[Lorien]

9. He liked it but he sure was using the litter box a lot

I think it was all the fillers in the food; makes for a lot of extra waste to clean up! now I only feed him grain free foods like Innova evo, Prairie Nature's variety and a new one called Serengeti by Timber Wolf Organics. My vet says that he's in top form!

[bettyellen]

11. what an amazing picture, Lorien. just gorgeous!

i'm ashamed i don't have any new pics scanned or anywhere but my phone and i'm posting that same old sad one that the rescue sent me!
yeah, i hear there's less waste with the all meat diet, but it's good to hear the worst of it with Canin was big poops. that i can cope with.
with all meat i'm worried about the portions being so much smaller though because Cornish Rex want to eat alot, their constant appetite is a breed trait. if they were absorbing everything i fed them, my god they'd be humoungous. i'm not sure they could process all the extra protein either. and i'm not sure how they'd be on even smaller portions. the wet ivo was a nightmare of barfing because Caindy swallows it whole and regurgitates it in the blink of an eye. i can't remember if i tried the dry, i have to look at my notes. several types produced some really nasty fart smells, LOL. i'm not concerned about a little veggie roughage in their diet, they don't seem to have any grain allergies, and as far as i know the jury's still out on the all meat theory. in the long run, i think it's a good idea to switch things up diet wise, as well.
i think with Canin it was the extra nutrients, the digestive flora stuff (like yogurt has) and brewer's yeast and both Omega 3 and 6 and other vitamins that were supposed to make it so good compared to other drys. the number 33 is a very popular formula within their range for some reason. it's supposed to be for sensitive stomachs, but i hear it's great for their skin and coats. i guess we'll see!
tks for the feedback!

[Lorien]

12. Thanks! Oberon is only three years old. I doubt he would make it to 15 on

Royal Canin. Maine Coons very often have a problem with obesity and diabetes, and the corn gluten and carbs would definitely be a factor in triggering those conditions (I'm hypoglycemic and I'm not permitted to eat anything with corn gluten in it).So far he's remaining fit and trim- at 19 pounds, lol!

Just think of what a wild feline eats; the only grains and veg they get come from the contents of their prey's stomach, which is a small portion of what they would actually be consuming daily (Google "obligate carnivore diet"). My second concern is the "pet quality" ingredients. If it isn't USDA then it's something the FDA deems unfit for human consumption, and that makes me uncomfortable. Royal canin is no doubt better than the big American pet food producers (making profits from food industry waste products), but I'd still rather feed my furkids something that's safe for me to eat.

If you are really interested in extra nutrients and digestive flora stuff, then I'd suggest checking out Prairie Nature's variety freeze dried raw Turkey and chicken diet (my cats are obsessed with it, and it's very easy on the tummy). Here's a list of their ingredients:

# Essential enzymes, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and probiotics are destroyed by prolonged temperatures above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. By feeding your pet a raw food diet you are helping to ensure that your pet receives the nutrients and enzymes that he needs to achieve optimum health.

# Prairie Chicken & Turkey Freeze Dried Raw food contains unique, species-appropriate ingredients.

At Nature of the Pet we believe that feeding your pet a raw food diet , as nature intended, is the best thing you can do for your pet's health and longevity.



Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Ground Chicken Bone, Ground Turkey Bone, Apples, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Ground Flax Seeds, Chicken Eggs, Montmorillonite, Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Cold Pressed Olive Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Persimmons, Blueberries, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Garlic, Alfalfa Sprouts, Barley Sprouts, Millet Sprouts, Quinoa Sprouts, Wheat Sprouts, Inulin, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.

(the Taurine comes from the liver and heart, btw).

[bettyellen]

14. i had heard about this freeze dried 95% protein stuff, it's pretty expen-

sive from what i hear, but much safer than the frozen raw. you have to really have a very dependable supply chain to do raw safely.
i still just don't buy all the 100% raw theories, if they want a cat to eat like in nature, why not mice and little birds? lamb or beef and turkey are not what cats naturally eat either. it's only situationally intuitive, so to speak. but i don't think we humans would be any healthier going back to hunter gathering either. do cats actually live longer in the wild, i wonder. many years ago, my girl was on some high protein all chicken natural stuff, and people blamed her kidney failure on that- too stressful on the kidneys. i was advised to put her on a low protein diet, and she thrived. yet all these raw advocates would tell me that's poison for a cat. i just don't trust the judgement of people who make sweeping blanket statements like that. for the most part, they are basing it on anecdotal stuff and theory. i'd feel better if there were good modern studies to back up some of the claims.
anyway, it looks like a good company, Lorien, thanks. i might try their kibble and medallions as treats and see if they don't get all farty on it. i'm going to have to find out if Beeno is okay for kitties. i know that much, too much veg and fruits and they stink up the place pretty badly.
my neighbors even complained about it.
i appreciate the info, and the lovely cat pics. thx again!

[Lorien]

15. Well, actually yes, they do seem to live much longer

I was doing pet adoptions from out of a natural pet food store last year. I met many of their clients who would come up to me, cuddle one of my kittens, and say "oh, I'd love to take her home-but I don't think my 26 year old calico would be too happy about it". I met DOZENS of people with pets in their 20s who shopped there, and most were buying the raw frozen diets. My cats wouldn't touch the stuff, but they loved the freeze dried version (chicken and turkey-not beef or lamb). The package holds about 37-40 medallions, and each is equal to one tin of food. Puck, who won't eat anything else these days, eats 1-1 1/2 every day. The package is about $25, but per serving it's not too dear.

I find that I'm much much healthier eating only organic, unprocessed foods too. You may think that's excessive or just plain bullshit (you wouldn't be the first) but after a lifetime of battling depression, ADD, fibromyaligia, arthritis at the age of 16, and chronic fatigue I finally started following my new doctor's advice to the letter and stopped consuming diet soda, sugar and all other sweeteners, white flour, processed foods, fried foods, fruit juice (I still cheat a little there) and cut back on dairy products. Man, it ain't easy, but damned if nearly every condition hasn't improved 80-90%! I was on the verge of being permanently unemployed because I could hardly function, and now I'm capable of working ten hour days again. And I had tried every medication out there; most worked for a while then stopped, others had intolerable side effects. I'm now a true believer in the idea of "food as medicine". Took me 40 years to figure it out, but I guess better late that never (still wish I could eat chocolate cake though, dammit). I know that such a diet wouldn't be right for everyone, but it sure has worked for me.

Oh, and one more case in point; my old cat Miro (the tuxedo on the far right of my sig line). Three years ago he was eating Iams, Eukanuba, and science diet. He weighed 24 pounds -27 when he was eating Fancy Feast several years before that- and had a tough time walking, puked daily, was one big gas bag (could clear a freaking room!) and often had diarrhea. My cat sitter was the one who convinced me to try the human grade stuff with him after I spent $7,000 trying to save my beloved cat Peewee from kidney failure, cardiomyopathy, and hyperthyroid. Peewee died despite my great efforts. So I listened to Jackie and put Miro on the foods she suggested. Today Miro is a frisky, playful 11 pound cat at the age of 17. He's often the one to start the morning chase with Puck and Oberon, lol!

On edit: just checked the bag; crude protein: 40%. Still higher than all the commercial brands out there, but not as much protein as say, a mouse. ;-)

[bettyellen]

17. okay, well that's much better anecdotal than i've heard before.

and your own story is inspiring, tks for sharing that. wow. I'm so glad you found an end to your own problems through diet. what can you eat? beans/ meat/ veggies? and some extra dark chocolate for the antioxidants i hope?
but holy shit, Lorien, 27 pounds!! was Miro eating everybody else's food? is he now just satified with eating a lot less? does he eat them dry or with water added? that's incredible however it happened.
because Caindy would never stop eating if she could. no way could i leave a bowl out. and they have gotten into the kibble cabinet more than once and i could see the added weight immediately because their bellies are so naked. Sweet Pea is a big cerealholic though, eats her own food slowly (so Caindy gets into it too much) but she's totally a mooch for my food. she loves grains and dairy, pizza, granola, bacon and everything except fruit or veggies. i push her away, but she manages to steal bites here and there. sometimes i think there's a heirarchy thing forcing her to eat less than Caindy when i feed them together and she makes up for it with my food (or tries to) maybe i'm the low one on the totem pole here, since i'm having my food stolen and she grooms me a lot too. maybe i'm her baby. I'm still trying to figure out the 2 cat thing and wher i fit in. and get them toilet trained. ;)

[Lorien]

18. That's the other tough part: except for fish I'm a vegetarian!

although if I travel I sometimes have to eat chicken, no choice there. Lots of eggs, nuts, veggies, some fruit, a little wholegrain bread....damn, but it's boring. Worth it, though! And your right, lol; I do eat a square of organic dark chocolate every day! 70% cocoa or more has only one gram of sugar. TerraNostra Organic is my favorite so far.

My guess on Miro's weight is that he can't metabolize carbs very well. He was really lethargic for years and years when I fed him crap like Friskies and Fancy Feast (didn't know any better). He never ate huge portions; he eats the same amount today, in fact, but he always asks for more (and always has).

Here's a photo of him when he was down to 21 pounds. I was so proud of him that I took this pic, thinking he looked svelte!



he's not "big boned" either; here he is at about 16 pounds last year:



Now he just looks like a big deflated sack, lol! The really sad thing is that he developed a fatty tumor on his side when he was truly obese, and now that the fat is gone around it that thing sticks out like crazy! Next time he has a dental cleaning I think it'll be coming off!

Would love to see pics of your furkids; they sound like real characters!

:hi:

[bettyellen]

19. i know a bit about deflated, both my gals were mommas last year

so they have some extra skin down there as well as deflated little boobs that you can notice when they scrunch their arms together. (take a good look at Caindy, the smoke torti) their hair has come in a bit more since these pics (they aren't as shiny as they used to be) , but they are kinda like the polar opposite of Oberon when they lie on thier backs. naked and pink like a cow, enough that you can see everything. i was kinda shocked the first time. they are like a kitty anatomy lesson, you really see the tendons and muscles, etc. but hey, they feel like warm cashmere and never make me itch or sneeze, so i am thrilled with them. last night the temp went down, so i woke up to them spooning, all of us 3 in a row.

this is Sweet Pea, the big snugglebunnny, usually i wake up with her inches from my face. she is a very kissy cat and likes to mark and groom me. her body is like a mini whippet with a monkey tail.



and Caindy is more of the stoic mama type, she grooms Pea, who barely returns the favor.... she is very athletic, loves to steal my jewlery and jump really high on the bed while batting rubber bracelets back and forth. i have to get a high shutter speed camera to do her justice.



these picks are from the breeder in Memphis who was ditching them. it was the sad ass cold basement in these pics that looks like Silence of the Lambs that made me feel extra sorry for them, because i know they are big heat seekers. Do you know Peacebuzzard? She did some Katrina rescue, she brought them up from Memphis for me. Caindy is 1/2 named for her.
Yeah, I have to get a camera this year, the phone camera is already full and i can't download the pics to the computer.

Oberson looks ilike the happiest cat in the world, my gosh the waves on his belly are awesome. And Miro, losing 1/2 his body weight, that's just insane. Wow. They both look very happy, Lorien, you're doing something right. Lucky cats. They make my eyes water just to look at them, but they are gorgeous!

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

16. My cats both eat Special 33 for sensitive stomachs

Both are doing very well on it. I tried the organic foods, but the Daemon cannot tolerate it. Fatty B has lost weight on this food, which is good, he was very overweight before.

[bettyellen]

20. hmmmm, okay that's good to hear

i can't free feed my cats because one would never stop.
the other can be fussy and slow to eat. trying to find a balance here.
tks for the feedback!

[peacebuzzard]

21. I am reading the Royal Canin tips....and waiting for the updated

pics!!! First time visit here to this group in a long time!!! When do we get to see the Sweet Pea and Caindy new pics??? I was going to do a search to see if you had posted them (it has only been 7 months, I know, it takes me a long time to do anything as well!)

My new rescue pup is the one in the link below, he lost an eye in the chemical floods and was in the ICU at a volunteer camp.

[bettyellen]

24. hi sweetie! it's Caindy's godmother! :)

i still have not gotten a digital camera. or my scanner working.
but my phone is filled with pix. if you have photo text messaging i can send you!
oh your puppy is so sweet. and very very lucky that you found him.
are you still passing thru NY occasionallly? might you be around for the march at the end of the month?

[LisaL]

22. I feed mine Waltham's SO. Waltham's has been bought by

Royal Canin. It's great for cats with urinary problems. My cat hasn't had any urinary problems since I started feeding it.

[bettyellen]

23. is that vet perscription food? i see on their site royal canin has a

perscription line in canada, but not the usa.
anyway lizzy, glad to hear it seems to be helping.

[egadsbrain]

25. I used to feed RC Special 33 formula

We all liked it :). At the time I was searching for a dry food for my irritable bowel cat, George. He did very well on it but died after a long fight with kidney failure. He was already ill and a senior when I brought him home from the shelter where I volunteer. It was difficult to keep his weight on and the Special 33 agreed with him. It used to be a struggle to find it but Petco seems to be better at that now. My landlord swears by it as well. I'm astounded at all the varieties now but I have to say cats do seem to like some shapes better than others! And what's with the Max Cat little cat-head shapes? Isn't that kind of creepy?

Now I feed everyone Innova Evo. So far, so good! There's also a dry, raw, carbo-free food called Love Your Cat (http://prettypets.com/) that I've tried. It's small, rounded kibble and a little messy but my cats and some of my catsitting clients use it as well. You have to order it online so I only get it occasionally. No pooper problems with it either and some of the chubbies have lost weight.

One more I haven't seen mentioned here is Wysong Archetype. It's very expensive if you have as many furkids as I do, but one cat family I care for is doing great on it. Highly recommended by their acupuncture vet!

Great photos everyone! I love the bellys-up kids!

[bettyellen]

26. it seems like 33 is good for fussy or sick kitties.

that seems to be an emerging theme.
tks for your comments, and the info on "love your cat"

[egadsbrain]

30. I'm giving up my age...

but I remember when the only cat food was Purina Cat Chow and Friskies Buffet! Of course back then a cat was considered "geriatric" when they made it to 8 or 9 years. And still, there are a bunch of 20-year-olds have I known who ate 9-Lives Tuna or similar junk all their healthy lives.
:rofl:

[bettyellen]

32. you're right! and there were like two kinds of toys for cats, and two for

dogs.
people spend so much on animal paraphenalia these days, it's crazy.

[MsTryska]

28. May I ask why you think the Love Your Cat is messy?

I've used Wysong's kibbles - the cats ate it, but didn't like it a whole lot. I think not only was it flavorless for them, but the pieces were too hard.

they really like Wellness brand now:

http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/cats/wellness_detail.asp?pCode=dryCatSup5Salmon


it's got carbs in it, but they only eat it for breakfast - at dinner they get raw.

[egadsbrain]

29. I think it the way it's processed

The little "kibbles" crumble more easily then others. They're about the same size as the Wellness. I ended up putting the bowl on a tray and that caught most of the crumbs. I'm a vegetarian, but have to confess that all the Wellness foods smell pretty good! Must be my inner carnivore!

[MsTryska]

27. When my cats ate the Royal Canin Kibble

the middle aged formula i think, they had horribly stinky poops.

like the depths of hell were in their bowels.

[bettyellen]

31. LOL it seems like anything but crappy supermarket foods give my gals

stinkier poops. Nutro and Wellness were especially bad because there was also a lot of farting as well.
This is part of the reason I've been toilet training them.
I actually picked up a bag of the 33 two weeks ago because i dropped in the new Petsmart and there it was.
They love the taste.. And less farting, so that's also a great thing. They seem to have smaller, less smellier poops too.
so, we'll see.

[geniph]

33. Ah, Kitty Crack Kibble!

That's what I call the RC Maine Coon formula. My three react to it as if it were Kitty Crack, thus the name. I only feed it as a treat, as it contains corn gluten meal - like most dry foods - and two of mine have allergies to any corn by-product. They sure love it, though.