Is prescription cat food worth it?

Asked By: Simonne Valle

Date created: Sat, Sep 3, 2022 7:07 AM

Date updated: Wed, May 15, 2024 17:11 PM

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Video answer: Is Expensive Pet Food Better? - Ask A Vet

Best answer to the question «Is prescription cat food worth it?»

Answered by Kara Pereira on Sat, Sep 3, 2022 15:04 PM

Prescription cat food is expensive, but usually contains cheapskate ingredients like animal and plant by-products. Let’s go into a little more depth on why prescription food isn’t worth it. The “prescription diet” or “veterinary diet” label is not overseen by any regulatory agency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those who are looking for an answer to the question «Is prescription cat food worth it?» often ask the following questions:

😻 Is a prescription cat diet worth it?

A prescription diet is not guaranteed to help your cat or even do anything that an ordinary food wouldn’t. Prescription cat food is expensive, but usually contains cheapskate ingredients like animal and plant by-products. Let’s go into a little more depth on why prescription food isn’t worth it.

😻 Is there a prescription diet for intestinal problems in cats?

Prescription diets for intestinal problems. Cats with infiltrative/inflammatory bowel disease or food intolerances may exhibit chronic intermittent diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, poor appetite, or any combination thereof. The most basic way to treat these problems is with dietary modification.

😻 What are the most common ingredients in prescription cat food?

Commercially prepared prescription cat food includes unnecessary ingredients like corn gluten, wheat gluten and meat or poultry by-products. These ingredients have little nutritional benefit and many cats are allergic to corn and wheat.

Video answer: The Truth About Prescription Pet Food

We've handpicked 27 related questions for you, similar to «Is prescription cat food worth it?» so you can surely find the answer!

Is a prescription cat diet worth it?

What is the best prescription diet for cats with thyroid problems?

Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d Thyroid Care canned cat food is a commonly prescribed food that fits the above parameters. It’s also available in a dry food version— Hill's Prescription Diet y/d Thyroid Care Original dry cat food.

Are there any problems with prescription cat food?

There are three big problems with prescription cat food. People assume that because a food is called a prescription diet or veterinary diet, it’s passed some rigorous testing and the label has been validated by a third party organization. Not so.

Can I give my Cat prescription cat food for urinary care?

My vet had me switch my cats diet to prescription cat food for urinary care but she won’t eat her dry food after mixing it with the urinary care dry food but is eating the wet food for urinary care. If she is eating the prescription canned diet, that's fine.

Video answer: Prescription Cat Food Lawsuit Claims Product Is Identical To Regular Cat Food

Should you feed your cat a prescription diet for hyperthyroidism?

Should You Feed Your Cat A Prescription Diet For Hyperthyroidism? Hill’s Prescription Diet y/d is the leading prescription cat food for hyperthyroidism. This food is extremely low in iodine, containing less than 0.32 ppm iodine on a dry matter basis.

What makes prescription cat food different?

Because that food requires a prescription from your vet, it's reasonable to think you're buying medically necessary, pure, high-quality active ingredients to make your pet well. What you're actually getting may be a hard pill to swallow. “There is no medicine in prescription pet foods.

Is there a recall on Hill’s prescription diet cat food?

That is when a single dry cat food — Hill’s Prescription Diet m/d Feline — was recalled as part of the massive 2007 Menu Foods/melamine recalls. “It is our priority to help consumers understand that there is only one product in question: Hill’s Prescription Diet m/d Feline dry food,” the company said on its website.

What is a prescription diet for cats?

They’re food. Quoting the FDA/CVM Communications Staff Deputy Director: “‘Prescription diet’ is an industry-coined term and holds no legal meaning.” In many cases, prescription foods are perfect for the condition for which they’re marketed. Some prescription cat foods, however, are no better than the average food sold on a grocery store shelf.

Is it OK for a pregnant cat to eat prescription cat food?

Most prescription urinary foods for cats are OK to feed to healthy adult cats without urinary problems. But there are a few situations where it’s not a good idea. Ask your vet before using prescription urinary cat food for growing cats, pregnant or nursing cats or cats with other health conditions.

Do prescription cat food diets really work?

While some prescription foods offer therapeutic benefits unmatched by ordinary foods—think Hill’s y/d hyperthyroid diet—others don’t. A prescription diet is not guaranteed to help your cat or even do anything that an ordinary food wouldn’t.

Video answer: OTC vs Prescription pet food diets

Do I have to give my cat prescription food?

The reason for this is often the fact that prescription foods are higher in price, but it is also just not something many pet owners think of unless it becomes a necessity. There is no need to give your cat food that requires a prescription without an actual health-related reason, such as a disease.

Is Hill’s Prescription Diet thyroid care best for hyperthyroid cats?

That food is Hill’s Prescription Diet Thyroid Care. Though it can’t prevent disease progress, its low iodine content helps to limit the amount of thyroid hormones that flood your cat’s body. Beyond opting for this prescription food, we can only speculate about which foods are best for hyperthyroid cats.

What happens if a cat eats prescription urinary food?

Cats who form struvite crystals should avoid eating prescription urinary foods that aim to increase urine pH. Cats with kidney disease or heart disease might have unwanted side effects from eating urinary formula food due to increased salt present in some formulas. “I’m healthy and I eat my friend’s prescription urinary food.”

What is the best non prescription cat food for kidney disease?

The 3 Best Non-Prescription Foods for Cats with Kidney Disease: Our Recommendations #1 Overall Best Non-Prescription: Weruva TruLuxe Grain-Free Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy. Since this food... #2 Runner-Up: Blue Natural Veterinary Diet KM Kidney + Mobility Support Canned Cat Food. ...

Is Hill’s Science diet cat food worth it?

Yes, Hill’s Science Diet Cat Food is totally worth it. The brand works with a team of qualified experts and runs a state-of-the-art research facility. As a result, they manufacture premium pet foods. Science Diet Cat Food offers blends that are suitable for both cats and kittens.

What is the best low sodium cat food?

Among the best low sodium cat food it offers is Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care Cat Food as mentioned earlier. Obviously, you’d need a prescription to use this food. If you don’t have one, you can check out our favorite nonprescription k/d cat food alternatives on the market.

Can a male cat get a urinary obstruction from eating wet food?

Your cat can still become “blocked” with a urethral obstruction while eating urinary prescription food or non-prescription wet food. A male cat’s chances of getting blocked are higher than female cats and it can still happen even if he’s eating a vet prescribed food.

Can You syringe feed Hill’s Prescription Diet A/D wet cat food?

Many veterinarians recommend Hill’s prescription diet a/d wet cat food because it is nutritionally balanced and has an appetizing taste. You can easily add water to it to get the desired consistency for syringe feeding. However, this food is not advised for long-term feeding.

Is there a difference between premium and prescription cat food?

Premium commercial cat food provides all the nutrition a healthy cat needs, in most cases. Prescription diets, infused with theraputic ingredients, are advisable for treating specific conditions. Prescription pet foods are available only through your vet's office and only on his recommendation.

Can cats with kidney disease eat prescription food?

Cats with more advanced cases of kidney disease can benefit from eating a prescription food. Prescription kidney diets tend to provide a moderate level of protein but are quite low in phosphorous, which helps keep the production of waste products as low as possible.

What is the best food for cats with diarrhea?

Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin is an excellent food for cats with diarrhea, especially if you want a non-prescription solution. As you might expect, though, it’s not quite up to the standard set by some other prescription-only foods.

Do vets make money on prescription food?

And while many pet owners believe that veterinarians make a lot of money selling prescription diets, this is not true. The mark-up on therapeutic pet food is typically less than that of most regular pet food you buy in stores.

Can a cat with a urethral obstruction eat wet food?

What is a prescription diet or veterinary diet?

People assume that because a food is called a prescription diet or veterinary diet, it’s passed some rigorous testing and the label has been validated by a third party organization. Not so. While some prescription foods offer therapeutic benefits unmatched by ordinary foods—think Hill’s y/d hyperthyroid diet—others don’t.

Is the cat food event worth it?

The vast majority of the stages in the game will come back eventually, but once you spend cat food, that's gone forever. There's a limited number of cat food, and the only thing you should spend on cat food, period, is guaranteed ubers. The 30/750 event sounds like a nice deal, but that's not worth it.

What are the most common ingredients in prescription cat food?

Do I need a prescription for low-protein cat food?

All cats require plenty of digestible, highly bioavailable protein in their diet. Do I need a prescription for low-protein cat food? Not necessarily.

Video answer: Three Myths About Prescription Pet Foods!