The science of cat diets (Hill's Science Plan for Cats)

Member Name: Dezza

Product:	Hill's Science Plan for Cats
Date:	22/03/01 (901 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: no dearer than cans, healthier

Disadvantages: needs food measuring per cat each day

I probably can’t better the humour level of the other Hill’s review, but hopefully I can add some useful points.
First, I’ve always loved cats but until I moved in with my partner, never lived with them.
I share the house with two now, Tyke and Jack, quite small, black, naughty boys!
I used to work in a pet food/garden stuff/coal merchants who stocked Science Diet and had cats and dogs.
So I have indeed heard the story on the food, and seen animals and their weight and health when fed Science Diet.

However, our cats were always fed Katkins or Whiskas, or whatever Tesco had on offer.
They seemed active, so I didn’t nag too much about changing their food. After all, at 4 years old, it’s a worry that they won’t take to other food, once used to a particular brand or type.

What prompted us to give it a whirl though, is that Tyke developed a habit of urinating all over the house. He used to eat as much of a can of food as possible then bring it up again too.
Having tried covering corners with foil to dissuade him, we still found he’d used other places to “go”!
The thing which always irks me when you buy tins, is about three quarters of a can is a slop of runny liquid. In addition, there really is not much substance. Two cats would go through a tin and a half a day.

Therefore, we picked up a trial bag to see if this would improve matters. First off, Science Diet is a dry food, so it contains more nutrition, being minus slop! It does need a bowl of water by the food, as the cats suddenly aren’t getting their mouths wet when eating! Well after about 2 months now, we’ve stopped coming home to a stale smell under the stairs and on the landing, so the urinating looks to be solved.

Second, science diet is claimed to be less costly per day. This I wondered about, it recommends a daily weight of food for your animal’s weight. With ours, always gan
neting a can down, I started giving the cats the recommended portion.
Needless to say, they stared at me in shock, and two hours later were waiting for more food! So it seemed it would be quite expensive compared.
However, a few days in and I think they realised that it was filling them. So I have stuck to the dosage, and they are now content with their small but filling portion.
I have worked out that the cost over a month is probably quite similar, and with the healthier food and improved personal habits of Tyke, I’m happy. Both the cats feel silkier to, pointing to better health.

So I have to wholeheartedly say this is very good food. Owners of older cats may need to work harder to convert their animals, but it’s claimed to increase lifespan.
I’ll get back to you on that!!

Summary: