Friskies is one of the most popular cat foods out there and is the most cat owner’s cat food choice. It is a budget cat food, so cat owners know not to expect much from it. But there have been cases recently about how Friskies canned food kills cats, which is obviously a very alarming matter. If you use Friskies for your cat, let us tell you the reasons this could happen, how you can avoid death by Friskies and other safer alternatives.
Let’s get started.
Is Friskies canned cat food known to kill cats?
Friskies for cats especially the canned food sure is cheap for your cat, but we usually do not hear cases of deaths occurring by cat foods.
That said, we always mention that Friskies does use some ambiguous ingredients and there are multiple better cat food options on the market.
Not only that, the quality of the product is not up to the mark. If you are paying for a product, you should feel the worth.
In this case, your cat should get energy from the food it eats, grow adequately, and stay active and healthy.
While you may see some of these positive changes in your cat right after starting the Friskies diet, the effects die down really quickly.
Meaning, that the long-term effects of this cat food could actually cause the opposite of what you want it to perform.
So naturally, if your cat’s health continues to deteriorate at a fast pace, then there is a possibility that Friskies cat food is killing your cat.
But this does not happen in every case. Let’s take a look further.
Calculator: How much Canned Food Should Be Fed
It depends on various factors like the cat’s weight, age, and activity level. The formula used in the calculator is a rough estimate and can be adjusted based on the specific needs of the cat. It is always best to consult with a veterinarian for a more accurate and personalized estimate of a cat’s food intake. But you can get an average idea for any canned food quantity that can be fed to a cat based on its weight, age and activity levels.
Calculate Your Cat’s Balanced Diet
Check If your Cat Weight is Right
Use below weight estimator to see if your cat current weight is in the right range. You may not need to over feed your cat with canned food instead take on more healthy routes.
How to Spot Your Cat is not Doing Well After having Canned Food
Here are some tips to help cat owners spot if their cat is not well after eating canned food:
- Observe their behavior: Keep an eye on your cat’s behavior after they have eaten canned food. If they are lethargic, have a lack of appetite or are not as active as usual, this could be a sign that something is not right.
- Watch for vomiting: Vomiting can be a sign that your cat is not tolerating the food well. If this is happening regularly after eating canned food, it is best to take them to the vet.
- Check for diarrhea: Diarrhea can be a sign that the canned food is not agreeing with your cat. This can be a serious issue and you should seek veterinary help if this continues.
- Check their stool: If you notice any changes in your cat’s stool, such as if it is runny or has an unusual color, this could be a sign that something is not right.
- Look for signs of abdominal pain: If your cat is exhibiting signs of abdominal pain, such as crying or avoiding being touched in certain areas, this could be a sign that they are not feeling well.
- Monitor their eating habits: Keep an eye on your cat’s eating habits. If they are not eating as much as usual, or if they are not eating at all, this could be a sign that something is wrong.
If you suspect that your cat is not well after eating canned food, it is best to take them to the vet for a check-up. Your vet can help determine the cause of the issue and recommend the best course of action.
Why is Friskies considered bad?
Before we start this section, we want to iterate that every cat is different. A diet working well for your cat could not be suitable for another cat.
We always encourage people to talk to a vet before choosing a diet for their feline friends, as their health is very important.
The wrong diet can kill your cat too soon.
So what are the different reasons Friskies could kill cats?
Makes cats sick
Friskies’ canned food diet has caused sickness in many cats, as per many cat owners.
There have also been cases where the cat has undergone kidney failure, just because Friskies was its main diet and this was the long term effect.
While many canned foods are said to be well-balanced, if you look at the breakdown, you will see that some do not contain an adequate amount of proteins and fats.
These are essential to a cat’s diet and will help your cat live a healthy life. With these missing, or in low amounts, your cat can become sick.
Also, if your cat is allergic to a certain ingredient in the cat food that you are unaware of, then that could play a part in killing your cat. (If the allergy is severe and undetected)
Contains a lot of questionable ingredients
It is no surprise that Friskies are known for their low quality ingredients. But then not everything can be available at a low price point, right?
There are a bunch of ingredients that are a big no-no when it comes to cat food. These, in large amounts, are like poison to cats, but unfortunately, a lot of Friskies canned foods use it.
An example of this is processed corn, rice, and gluten. Processed food of any kind is one of the reasons your friskies canned food kills cats.
Ingredients like these are often called ‘fillers’, as they have no nutritional benefits based on the cat’s diet requirements.
Moreover, wheat gluten is seen as an alternative to carbs like meat, which is really important for your cat.
Cats are carnivores after all, so meat of any kind is vital for their health.
Too much processed food can cause kidney stones and other problems in urination in your feline friend.
Fed to cat in large amounts
No matter which cat food you feed your felines, you need to be well aware of the contents of the food, and also what your cat’s nutritional requirements are.
When you discuss this with the vet, he/she will give you the daily amount of food your cat needs, and the type of cat food as well.
For Friskies, we mentioned that a lot of the canned cat food does not have a balanced proportion. If you do not consult with a vet first, then it is possible your cat may get unhealthy by eating too much.
This is not only the case with one-time over-eating, but also if you keep continuing the unhealthy food for a longer span of time.
Things like no meat, and too many fats and proteins can cause obesity and kill your cat in the long run.
No-meat canned Friskies are useless for cats
As mentioned above, some cat foods contain low amounts of meat and higher gluten instead, which is of no use for cats.
In order to have a healthy cat, it needs to have a balanced portion of meat daily.
Meats like turkey, chicken, beef, and even duck are all viable options.
However, the problem begins when Friskies canned food uses meat, but of terrible quality. Actually, it is more suitable to call it meat by-products.
This is because instead of the actual meat of the animal, they use other things like intestines and guts, and use that for the food.
Not only is this gross, but also not needed, as the cat would still do better with no meat or by-products than with the by-products themselves.
Meat by-products in canned food are also the reason many cats get killed; they are really bad for your cat.
Hence, this is one of the big problems with Friskies canned food, making it not a top choice for cat owners anymore.
Better alternatives to Friskies canned food
Yes, Friskies canned food can be hazardous to your cats’ health, but you always have better options you can fall back on.
Luckily for you, we have compiled some of the best cat foods to our knowledge to save you time. This does not substitute your vet’s opinion though.
Fancy Feast Wet/Dry cat food
Fancy Feast, the competitor to Friskies, is good in certain aspects, but it also has its share of drawbacks.
Fancy feast comes in a variety of flavors, so you know you can experiment with it with your cat even if it is a picky eater.
This cat food contains a good amount of proteins, fat, and carbs if we look at it in comparison to Friskies.
Some of the ingredients that are not the most beneficial for your cat are artificial dyes, tapioca starch, and rice.
We have done a detailed breakdown of both these cat foods (Friskies and fancy feast), you can check it out here.
Royal Canin Cat food
Royal Canin cat food is a very famous global brand that is seen as a good alternative to Friskies.
It has both wet and dry food versions, but the dry food is better than the wet in terms of composition.
Great for the gut with lots of fiber, most of the flavors will have what your cat needs to grow and stay healthy.
It is also certified by experts, so you do not need to worry about your cat ingesting bad ingredients.
If you are looking to switch from Friskies canned diet, you should give royal canin a try.
Other Purina brands
Friskies is the famous cost-effective brand of Purina, but there are a bunch of other options within Purina’s umbrella that may suit your cat.
Pro Plan is one such brand. Adult cats love this brand. Not only is it affordable, but also good in taste and has good nutritional value as well.
The content of this food seems good as well, but we still recommend getting it checked by your vet before starting the diet so it doesn’t silently kill your cat.
Give it a read: Unintentional Mistakes By Cat Owners
Conclusion
In conclusion, does Friskies canned cat food kill cats?
Friskies canned cat food may be a budget cat food, but it is not one of the good foods out there. There have been cases where cats have been killed because of different reasons in Friskies.
Friskies use un-edible ingredients in the diet mix and the ones that are edible are not very high-quality.
There can also be other issues that the food fed could differ in the amount. A lot of Friskies canned food does not use meat substances in it.
Cats need meat to survive, so any food without it is just filler for its body.
Luckily there are many other options for Friskies, Fancy feast is one such option. It has a good set of nutrition, is mostly healthy, and is the top choice for cat owners.
Royal Canin is a good choice too. You can also go for other Purina brands, they are better than Friskies.
Lastly, if you don’t feed your cat responsibly, any cat food can kill your cat. Therefore, it is important to talk this out with your vet before you start a new diet.
This is to make sure you are feeding your cat the right food, and that it is within your cat’s nutritional requirements. Your cat’s health comes first.
Don’t compromise.