[bilbo baggins]

:DYes I know I sound like I pamper to my cats every whim but I love him and his digestive system is important to me!

He loves his Burns organic food and I am just wondering if any of you animal lovers know if it available in NZ. They do it for cats and dogs and as I own a cat who will only eat dried food and nothing else on earth I am keen to find out.

Cheers

Bilbo Baggins

Ps This is actually his name so i guess he wrote this post!:raebanana

[slider]

:DYes I know I sound like I pamper to my cats every whim but I love him and his digestive system is important to me!

He loves his Burns organic food and I am just wondering if any of you animal lovers know if it available in NZ. They do it for cats and dogs and as I own a cat who will only eat dried food and nothing else on earth I am keen to find out.

Cheers

Bilbo Baggins

Ps This is actually his name so i guess he wrote this post!:raebanana

Sorry, can't assist with your question but...I thought is was cats who owned their humans :exit

[bilbo baggins]

Sorry, can't assist with your question but...I thought is was cats who owned their humans :exit

How right you are! Dogs obey their owners, Cats take a message and get back to you.

I do love to be owned though by a cat with such good taste!

:exit

[Eve & Paul]

Hi Bilbo,

Sorry to disappoint but have just done a few NZ pet store searches as well as checked out the New Zealand Pet Food Manufacturers Association website and Burns pet food doesn't appear to be available in NZ. :(

Is there a particular reason Bilbo is on Burns - i.e. is it just the only dry food he likes or are you specifically wanting to feed an organic diet?

If just a palatibility thing, some alternatives to try are:
- Hill's Science Diet (the one most vets recommend - Tuna flavour seems to go down the best with cats)
- Eukanuba (more advanced formulation of Iams but same company)
- Nutrience (an Austrailian brand that I spotted while out in NZ on holiday - the NZ vets seem to be pretty positive about it but I don't know an awful lot about it apart from a scan of the ingredients)

If you decide to try Hills or Eukanuba, you should be able to get free samples or trial size bags from your vets or a Pets at Home so you can start trying these with Bilbo before leaving for NZ. That way if you find something he likes, you can transition him over here (which minimises the sudden change when you get to NZ).

If you're specifically after an organic diet, I've found the following available in NZ:
- Organix http://www.castorpolluxpet.com/store/organix/
- Felidae http://www.canidae.com/cats/cat_and_kitten/dry.html

If you go to www.google.co.nz and search for either of those, then that should provide you with a list of NZ stockists.

When it comes to diet, the single best piece of advice I can give you is to do a '7 day Switch' when changing your pet's food. This basically means feeding according to the following schedule based on the standard amount you feed your pet:

Day 1 & 2: Feed a mix of 75% old diet and 25% new diet
Day 3 & 4: Feed a mix of 50% old diet and 50% new diet
Day 5 & 6: Feed a mix of 25% old diet and 75% new diet
Day 7: 100% new diet

If you do this you will strongly increase the likelihood of Bilbo taking to the new food as well as minimising the potential for upset tummies and a bad case of the runs! :exit

Sorry if I've gone off on one but hope this is helpful! :o

Eve

[bilbo baggins]

:pHi and thanks for the information. Bilbo is only on Burns as it seems to be one food he likes that keeps him regular. The only other thing he ever eats is the remmants of yoghurt from the pot. Has to be waitrose extra fruity though.

I haven't tried the ones you mention so will give them a go and see how he get on before he makes the trip!

Thanks for the information :uhoh

Ps The sign in my kitchen says The more I know about men the more I love my cat!

bb

[Eve & Paul]

As long as some of my waffling was helpful! :o

Eve

PS - I used to have that exact sentiment on a fridge magnet! :D

[Eve & Paul]

Just saw the pic on your profile - is that Bilbo? If so, think he and my Koko would be a matching set! :D

1266

[Pip]

might be worth trying Royal Canin whilst you are the in the UK (mainly from vets here and in the UK) our cat would only eat Royal Canin exigent (the pink packet) for chats difficile! , but thankfully you can get it here albeit from a few specific pet shops/vets.

ironically after a 15 months, now she'll also eat tinned food and even some human food.. must be all the energy she burns up being a tough outdoor kiwi cat!

[bilbo baggins]

Just saw the pic on your profile - is that Bilbo? If so, think he and my Koko would be a matching set! :D

1266


Oh my god we could now go on forever about the beauty of the Siamese cat.
Your cat Koko is so lovely and very apple head/traditional looking if you don't mind me commenting on! I think this must be a match made in heaven. Oh so what if they are both males, (are they)? I had 2 male siamese for years and they were so so loving!

Thank you for sending the picture he or she is so lovely

ALi