cat food - sachets or tins?

[red]

I'v been thinking about this - particularly with the 'no rubbish fortnight' idea - you see, if I were only to feed my cat tins, then these would be recyclable therefore better than sachets.. the box is cardboard but the sachets are for the landfill.

but.... it must cost alot more to transport tins than lighter packaging, and takes energy to recycle the tins.

its not that clear cut is it?

given that I am going to feed my cat (and life is too short to argue with a cat) which is more environmentally friendly?

[Shirley]

I buy a big bag of food from the petshop - it lasts a good long while and there is just one bag to get rid of at the end of it.

I remember some petshops used to sell pet food by weight and so you could take a bag along to fill it - not sure if that still happens anywhere.

[baldowrie]

I feed my dogs and cat on dry food only. I buy from the local feed shop so one bag last me a good while

[hedgewitch]

Why can't you re-cycle the sachets in the plastic?

[Stonehead]

Plastics almost always are made from petrochemical feed stock, which is a fast disappearing resource.

I'd buy tins or make my own. Not that you'd catch me owning a cat...

[2steps]

I buy my dogs dry food in sacks. I then save the sacks for garden jobs, packaging... anything that needs a strong plastic :) I buy my chicken's pellets the same way but they come in a paper sack that I then reuse for wrapping parcels

[Shirley]

The dog food comes in paper sacks - the cat food is sometimes wrapped in an edible fur - well she seems to think so squeak squeak!

The chook food is in paper sacks too.

[Milims]

We usually buy dry food in sacks too - that way it doesn't go off we don't have tins to wash or sachets to work out what to do with. We also give them some home made food too - although not strictly cat food - they went mad for pumpkin soup the other day!!!
As far as I know you can go to the scoop shop and buy dry food from there.

[shiney]

I get tins for my moggy. At least they can be recycled. Not sure about the plastic pouches. Mind you, I dunno what they put in those pamper pusskins foody pouches, but my cat loves them but she would eat loads of them and they are very expensive.

She only gets a few at Christmas!

Stoney, I wouldn't have a cat either! My mother in her wisdom, bought the moggie for my eldest son, when my youngest one was born. A consolation prize of sorts.

The cat is quite nice, minds her own business and likes bedtime stories.

I wouldn't get another tho.

[PurpleDragon]

Those pouches are hugely expensive compared to tins. You can't recycle the pouches, but you can the tins, so mine get tins.

I got my cats from Cats Protection and they said that a cat needs wet food, rather than dry, particularly toms (which mine are) because of their urinary systems. Wookie, when fed only on dried food, gets blood in his urine, but is fine on wet food.

Stoney & Shiney - what's wrong with cats? I love cats. I'd have more if Himself would let me

[shiney]

There's nothing wrong with cats, I am just not a cat person really. I tolerate them and I am kind to them, but I don't go all gooey over them.

I don't have a problem with moggies, apart from the 20 over the fence who are full of mange, worms, fleas, not neutered and have bad tummies. (evidence all over my garden)

We don't get dried food as we were advised about the bladder infection thing as well.

[PurpleDragon]

Oh, badly kept cats are not fun at all!

My Dad used to be a milkman, and one house he delivered to was a batty old wife who 'rescued' cats. Unfortunately, he house was stinking with cat pee and poo everywhere. Dad hated collecting her money and managed to get her to go onto a monthly account, and eventaully I think he got her to take a bill and leave the money out.

I'm not a dog person, although I like them. I just like the way cats just dont really need you.

[Shirley]

I hadn't heard that about the cats and dried food. I thought it was supposed to be better dried.

[PurpleDragon]

I think it is mainly toms that are affected but wouldnt swear to it.
Cats do need the biscuits to keep their teeth clean (apparently) and I think it is enjoyable for them as well, but mine get wet food, with a sprinkle of biscuits, and they manage desert for themselves ;)

[baldowrie]

Mines a neutered tom and he is doing fine on dried food, although I do believe he supplements his own diet with the 'catch of the day' He is very healthy and beautiful silky coat. But he has plenty of fresh water and drinks a lot.

He also pinches the dog food