this may sound crazy but my cats which i started on wet cat food will not eat any dry cat food. they bother me until i give in and finally feel sorry for them and give them their wet food, and of course they only like the certain kinds, which of course isnt the cheapest.  I also have to dogs that have several treats, and also eat canned for along with dry good. i dont even want to mantion the cost i spent last mont of my animals becuase it is embarrassing. but when i try and get them over to dry and wont eat. does anyone out there have any ideas that will help me? by the way i four cats and two dogs, one cat doesnt eat much at all because it stays out doors  most of the time.  I cant get rid of any of them because i have had them since babys and their like my children.

Welcome to the forums. The one thing I can tell you is that when it comes to getting what they prefer, animals can out-wait humans any day. The key to switching over from wet to dry food is to NOT have any "wet food" options in the house. If you are trying to change their diet, don't go with the "cheapest brand" of dry food to save money. Instead try going with a medium priced brand. I tried Wal-mart brand and they kept throwing it up (too much ash). I switched to Purina and that didn't work either. Finally I went to Iams and found success. When they get good and hungry, they will eat. Just make sure there is plenty of water available. And once they switch over, don't go back to wet as a "treat".

My cats eat dry food mainly and get canned food a couple times a week.  I would suggest purchasing a good brand of dry food and start by mixing it 75% wet and 25% dry.  After a week, make it a 50/50 mix.  After another week make the mix 75% dry and just 25% wet.  And then finally starting giving them just dry.  After they've been on the dry for a couple of weeks, start adding adding wet food in as treat once in a while.

You may find by going gradually that they will eat the dry as they adjust to it.  They may always need/want wet food, but if you can get them to at least a 50/50 mixture, then you'll save at least some money.

You may also want to discuss the switch with your vet.  Some cats as they get older require more wet food than a younger cat.  This is because they drink less water and need the liquid from wet food to supplement their liquid intake.  Cats are so prone to kidney problems that you definitely want them to have plenty of water/liquid in their diets.  The vet may also suggest that it's acceptable to add a tablespoon or so of warm water to dry food; it may fool the cats thinking it's wet food, but would be cheaper for you.

Welcome to the forum!  I hope this helps.

We've been through this with both our dogs. Like the PP, start by mixing wet and dry (and use a good dry food). After a week, decrease the amount of wet food but add a little bit of water to make it seem more moist. After another week, cut the wet down even more. My dogs both liked having some water on the dry food after we took them off wet completely.

Our dog had surgery and radiation on her neck and could not eat dry food b/c of irritation and burns from the radiation. We went from 100% wet food 3 times a day (boy, was that expensive) to right now, 100% dry, a tablespoon of wet (we have to hide her pills in it) and a 1/2 cup of water overall. She thinks it is great. We can use a regular sized can of wet dog food for a week this way and I find them on sale and with coupons for about 50-60 cents a can (or less!) so I don't feel like I'm breaking the bank by giving her this tiny amount of wet 2x a day. She will be on thyroid pills the rest of her life so she will always have the small amount of wet food but nothing like 3-4 cans per day after her surgery and radiation! And her tummy is actually happier on dry food. The wet was too rich, I think.

My DH is allergic to cats but I had a cat growing up and he ate dry food all the time except for a special treat until he was about 15 years old. Then we did have to switch to wet because of his age, teeth issues and other digestive issues. But by then, he didn't eat as much as he had been as a young cat so it wasn't a huge cost. Cuddles lived to be 18 so there was about 3 full years on wet.

Hope this helps! Welcome! Many of us have fur-babies and yes, they do cost money, just like real babies and kiddos!

I have cats and birds.  I never mix the wet and dry food. I leave dry food out all the time but I have never had the problem of overeating from the cats.    I feed them half a can of fancy feast in the morning and the other half at dinner.   once they are used to it though you have a hard time changing it!    They get kitty treats when they get in at night.  that is a newer thing but rewards them for coming in at night. tarter control or something like that.

One thing to make things cheaper is too put water on the dry food to make it soft. just enough for a meal because it doesn't keep.  I do that for kittens that are getting used to dry food.

I use science diet dry food which isn't cheap but keeps them healthy.  wasn't on the recall list during that mess.

 Welcome here! Cat do get addicted to their canned food. You might try going to a really good brandry food, high-protein - I just got some Premium Edge Light, which is an amazing 45% protein.Either that, or, oddly, my cats will go for the really additive-filled food, like the inexpensive store brands.

They usually eat when they are hungry enough, but you have to watch it. Cats will sometimes starve instead of eating something they don't like. Two days without food is dangerous for a cat because of their livers.

This may work - mix the canned with the wet, add a bit of water or gravy to moisturize the dry. After a week or two, start reducing the amount of wet food.

My cats will not eat cooked poultry, hamburger, turkey or most fish. But they will eat Wheat Thins, oyster crackers, Triscuits, taco chips, cream-of-anything soup, spaghetti sauce.

Csts know what they want and are determine to get it, aren't they?

And the cat is always on the wrong side of door.

Good luck with this!

that is cute and so true!  cat is always on the other side of the door!   My old cat did't go out much but with the two we have now...always in and out.  in the front door and out the back. drives me nuts.  one is not too bright so he wants to go out the back door because the weather might be different....he gets yelled at  alot.